Hotel review: This East Cork classic has charm but there's also scope to improve

The exterior of Garryvoe Hotel, East Cork

Location

"It’s better by the sea" is Garryvoe Hotel’s motto, and who am I to argue? Even as an East Cork local, no matter how many times I crest the scenic road to the beachside property — with Ballycotton and its emerald lighthouse island shimmering in the distance — that view never gets old. And this family-run, four-star hotel, a signature sight here since the early 1900s, is perfectly positioned to soak it all in.