Pros

  • Modern rooms with flat-screen TVs, kettles, and luxe bathrooms
  • Self-catering lodges with multiple bedrooms, kitchens, and fireplaces
  • Three golf courses, golf shop, and clubhouse
  • Indoor heated pool with adult-only hours
  • Spa offers diverse treatments and a hydrotherapy suite
  • Restaurant and a lounge with outdoor terrace seating and afternoon tea
  • Gym with assorted equipment and fitness classes
  • Meeting spaces, ballrooms, and business center
  • Tennis courts and soccer and rugby fields
  • Children’s playroom, playground, and kids' club
  • Free Wi-Fi and on-site parking
  • Free shuttle service to Fota Wildlife Park and Fota House & Gardens
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Cons

  • Nothing within walking distance; car is necessary to get around
  • Reports of worn decor and maintenance issues
  • Complaints about food service and quality
  • Hydrotherapy suite costs a fee
  • Extra towels cost a fee, and towels aren’t provided in the pool
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Bottom Line

The four-pearl Fota Island Resort is a secluded retreat dedicated to golf and wellness, about a 20-minute drive from Cork and Cobh. Beyond its three well-known golf courses, the hotel has an attractive spa, indoor pool, and a restaurant and lounge bar, though guests should note that the food and service get mixed reviews. Spacious guest rooms have a contemporary style and modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and coffee- and tea-making facilities, though some details could use an update. The self-catering lodges provide a home-away-from-home escape with multiple bedrooms, kitchens, and fireplaces. For an alternative, travelers can compare rates with the Castlemartyr Resort, which also has castle ruins on its grounds. 

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

Fota Island Resort

Scene

Sprawling golf and wellness resort with an elegant charm that attracts couples and families 

Fota Island Resort is set on 780 acres of beautiful, lush land that includes the hotel’s three golf courses. It’s a gated community that announces itself with preened grounds, greenery, flowers, and an attractive waterfall in front of the main building. The atmosphere, as expected of a lodge, is a mix of warmth, country charm, and subdued elegance. The reception area is dominated by stone-tiled floors and exposed brick columns and walls. Floors are covered in patterned rugs, and the large spaces are punctuated with antique chandeliers and elegant furniture in tones of cream and gray. But there have been some reports of worn decor and maintenance issues throughout the hotel. Still, the property is working to rectify this; the lounge/bar area underwent renovations in 2015. The resort attracts mainly couples and families seeking a full-fledged getaway. 

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Location

Within driving distance of Cork, Cobh, and nearby attractions

Though the resort feels secluded and rural, it actually sits not far from a major highway and is only a 20- to 25-minute drive from both Cork and Cobh. The Fota Wildlife Park is nearby, and the hotel provides a free shuttle to and from the park and Fota House & Gardens, both about 20 minutes away. The Jameson Distillery is about a 15-minute drive away, while Blarney Castle is about a half-hour away. However, the fairly secluded location means that there’s nothing within walking distance, and it’s a five- to 10-minute drive to the nearest dining options. Fota train station is about a 20-minute drive from here, while the closest airport is in Cork, and takes just under 25 minutes to reach by car.

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Rooms

Rooms, suites, and self-catering lodges with flat-screen TVs, kettles, and free Wi-Fi; some have balconies

The resort's 131 rooms range from standard King or Deluxe rooms to luxury suites to four-bedroom houses. Rooms in the hotel have a simple, contemporary style with a purple and gray color palette, white linens, patterned carpets, and a few nature photography pieces hanging above the beds. These are modern rooms, without any pretensions of high design, though there have been reports of cleanliness issues and some wear and tear. By contrast, the suites have a more luxurious ambiance with cherry wood paneled walls, wooden, stone, and carpeted floors, brick fireplaces, and a mix of upholstered and velour couches and chairs. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, DVD players, air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and often iPod dock alarm clocks; some rooms also have balconies with lovely views of the golf courses. The suites are outfitted with separate living rooms and minibars. Bathrooms are spacious, with stylish gray or limestone tiles, white porcelain sinks, toiletries, and separate walk-in rainfall showers and deep tubs.

There are a variety of self-catering lodgings available on the estate, which vary in size from two to four bedrooms. Fresh, contemporary decor is met with modern conveniences like multiple flat-screen TVs, fully-equipped kitchens, and free Wi-Fi. All bedding and towels are supplied, though extra towels cost a fee. Bathrooms have basic toiletries and either showers and tubs or shower/tub combos. Most units feature cozy details like fireplaces, balconies, DVD players, and coffee and tea facilities; some have washers and dryers. There have been a few complaints concerning maintenance issues in the lodges. 

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Features

Ample features including golf courses, pool, fitness center, spa, restaurant, kids' club, and event spaces

Fota Island Resort is known for its three golf courses, which hosted the 2014 Irish Open. The golfing facilities also include a pro shop, a clubhouse that serves light meals and drinks, and a free Golf Academy that has practice turf, indoor chipping areas, and lessons. The hotel's wellness facilities include an indoor heated pool with adult-only hours as well as outdoor activities like tennis courts and soccer and rugby fields (used by teams like Manchester United). The fitness center is outfitted with diverse weight and cardio equipment, plus fitness classes (for adults and children) are offered for a fee. The spa provides the usual range of beauty treatments and massages, though it also offers things like Touch Therapy, a treatment specifically for cancer patients. Note that the spa’s hydrotherapy suite costs an extra fee to use.

Fota Restaurant serves three meals a day, with breakfast included in most room rates. Additionally, the Amber Lounge serves cold snacks, afternoon tea, and a selection of 75 whiskeys. On warm days, guests can enjoy a meal on the terrace. Guests should note that there have been reports of poor food quality as well as service.

The hotel tries to accommodate a diverse clientele. Business travelers can make use of the five fully-equipped meeting and event spaces (also used for weddings), plus the hotel’s business center, public computer, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also offers corporate activities like outdoor laser tag or archery. For children, there’s an indoor playroom, an outdoor playground, and a kids' club for all ages during the holidays and weekends (though it costs a fee). Parking is included in room rates, and a free shuttle service can take guests to Fota Wildlife Park and Fota House & Gardens

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Fota Island Resort

Scene

Sprawling golf and wellness resort with an elegant charm that attracts couples and families 

Fota Island Resort is set on 780 acres of beautiful, lush land that includes the hotel’s three golf courses. It’s a gated community that announces itself with preened grounds, greenery, flowers, and an attractive waterfall in front of the main building. The atmosphere, as expected of a lodge, is a mix of warmth, country charm, and subdued elegance. The reception area is dominated by stone-tiled floors and exposed brick columns and walls. Floors are covered in patterned rugs, and the large spaces are punctuated with antique chandeliers and elegant furniture in tones of cream and gray. But there have been some reports of worn decor and maintenance issues throughout the hotel. Still, the property is working to rectify this; the lounge/bar area underwent renovations in 2015. The resort attracts mainly couples and families seeking a full-fledged getaway. 

See More Scene

Location

Within driving distance of Cork, Cobh, and nearby attractions

Though the resort feels secluded and rural, it actually sits not far from a major highway and is only a 20- to 25-minute drive from both Cork and Cobh. The Fota Wildlife Park is nearby, and the hotel provides a free shuttle to and from the park and Fota House & Gardens, both about 20 minutes away. The Jameson Distillery is about a 15-minute drive away, while Blarney Castle is about a half-hour away. However, the fairly secluded location means that there’s nothing within walking distance, and it’s a five- to 10-minute drive to the nearest dining options. Fota train station is about a 20-minute drive from here, while the closest airport is in Cork, and takes just under 25 minutes to reach by car.

See More Location

Rooms

Rooms, suites, and self-catering lodges with flat-screen TVs, kettles, and free Wi-Fi; some have balconies

The resort's 131 rooms range from standard King or Deluxe rooms to luxury suites to four-bedroom houses. Rooms in the hotel have a simple, contemporary style with a purple and gray color palette, white linens, patterned carpets, and a few nature photography pieces hanging above the beds. These are modern rooms, without any pretensions of high design, though there have been reports of cleanliness issues and some wear and tear. By contrast, the suites have a more luxurious ambiance with cherry wood paneled walls, wooden, stone, and carpeted floors, brick fireplaces, and a mix of upholstered and velour couches and chairs. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, DVD players, air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and often iPod dock alarm clocks; some rooms also have balconies with lovely views of the golf courses. The suites are outfitted with separate living rooms and minibars. Bathrooms are spacious, with stylish gray or limestone tiles, white porcelain sinks, toiletries, and separate walk-in rainfall showers and deep tubs.

There are a variety of self-catering lodgings available on the estate, which vary in size from two to four bedrooms. Fresh, contemporary decor is met with modern conveniences like multiple flat-screen TVs, fully-equipped kitchens, and free Wi-Fi. All bedding and towels are supplied, though extra towels cost a fee. Bathrooms have basic toiletries and either showers and tubs or shower/tub combos. Most units feature cozy details like fireplaces, balconies, DVD players, and coffee and tea facilities; some have washers and dryers. There have been a few complaints concerning maintenance issues in the lodges. 

See More Rooms

Features

Ample features including golf courses, pool, fitness center, spa, restaurant, kids' club, and event spaces

Fota Island Resort is known for its three golf courses, which hosted the 2014 Irish Open. The golfing facilities also include a pro shop, a clubhouse that serves light meals and drinks, and a free Golf Academy that has practice turf, indoor chipping areas, and lessons. The hotel's wellness facilities include an indoor heated pool with adult-only hours as well as outdoor activities like tennis courts and soccer and rugby fields (used by teams like Manchester United). The fitness center is outfitted with diverse weight and cardio equipment, plus fitness classes (for adults and children) are offered for a fee. The spa provides the usual range of beauty treatments and massages, though it also offers things like Touch Therapy, a treatment specifically for cancer patients. Note that the spa’s hydrotherapy suite costs an extra fee to use.

Fota Restaurant serves three meals a day, with breakfast included in most room rates. Additionally, the Amber Lounge serves cold snacks, afternoon tea, and a selection of 75 whiskeys. On warm days, guests can enjoy a meal on the terrace. Guests should note that there have been reports of poor food quality as well as service.

The hotel tries to accommodate a diverse clientele. Business travelers can make use of the five fully-equipped meeting and event spaces (also used for weddings), plus the hotel’s business center, public computer, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also offers corporate activities like outdoor laser tag or archery. For children, there’s an indoor playroom, an outdoor playground, and a kids' club for all ages during the holidays and weekends (though it costs a fee). Parking is included in room rates, and a free shuttle service can take guests to Fota Wildlife Park and Fota House & Gardens

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Airport Transportation

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Golf Course

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.