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16th May 2019
08:58am BST
A hotel that the whole family will actually fall in love with? It's a rarity that kids will be just as happy in a hotel as a couple looking for something mega romantic, but that's exactly what Kelly's Resort Hotel in Wexford offers.
I'd heard only amazing things about this place - one friend insists it's her "favourite place in the whole world" and has been going with her family since she was a little 'un. Because it turns out that Kelly's is the kind of place you can't resist returning to.
What's so special about it? Well, let's start with the food. You can go on a full board basis, which is what I did when I was down for a weekend last month and this is the ultimate way to do it.
You get brekkie, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Four gorge meals a day with a choice of eating from the buffet in the Ivy Room or table service in the stylish Beaches restaurant. We arrived on Friday just as afternoon tea was being served - pile your plate with homemade cakes and cookies, grab a pot of tea and soak up the sun before going back for a second round of coffee cake.
You'll be rolling out of here, but it's so worth it.
Honestly, with the sun shining it felt like I was in Spain instead of Wexford. Staying in Kelly's is like staying somewhere looked after by your doting granny - you're in welcome hands here and there's something lovely about just lounging around the hotel and showing up for delish meals.
There's those aforementioned outdoor tennis courts, an indoor pool and - best of all - an OUTDOOR HOT TUB.
It's kinda like the hotel from Dirty Dancing: planned activities on site every day such as horse shoe throwing and boules, live music and dancing every night and a general air of good solid fun.
And oh, that dancing. Older couples put me to shame as they waltzed around the dance floor and it was a rare treat to get a glimpse into a different sort of nightlife than I'd be used to.
There's a whole grassy area that gets the sun perfectly where you can grab a sun lounger and chill, and the hot tub has views of the beach with a little path leading to the water's edge.
I can't put into words how incredibly relaxing Kelly's actually is.
Prices for two nights half board (breakfast, afternoon tea/coffee & cakes plus dinner each day) start from €352 per adult, but you'd want to be quick about booking as the regulars book their stay for the following year at check out.
I'm already eyeing up dates for summer 2019...
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