Galway Bay Hotel, Galway City

The Galway Bay hotel has the advantages of a city centre location while also being situated overlooking Galway Bay and on Salthill Beach. Facilities include a leisure centre, gymnasium and immediate access to the Salthill promenade. Families are accommodated in family rooms which comprise a double bed and two single beds, cots are provided free of charge and interconnecting rooms are also available.

The Penguin Kid’s Camp runs for children between the ages of four and twelve during the school holidays and on bank holidays and has two sessions from ten in the morning to one and six to eleven. The six to eleven session has the benefit of allowing parents to have their own meals separately in the evening and high tea is served for children at 6 p.m. The kid’s camp activities include outdoor games, obstacle courses, concerts, quizzes, face painting and the DVDs for some downtime. Babysitters can be provided for children under four if parents wish to have some free time during the day. Book here

Connemara Coast Hotel, Galway

The 4-star Connemara Coast Hotel is set on the shore of Galway Bay just minutes from Galway city. Families can avail of the benefits of the buzz and facilities in the city and retire to the hotel for leisure and relaxation. Family accommodation is in either family rooms which contain a double bed and a single bed or in interconnecting rooms.

Facilities in the hotel include a gym, indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, leisure complex tennis court and traditional music. They run a seasonal kids club for children over the age of four with three sessions a day. Activities include splash hour, movies, face painting, outdoor play and games. Other facilities for families include a babysitting service, children’s meals and a playroom. Book here

Renvyle House Hotel, Connemara, Galway

On the stunning Renvyle Penninsula Renvyle House Hotel has a fantastic location surrounded by the sea, blue lakes and matching blue mountains. It is a Connemara gem set in a landscape of natural beauty, jutting out into the Atlantic with long stretches of white and gold beaches.

The hotel’s facilities include a full-sized snooker table, library, a 9 hole gar 36 golf course, two all weather tennis courts, trout fishing on private lake, boating, croquet and clay pigeon shooting to name but a few local family activities such as fishing, hill walking, angling, golf, horse riding and lawn sports. The Hotel has a heated swimming pool between the months of May to September and something to appeal to every member of the family.

Families are accommodated in family rooms and family suites which have an interconnecting room with bunk beds. Children’s facilities include a babysitting service, children’s meals, a playground, a playroom and supervised kids activities for children aged three and up. Book here

Shannon Oaks Hotel, Portumna, Co Galway

The Shannon Oaks Hotel offers 4 star self catering accommodation. With a stunning location close to the shores of Lough Derg right next to 1,500 acres of wooded park. Situated on the grounds of The Shannon Oaks Hotel in Portumna, County Galway, these holiday homes are great for a family holiday.

Families can stay either in the hotel, in ground floor two bedroom apartments, duplex two bedroom apartments or in five bedroom lodges. The apartments have two bedrooms, a living area and a kitchen but no laundry facilities. The lodges have five bedrooms, two of which are en suite, two family bathrooms, a spacious open plan living/dining area which opens out onto a private decking area and a fully equipped kitchen.

Lodge guests can avail of all the hotel facilities including the leisure facilities which include an indoor heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, bird watching, nature trails and lakeland walks.

There is a children’s summer camp during the summer months of July and August with the option of 1 day or 3 day camp. There are a large range of activities for the children, karate, hockey, orienteering, scavenger hunts, obstacle course, volleyball, gaelic football, swimming, arts and crafts and much more. Book here

Days Hotel Galway, Galway

Days Hotel Galway is a three star hotel offering contemporary bedrooms, which have been designed to a high standard. Days Hotel offers good facilities that include an extensive leisure club and contemporary style bar and restaurant.

Depending on the size of your family you can stay in a king room, interconnecting rooms or in one and two bedroom suites. The Days Leisure Club provides include a 20 metre swimming pool, toddlers and children’s pool, sauna, steam room and fully equipped gym.

There is a children’s activity programme, Friendly Fellows, which runs most weekends and during school holidays with activities for children over 3 years. For older kids there is the Teen Club for older children which includes activities for children such as air-hockey, pool and karaoke. Book here

The Quality Hotel and Leisure Centre, Galway

The Quality Inn Galway is beside the N6, on the approach to Galway city and beside the thriving village of Oranmore. Accommodation for families is good with extra large family rooms suitable for families of up to 5.

The hotel facilities include three swimming pools, a 20m pool, bubble pool & kiddie’s pool, set against a backdrop of 60ft windows. There is also a steam - room, sauna, solarium and beauty therapy suite and a high-tech gymnasium.

Children’s facilities include babysitting, children’s meals, a kids club for children aged 4-12.This is run in the school holidays from 10 - 1 and 6 - 11.It is also run in the evenings only at the weekends out of holiday time. Activities include face painting, arts and crafts, movie time, a Wii and games. Book here

The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Mayo

The Castlecourt hotel is situated in the heart of Westport which has lots of family activities and things to see and do with the kids. Families are accommodated in family rooms which have a double bed and two single beds. The Leisure Centre offers a 20 metre swimming pool, kiddie’s splash pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and a fully equipped and modern gymnasium. The SPA SULA is due to open in summer 2008. Westport itself is a beautiful town and frequent winner of awards.

The Kids and Us Camp runs during July & August, Mid Term and Christmas. It offers a free fully supervised multi activity camp for boys and girls aged 5- 12 years of age twice a day Monday - Friday. Children have the option to eat with parents in the Orchard Restaurant or with the Camp at 5.30pm. There is also a creche for children 2- 5 years with three sessions during the summer. You can read more and book here for special offers and deals.

The Hotel Westport, Westport

Located in the Heart of Westport, Hotel Westport is just a 5-minute walk from the shops, cafés, restaurants and bars where there is always a lively atmosphere and lots to see and do for families. Families are accommodated in family rooms which can sleep two adults and two children in a double bed and two single beds or in interconnecting rooms.

There is plenty to do, de-stress with a swim in the 20m pool, relax in the Jacuzzi, tone up in the gym, chill out in the sauna and steam room, or soothe away in the lounger pool, while the toddlers splash away in their own pool. Hotel Westport's Ocean Spirit Spa & Leisure has been accredited with the White Flag award 5 years running.

It has two clubs catering for children. The Cubs Corner is a supervised playroom for the 3 year old and under and there is a charge of €6.00 per hour per child for this. It is open Monday to Friday in the mornings in non holiday times and only in the evenings in holiday times.The Panda Club provides adventurous fun and is most suitable for 4 -10 year olds, but 11 and 12 year olds are welcome to join in. Fun Fellows organise a daily fun-packed activity programme. There is a children’s dinner as part of the Panda Club from 5.15pm - 6.30pm each evening with a special children's menu (which includes healthy options). There is also an outdoor Play Area suitable for 3 - 6 year olds who must be accompanied by an adult.

The Panda Club operates over the Public Holidays/Weekends at Easter, October and the lead into the New Year. It also operates daily in the summer months of June, July and August. All children from 4 - 10 years can join the club when they check-in to the hotel on the first day of their holiday. When joining the club each child will receive their very own 'Panda Club Passport' and 'Bag of Goodies’. Book here for special offers and deals.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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