Top 10 Rejuvenation Hotels and Resorts on this Planet.
Ashford Castle Hotel, Ireland
Dating back to 1228 and once the estate of the Guinness family, the
legendary 5-star Ashford Castle Hotel was one of the first luxury Castle Hotels
in Ireland. Situated beside the tranquil Lough Corrib, Ashford Castle is a top
Mayo Hotel and one of the best examples of a Castle in Ireland. Opening as a
Castle Hotel in 1939, Ashford Castle Hotel has welcomed many Heads of State as
well as International Personalities over the years. The timeless classical
interiors and award winning cuisine, combined with an array of Sporting
Activities such as Fishing, Falconry, Golf, Horseback Riding and Cruising on the
Corrib has resulted in Ashford Castle Hotel being awarded:
� Best Resort Hotel in Europe by readers of Conde Nast Traveller 2010
� Top 10 Resort Properties in Europe by Travel & Leisure 2010
� Number 1 Resort Hotel in Ireland voted by Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice
Awards 2008 & 2009
Ashford Castle is a medieval castle turned five star luxury hotel near Cong on
the Mayo/Galway border in Ireland, on the shore of Lough Corrib. Ashford Castle
is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World organization.
A castle was built on the site in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman House of Burke
following their defeat of the O'Connors, the Royal House of Connacht, who are
still extant in the person of the O'Conor Don. The de Burgos would build several
such castles throughout the province, including one on the mouth of the River
Corrib around which was to grow the City of Galway, but Ashford would remain
their principal stronghold in the vastness of a wild and untamed province. The
principal legacy of the native O'Connors is to be seen at the gates of the
estate in the form of the Romanesque Augustinian Abbey of Cong. It is in this
abbey that Ireland's last High King Ruaidr� Ua Conchobair died and from which
came the greatest relic of his Court, the Cross of Cong, created to hold a piece
of the True Cross and now in the National Museum of Ireland.
After more than three and a half centuries under the de Burgos, whose surname
became Burke or Bourke, Ashford passed into the hands of a new master, following
a fierce battle between the forces of the de Burgo's and those of the English
official Sir Richard Bingham, Lord President of Connaught, when a truce was
agreed. In 1589, the castle fell to Bingham, who added a fortified enclave
within its precincts. In 1715, the estate of Ashford was established by the
Browne Family (Baron Oranmore), and a lodge in the style of a 17th-century
French chateau was constructed.
The Estate was purchased in 1852 by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, who extended the
estate to 26,000 acres (110 km2), built new roads, planted thousands of trees
and added two large Victorian style extensions. The castle was drawn for Sir
William Wilde's book about County Galway. On his death in 1868, the estate
passed to his son Lord Ardilaun, an avid gardener who oversaw the development of
massive woodlands and rebuilt the entire west wing of the castle, designed by
architect James Franklin Fuller. He also subsidised the operation of several
steamboats, the most notable of which was the Lady Eglinton, which plied between
the villages of the Upper Lough Corrib region and Galway City, thus opening the
area to increased commerce. In a time of agitation by tenant farmers in the Land
Wars of the late 19th century, epitomised by the action of tenants at nearby
Lough Mask House (home of Captain Charles Boycott), he was considered by many to
be an 'improving' landlord. Some of his efforts were unsuccessful, particularly
the Cong Canal, also known as 'the Dry Canal', which was built to link Lough
Mask and Lough Corrib but was a failure, due to its inability to hold water.
Despite such setbacks, the love borne by him and his wife Olive, daughter of the
3rd Earl of Bantry, for the castle and the estate was deep and best epitomised
by that fact that when he was ennobled in 1880 he derived his title from the
island of Ardilaun, which formed part of the estate on Lough Corrib.
The Castle passed to Ardilaun's nephew Ernest Guinness, who sold it to Noel
Huggard in 1939. He opened the estate as a hotel, which became renowned for the
provision of its country pursuits, such as angling and shooting. Noel Huggard's
parents had been in the hotel business in Waterville, County Kerry, since 1910
and his grand daughters, Louise and Paula, run The Butler Arms Hotel there to
this day.
In 1951, the film director John Ford came to the west of Ireland to film what
would become a movie classic, The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen
O'Hara. The grounds of Ashford Castle, as well as nearby Cong, formed the
backdrop for much of the action in the film.
In 1970, Ashford Castle was bought by John Mulcahy, who oversaw its complete
restoration and expansion, doubling its size with the addition of a new wing in
the early 1970s, building a golf course and developing the grounds and gardens.
In 1985, a group of Irish American investors, which included Chuck Feeney and
Tony O'Reilly, purchased Ashford. The Castle was sold by these investors in 2007
for �50 million to Galway-based property investor Gerry Barrett and his family.
While some of Mr Barrett's extensive property loans will be managed by the Irish
National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), Ashford was financed by Bank of
Scotland (Ireland), who placed the property in receivership in November 2011,[6]
though the hotel continues as a going concern, being run by the Tifco Hotel
Group, an Irish hotel management company. In September 2012 it was voted the
best resort in Ireland and the third best in Europe by Cond� Nast Traveler.
In October 2012 the hotel was put up for sale and was valued at around �25
million, half of what Barrett paid in 2007. The hotel currently has 83 bedrooms,
six of which are suites. Barret's plan to add another 13 penthouse bedrooms and
30 lodges in the castle grounds has not gone through.
In its time the castle has played host to many notable guests, including: King
George V of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India, and his consort Queen Mary;
John Lennon; George Harrison; Oscar Wilde (whose father, Sir William Wilde, had
an estate adjacent to Ashford, where the writer spent much of his childhood);
LPGA Golfer Mindy Miller; U.S. President Ronald Reagan; H.R.H. The Prince
Edward, Earl of Wessex; U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy; John Wayne; Brad Pitt; Pierce
Brosnan; H.S.H. The Prince Rainier III of Monaco and his consort, H.S.H. The
Princess Grace.
Corrib Rooms
These king/twin-bedded rooms are individually designed and appointed with
classic furnishings and fabrics in keeping with the style of the hotel. Each
room commands spectacular views of either Lough Corrib, Ireland�s second largest
lake, Cong River or the Ashford Gardens. A wide range of facilities are sure to
meet all your needs.
Amenities include fully interactive plasma screen T.V. system with movies on
demand, music on demand, internet access, writing desk, direct dial telephone,
voicemail, trouser press, and safety deposit box.
ROOM FACILITIES
Direct Dial Telephone
Ironing Centre
Voice Mail
Hairdryers
Music on demand
Movies on demand
Interactive TV
Broadband Internet
Safety Deposits Box
Suites
These rooms are slightly larger but have a separate bedroom to the sitting room
area with a floor space of approximately 15.5ft x 13ft for the Bedroom and 24ft
x 12ft for the sitting room and 15ft x 10ft for the bathroom.
Superbly appointed rooms commanding wonderful views of the lake or river, each
suite has been recently refurbished and designed to the highest international
standard. All feature large tastefully designed bathrooms.
Amenities include fully interactive T.V. system with movies on demand, music on
demand, internet access, writing desk, sitting room area, direct dial telephone,
voicemail, trouser press, safety deposit box, sherry decanter.
Health and Fitness
TREATMENTS
MASSAGE THERAPY
Indulge your senses..... let the natural aromas of pampering treatments relax
and restore you in luxury
Aroma-Stone Massage - Top to toe aromatic hot stone massage COST
�130 DURATION
1hr 15 min
Aroma-stone massage combines the therapeutic benefits of Yon-Ka�s 3 aromatic
oils with the relaxing, rebalancing effects of warm, smooth basalt stones to
massage the entire body. An Introduction of hot towel compresses and an
invigorating conclusion complete the circle of treatment leaving you renewed and
relaxed.
Aroma-Stone Massage - Back only
� 70 30 min
Aroma-Luxe Massage -Aromatic massage - energising or relaxing
� 100 1hr
For one hour you will be massaged with essential oils - including lavender,
basil and verbena - leaving you feeling energised or Relaxed according to your
individual needs.
Back Massage
� 55 30 min
Back, Neck, Shoulders, Face and Scalp Massage
� 75 45 min
Swedish Massage - Full Body
� 100 1 hr
Relaxes tense and contracted muscles, improving circulation, lymphatic drainage
and muscle tone. Stimulates the nerve endings relieving muscular pain and
fatigue.
MARINE THERAPHY
Gommage Marin - Toning Body Polish � 55 25 min
This energising scrub with Guerande sea salt grains is enriched with aromatic
oils of petit-grain, verbena and rosemary.A thorough exfoliation treatment that
leaves your skin soft and satin-smooth.
Soins Velours - Moisturising body polish - invigorating or relaxing � 100 1hr
One Treatment with 2 choices for satin-soft skin. Choose from marine mineral
salts for an invigorating scrub, or a moisturising, exfoliating soft gel peel
for a more relaxing, gentler treatment. Follow with a nourishing massage for
skin as soft as velvet!
Hydralessence Corps - Long lasting, deep hydrating treatment � 125 1hr 15 min
An effective moisturising and comforting treatment that leaves your skin velvety
smooth.The plant-based soft gel peel exfoliates and moisturises, a seaweed body
mask deeply hydrates and a relaxing massage with a concentrate of active
ingredients leaves divinely soft skin!
Phyto Marine - Slimming body treatment � 115 1hr 10 min The Phyto-Marine
treatment offers two slimming options: a full body mask of either marine clay or
micronised seaweed. Both choices are completed with precisely targeted healing
and stimulating aromatic oils, giving visible results that will encourage you to
continue treatment at home.
Body Detox - Deep detoxifying herbal wrap � 120 1hr 15 min The Body Detox is
deeply detoxifying using brisk massage and specifically targeted herbal
treatment creams followed by cocooning in a thermal blanket. Skin tone and
texture is improved and you emerge with a renewed sense of well-being.
Secret De Beaut� - Head to toe revive � 170 1hr 45 min A real star treatment
combining marine mineral salts and aromatic oils for full body exfoliation with
a nourishing foot mask and the Hydralessence facial.The perfect gift to yourself
or someone you care about.
Jambes Toniques - Anti-fatigue leg treatment � 70 35 min Heavy tired legs?
Jambes Toniques is the ultimate remedy.The treatment stimulates surface
circulation and leaves your legs feeling wonderfully light and refreshed in just
35 minutes. Perfect before or after a long flight.
Lavish Spa Foot Treatment - The ultimate foot treat � 100 50mins A smoothing
scrub with Guerande sea salt grains and essential oils, followed by a relaxing
massage and a warm wrap of marine clay - which leaves your feet smooth as silk.
Beneficial for tired aching feet.
FACIAL THERAPY
Yon-Ka - A passion for plants... The essence of skin care
This selection of face and body treatments with essential oils and botanical
extracts, is an invitation to a voyage. A voyage to a world of gentleness, of
scents and sensations that draw their strength from nature. Each treatment was
designed in response to you, your desires, and your needs to reveal your beauty
at every age of life.
Le Grand Classique - Cleansing, restoring and relaxing facial � 90 1hr
A truly personalised and complete treatment! Gentle cleansing followed by a
relaxing massage with balancing aromatic elixirs of lavender, rosemary and
geranium combine to leave the skin radiant.
Plaisir D'Ar�mes - Aromatic relaxing and well-being facial � 95 1hr
This cocooning treatment unites all of the beneficial elements of a relaxing
treatment including the warm aromatic compress and the enveloping relaxing
massage.You are left calm and your complexion glows with health, ready to face
the day.
Vital Intense - Deep regenerating facial � 110 1hr 15 min
Recommended for all ages to re-infuse your skin with a vital energy that it
sometimes lacks after sun exposure, during pregnancy, during menopause or after
a spell of ill health or tiredness.Your skin rediscovers its balance, elasticity
and vitality.
Escale Beaut� - The beauty break � 60 30 min
The scents of citrus fruits and French lavender re-energise and stimulate, while
botanical extracts reveal a soft, delicate and soothed complexion and all in
just 30 magical minutes.
Hydralessence Visage - Long-lasting, deep hydrating facial � 100 1hr
This high performance, deep hydrating facial will revive the most dehydrated
complexions. Luxuriate in the warmth of healing hands while your skin is bathed
in a moisture surge of deliciously scented oils, creams and elixirs. Sheer
bliss!
Optimizer - Lift effect facial � 100 1hr 10 min Every part of this luxury
miracle treatment encourages flawless skin and perfect tone. In a little more
than an hour your facial contours are �lifted� and your skin is left looking
beautiful and relaxed.
Eclat Contour - Anti-wrinkle, anti puffiness or anti-dark circles � 70 45 min
These 3 �contour� treatments provide you with the ultimate tool to preserve the
fragile beauty of the eyes. Wrinkles and lines are smoothed away; specific
massage helps to combat puffiness and dark circles along with sinus pain and jet
lag. Recommended as an intensive course of treatments for optimum results.
MUMS-TO-BE
Pre-pregnancy Pampering Treatment Duo � 100 1hr
A pampering duo of treatments to help prevent stretch marks and revive tired
spirits with a combination of full body relaxation and heavy, tired leg relief.
Gentle exfoliation is followed by hydrating, nourishing massage and a cool
refreshing leg compress to combat excess fluid and fatigue.The perfect pampering
treat for all mothers to be!
GENTLEMEN
Mens Grand Classique - Facial for men � 80 1hr
A deep pore cleansing facial with a relaxing massage of natural aromatic elixirs
and oxygenating mask leaves the skin clear and calm.
Swedish Full Body Massage � 100 1hr
Unique specific massage techniques and essential oils to ease tensed and
stressed muscles of the body.
Head to Toe Revive � 135 1hr 30 min
Massage using specific techniques and aromatic oils ease stressed muscles,
followed by 30 minute facial to reveal a clear, calm complexion
TANNING TREATMENT
Flash Soleil Sun Kiss
� 90 1hr
This healthy glow can prolong a holiday tan, re-infuse your skin with the glow
of sunny days during winter or offer fragile skin a beautiful golden tan without
the risk of sun exposure.
THE NAIL CLINIC
Manicure
French Manicure
Nail Shape and Polish
Nail Shape and French Polish
Pedicure
Manicure for Men
Pedicure for Men
WAXING
Eyebrow Wax
Lip Wax
Chin Wax
Underarm
Bikini Line
Half Leg
Full Leg
EYE TREATMENTS
Eyelash Tint
Eyebrow Tint
Eyebrow Trim
MAKE-UP TREATMENT
Sothys � 45
Cleanse, tone, moisturise with Yon-Ka products, followed by an application of
Sothys make-up.
� Guests should arrive 15 mins prior to treatment in bathrobe and slippers,
which are provided for your convenience in your bedroom or alternatively at the
Health & Beauty Rooms.
� Please ensure that you are suitably clothed for your treatment:
Attire for men - shorts or togs.
Attire for women - swimsuit or suitable underwear.
Cancellation Policy
Treatments cancelled up to 24 hours will not be charged. Thereafter 50% of the
total treatment cost will be charged. If cancellations are not advised 100%
charge will be made.
Opening Times for the Beauty Rooms is 10am - 6pm each day
Ashford Castle Hotel, Ireland