Arrival Experience: After a scenic drive through the winding hills of the Powerscourt Estate, guests arrive to this oasis in the greens underneath a beautiful porte cochere. Waiting with a smile are Ritz-Carlton staffers eager to please. The immense lobby features direct views to the gardens and Sugar Loaf Mountain through floor-to-ceiling windows. Reception is keen to use and learn guest names, and the individual seating areas around the country club-style public areas welcome guests. Crackling hearths, complimentary wireless high speed Internet, amazing views, and a stylish lounge for light bites and afternoon tea keep the lobby a hushed buzz of activity.
Dining: Chef Gordon Ramsay has placed his name and expertise on the main dining room here, which not only brings international acclaim to the resort, but also plenty of locals too. As the chef’s first signature restaurant in Ireland, the menu is a fusion of regional favorites with the panache and creativity that Ramsay brings to all that he does. Presentation is half the fun with each dish more of a masterpiece than the last. Local produce and seasonal ingredients form the basis of each dish. The Chef’s Table, a beautiful wood dining venue in the middle of the bustling kitchen, can be reserved by those with a culinary eye for adventure. The Irish pub in the hotel is another local favorite and offers guests the chance to learn how to properly pour their own Guinness, a specialty in these parts.
Accommodations: With some of the largest rooms in Ireland, this hotel knows its high-end audience and caters to their every whim. Baby blue and creamy whites characterize the guest rooms while exterior views through the enormous windows encompass the greenery that surrounds the hotel. Pillowtop beds feature the chain’s signature high-quality linens and various pillow sizes. Flat-screen cable TVs, plentiful bottled water, traditional work desks stocked with office supplies, complimentary high speed Internet, full-length mirrors, and walk-in closets with umbrellas, robes and slippers are in all. Bedside controls handle the room electronics, air conditioning, and lighting; they even open and close the curtains. Baths are amazingly large with built-in flat-screen TVs, powerful rain showers, deep soaking tubs, scales, and giant terrycloth bath sheets. Suites offer Acqua di Parma toiletries and spacious living areas. Balconies on the top floors are the preferred options.
Conclusion: This resort is very popular with Americans who can earn and redeem Marriott Rewards points here. Arriving by helicopter? No problem, the hotel has its own helipad. The celebrated ESPA is a big draw for hotel guests, but like the Gordon Ramsay restaurant also appeals to a large local crowd. The spa’s relaxation room surveys the dancing fountains in the garden behind the hotel while the treatment menu is comprehensive offering everything from Ayurvedic massage therapy to Chinese acupressure in the 20 private rooms. A major draw is the indoor swimming pool that is illuminated brilliantly on the ceiling thanks to the Swarovsky crystals that line its floor. Meeting space is ample and draws the corporate crowd. This resort is a magnificent value and the perfect home base for Americans wishing to explore the region. Sceptre Tours is offering an excellent deal for six nights at the Ritz-Carlton and airfare starting as low as $1,149.
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