More about Best Western Esplanade Hotel
Gobsmacked!
by TripAdvisor Member Rhedeg
Esplanade Hotel, Bray, Ireland
My Partner and i booked in for one night. Could not believe the sight of the room we were put in. There was this horrible smell as we entered the room and the window was wide open (i wonder why!!). There was building work going on outside of our window. The room we were in was equivalent to a cheap B&B and the decor was something quite out of this world, we just wanted to rush to the nearest shop to get coordinated bedding, curtains and a throw to cover the dirty sofa. We felt great before we entered the room and left totally dejected. It felt like we had been banished to the lower quarters! Not quite sure why we were given this room as it was nothing like what was advertised on the website, a warning to others!
We would definately not stay there again as the fitness suite was also closed. Also reception staff needed to have customer training, perhaps working in a supermarket would help!
Management are a disgrace
by TripAdvisor Member GrainneU
I booked this hotel well in advance as I was going to a wedding there. On confirmation of booking I was asked - via email - if I required an early check in or sea view etc. I requested an early check in of 11 am and it was confirmed in writing, I then called the hotel to days before and spoke to the girl who I had been mailing, she was lovely and reconfirmed my early check in. I arrived at the hotel at 12pm, I walked into reception and was asked was I checking out - when I said 'no - checking in' I was very rudely told I was too early and I couldn't check in til 2, I explained that I had confirmed early check in and was told that there was nothing they could do because all the rooms had been full the night before and there was no way one would be ready, I asked to speak to the manager who literally said 'what do you want us to do - we've just told you there are no rooms' when I mentioned the wedding - miraculously, there was a room ready. It was filthy, tiny, old and smelly, the windows were cracked and the wall paper was falling off the walls, we asked for an iron to be sent and were told if someone was free it would be sent up - I asked could I come down and get it myself and was told 'no' someone will be up when they're ready.
It turned out that there were nicer rooms in the 'new wing' and maybe we would have gotten one of these if we didn't have the audacity to show up early! Wedding was fantastic, couldn't fault it, food was brilliant and waiting staff were excellent. Just such a pity about the staff and the filthy rooms, given the choice, I would never stay there again.
Excellent Hotel
by A TripAdvisor Member
We really had a excellent stay in the Esplanade in bray we had a lovely 3 day stay the location was second to none and the service and staff was first class even do the hotel was very busy. really enjoyed it and will return later in the year.
Lovely Hotel
by TripAdvisor Member DiamondDoll
I really enjoyed our stay here. We were given a lovely sea view room which had recently been renovated. The bathroom was a bit small but the room was spacious and beautifully decorated. Staff were ok but no great hospitality.
Nice alternative to the Big City!
by TripAdvisor Member worldstudent
I have traveled to ireland many times and used "trip advisor" to locate a hotel in the area of Bray, since our favorite hotel nearby in the small town of Greystones has closed. Although some of the Esplanade reviews were poor, it looked to have the kind of "character" that we appreciate and booked a one night stay, Because we arrived in Dublin in the late afternoon and were taking the Stena to Wales the next day the location was ideal. I booked a "superior" room and we were given one of the charming old rooms in the victorian section of the building, with a sea view. We found the staff to be very friendly.
The room was comfortably furnished, bathroom old fashioned but functional and clean. The breakfast buffet very nice, with more than the usual basics.
The area is lovely, and there are several pubs and restaurants close by. It would make a great "home base" for touring Wicklow and with the Dart station nearby, Dublin is easily accessable.
After nearly 3 weeks of touring the U.K. and Ireland, we decided to return to Bray and the Esplanade for our last night. We found a room in the newer section of the hotel available when we arrived without reservation. Again, staff was very friendly, and the room quite comfortable, but without the charm of the older section.
Would certainly recommend the Esplanade to others, and will return ourselves.
Awful Awful Awful
by TripAdvisor Member Thomashenryarse
We visited Ireland for a few days in October our first hotel stop was the Esplanade in Bray. We nearly turned round and came home!! the reception staff were unbelievable!! We arrived at the hotel 2.20 (following a long and early start from the UK) and were promptly told "You can not check in untill 2.30. I asked if we could park up in the car park, go for a coffee and come bacl later, and was firmly told "No the car park is being resufaced" no further advice about where else we should park, no welcoming smile just blunt and unhelpful.
When we eventually checked in an hour later, we were not given the sea view room that we had requested, and were told by a much older and even more unfriendly member of reception staff that we had not even booked that particular room (so we were liars as well)!!
The rooms were not as well decorated or as nicely furnished as we would of expected. How -ever the buffet breakfast was fab.
But again on check out the staff were talking to each other all the time we were paying, they never asked if we had enjoyed our stay, never thanked us for the payment, just nothing.
We suggest you do not go to this hotel
It was our first impression of Ireland, and had we not moved on to Cork (where we got the absolute opposite kind of welcome it was superb) we may never of bothered to go back again. Terrible, unfriendly, awful staff.
Carolyn Fothergill
Blyth
Northumberland UK
Nightmare
by TripAdvisor Member Darrab
Worst hotel i have ever styed in. The staff at reception were unhelpful, and rude.
Both on checking in and out the elderly lady in reception gave us no greeting at all but continued her conversation with other staff.
Rooms were not clean, hairs in the bath and the room had a dirty musky smell
Only good thing was the restaurant, breakfast was a delight and the srtaff in here at least had a smile.
Bar with no beer.....
by TripAdvisor Member lollydollyIreland
We recently attended a function in the Esplanade hotel in Bray. The 'bar' in the function room was totally empty except for a few cordial bottles and a few scattered bottles of coca cola. They had to go out to the main hotel bar for everything, including a bottle of brandy and vodka - they seemed surprised that people at the party actually wanted a drink!!!!! As it was a family party with some young people in attendance, a straw was requested for a soft drink - no such luck - you would think we asked for a piece of the moon! The barman was about 15 years of age and had no training in either bar work or manners. He was sullen and unhelpful, I suppose we would all feel like this working in a bar with no stock.
I would not advise anyone to book this hotel for any type of function, it is dirty, the staff have no training and there is a general feeling of ' could not care less' about the place.
Pleasantly surprised
by TripAdvisor Member TheMoth
Had read other peoples comments and did not know what to expect, glad we didn't listen to them. We found the staff friendly and helpful. The room was clean and tidy. The decor in the hotel was fresh and we had everything we needed for our weekend break. It's in a perfect spot just across the road from the beach and not far to drive to some of Wicklow's spectacular scenery.
Worst Hotel I have ever stayed in!!
by TripAdvisor Member Badger30
from the minute we planned our weekend break at the Esplanade Hotel we should have realised it was a mistake, the telephone manner we received when we made our reservation was appalling, we only proceeded because of the impression of the hotel gave on its website, talk about false advertising!! our welcome on arrival was unbelievable we walked into a barrage of bad language from an elderley scottish woman who was talking to a younger member of staff in a completely unacceptable way and then proceeded to treat us like morans! We never received one smile from her our whole stay. On a better note the restauant served superb food at very reasonable prices, our room was clean and the location beautiful, none of this however could make up for the attitude of the majority of staff. I wouldnt reccommend this hotel to anyone as I dont feel i'd be going too far if I said that the elderley scottish woman ruined our stay and thoroughly put us off ever returning there again! wouldn't go back if it were free!!
Photos
The Bray Cliffwalk
My breakfast treat
Bray Cliffwalk
Young man and the Sea
Forum Posts
address
by ggingerr
I look for address: 35 Aravon Court, Meath Road, Bray, Co. Wiclow.
I can,t find any map of this area, and if you could send me map( if there is one) by email I would be very grateful.
Re: address
by Carnation
Is that address in UK ?
If so, I believe it should be Co. Wicklow and not Co. Wiclow
Re: address
by ATLC
This an address in the UK?
try www.multimap.com
you'll have a detailed map and with any luck also an aerial photo!
Re: Re: address
by Annapet
you could also try http://www.maporama.com
:-)
Re: Re: address
by orlikins
You might not get something as detailed as Aravon court online, but if you mail the Bray tourist office at braytour@indigo.ie, they might send you a map of the town for free.
Orla
Re: address
by pMcGann
Co Wicklow is not in the U. K.
It is in the Republic of Ireland.
RE: address
by fernando2905
I don't have a map, but directions from Dart station:
Exit station and go left, down an alleyway with shops on it, at the end of the alleyway, take a right, then and immediate left and you are on Meath Road, Aravon court is on the right hand side about half way down the road.
if you need anything else just ask.
RE: RE: address
by ATLC
oh lol! A reply after just over 4 years.
Welcome to VT, Fernando
RE: RE: address
by orlikins
well, after four years, I would hope that the original poster would have found it by now :) still, the intentions were good :)
RE: RE: address
by Carnation
LMAO!!! :o)
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