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12th May 2017
05:30pm BST
There is no shortage of incredible hotels across Ireland but Ashford Castle surely has to be among the most elegant of them all.
The chosen venue for one of the biggest showbiz events of the year - Rory McIlroy's wedding to fiancée Erica Stoll - Ashford has long been a jewel in Ireland's hospitality crown.
But what is it actually like?
Well, the answer is that it is even more impressive than you'd imagine.
The Mayo hotel was reopened in 2015 following a €75 million restoration and is located in Cong, home to John Ford's The Quiet Man.
There are 83 rooms and suites on the grounds of the castle but the best of all is the Hideaway Cottage - a €3,000 a night private getaway.
If, like us, that is ever so slightly out of your budget, then the rooms in the main hotel are your next port of call.
They may not be cheap but staying here is like stepping into a Disney movie, complete with lake views, monogrammed Egyptian Cotten bedlinen, silken drapes and the kind of ornaments that your mother would have told you off for even looking at.
One of the many, many awards that Ashford Castle has won is the title of Ireland's Best Spa Hotel at the World Spa Awards 2016.
The spa has a stunning view of the River Corrib and five treatment rooms, where guests can enjoy treatments using B Africa, Elemis, Voya, Pure Flow and Essie.
There are three signature treatments but our pick of the bunch is the Ashford Castle Ritual, which includes a muscle melting back massage, nourishing hair mask, facial, eye compress and Indian head massage.
The design of the spa is really unusual and inspired by the history of the site, making for a completely unique experience.
If you're going for a fancy hotel break, you have to try out the afternoon tea and Ashford serves its version in The Connaught Room. There are four servings throughout the day (1.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm and 4pm) and everything is presented on delicate china for a fully Downton Abbey-eque experience.
Ashford Castle is the kind of hotel that invites exploration, with plenty of nooks and crannies to discover. The George V Dining Room is a blaze of royal blue, while The Dungeon is much more grandiose than the name suggests and brings to mind an old medieval feast.
Cullen's At The Cottage is a thatched cottage with cool, contemporary decor and the Wine Cellars will be top of the 'to do' list for anyone who loves their vino.
Much more than a staycation, visiting Ashford Castle is one of those 'pinch yourself' moments and we all deserve to live like royalty at least once, right?
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