Talbot Hotel Carlow - Carlow, Ireland     

Hi First off i'm a travel agent and deal with hotels everyday of the week. I booked the talbot for my hen weekend for 1 night stay evening meal bed and breakfast. I had paid in advnace for 10 rooms for 20 people. On the Wed/Thur before we arrived I rang the hotel to see if I could have one girl who was travelling from Dublin to have us all checked in to avoid a the hassel of 20 women checking in all to gether when we arrived. (We were leaving from Limerick) I was told this was not possible as each room had to be secured by a credit card. I was advise that if i emailed the rooming list they would have all the keys ready and no time would be wasted. Now the fun starts after paying for 10 rooms they only wanted to give me 9 and when I confronted the the woman dealing with my guest she said I han't contacted her since the 30th of May. This was a big lie. As I spoke to her on the Wed/Thur of the same week. I had a photgrapher booked for 6 o clock and all this mess made me run late. I came down stairs at 6.10 and asked the woman to ring all my rooms to say the photograpehr was waiting. she snaped at me and said " I've rang them 2 hours ago and there all messing on the phones" treating me like a teenager and someone she could talk down to. Lucky enough I was able to correct her and said that wasn't possible as we were at that stage only in the hotel 40 mins. so her 2 hour statement was another lie. The amonut of hassel just to check in left me with an extra 30 euro bill for making my photgapher late. Oh here comes the laugh. Now the rooms are lovely and I couldn't complain about them, spotless and very fresh and new. In My room was an amazing Bunch of flowers with a hugh Box of milk tray, with a note saying from the hotel. I rang reception and thanked them saying it was very kind. the woman agian said no problem and enjoy my stay. It wasn't untill later in the night That I realised that my Best friend had ordered and paid for the flowers and choclates and the hotel never bothered to write her name nor did they correct me when I thanked them for them,. Saying all that the restaurant & bar staff were amazing. the food was first class. the room service for breakfast was pipping hot and I really enjoyed Carlow.

My daughter and I stayed in the Talbot Carlow for a weekend break. We thought we would enjoy a peaceful and relaxing break from Dublin city..we could not have been more wrong!! We checked in at 3:20pm on the Friday evening without problems and went up to our room on the fourth floor. As you do in most hotels, you check and have a look around the room as soon as you get into it. My daughter sat on her bed and pull back the covers to reveal soiled sheets..by soiled i mean, with human waste!! We looked at each other in complete horror. I immediately rang reception and spoke to the receptionist, Sinead, who apologised and said the problem would be rectified straight away. However, 30 minutes later a chamber maid arrived carrying two clean sheets only. I then requested that both beds be completely remade, to discover that when stripped, there were no mattress protectors on the beds..another call to reception was made. Finally beds were clean!! I then made a trip to reception and Barry did offer to change rooms but i declined as i was unsure if another room would be as dirty!! A few other things to look out for..although this is a new hotel, fittings and fixtures seemed a bit shabby and generally grubby..the whole place needs a thorough clean!! Staff are generally unfriendly and rude..they whip plates away from you as soon as you put down your cutlery. We also found a hair in our food at breakfast..manager did not apologise and seemed unconerned. Also...WATCH OUT FOR HEN PARTIES!!! There were at least two seperate parties going on over the weekend...cue shouting, drinking and all that goes with it!! When we were leaving hotel..a group of women from one of the parties were hanging out the windows at the front of the hotel, roaring across to each other!! On check out i voiced my opinions to Bart the duty manager and he gave me a discount off the bill woopee!! I would expect a free stay given the standards we encountered..they have a lot to learn from their sister hotel in wexford...DONT STAY HERE!!