RePAWter Review in Connemara

 By Joanne and Rieko 🐾 



We recently returned from a glorious, sun-drenched, trip to Renvyle in Connemara with our 8-month-old golden doodle Rieko. I was so blown away by it that I wanted to share our experience. It was our second time going on a stay-cation with Rieko - our first time was in the fabulous Trump hotel in Doonbeg - a hard act to follow!

This time around however we did not have the benefit of a large cottage with a separate sleeping area for Rieko as we did in Doonbeg - so we were a little apprehensive at being confined to the same room as Rieko at night- but we need not have worried.

The drive to Renvyle House Hotel was a dream. We stopped off in Moycullen en route and had lunch outside the beautiful White Gables restaurant - where they offered Rieko a big bowl of ice-cold water to cool him down. So taken were they with our blonde bombshell that the owner gifted us a beautiful bottle of red wine (an amazing Argentinian organic Tempranillo if you’re ever in there ) in exchange for a photo of Rieko outside the cafe! Result! His first paid acting job!

On we continued in the sweltering heat to Renvyle House Hotel. Check-in was seamless - a side entrance for dog owners meant we could access our room within 2 minutes. All dog owners stay on the ground floor for easy access to the gardens.

A quick check-in and we headed straight to the beautiful gardens overlooking the croquet lawn and outdoor heated - yes there is an outdoor heated pool- for a well-deserved Aperol spritz. Rieko was also well looked after with dog bowls of water everywhere and loads of happy canine companions to mingle with.

The weather was so good that over the course of the following 3 days we ate our breakfast and dinner outside in their glorious terrace - where Rieko could join us and just take it all in. Am reluctant to write this - for fear that our secret will be out- but the food, service, and setting of Renvyle house hotel are just outstanding. I have stayed in many 5 star hotels all over the world and can honestly say that this was up there with the best of them. There are no fancy marble bathrooms, no hi-tech gadgets in your room, and no luxury spa - but the food - my word the food- really is on another level!!

Our favourite thing about the whole experience was however how dog-friendly this gem of a place is. Whilst our dood strutted his stuff around the gardens - admittedly on a leash - we made friends with all the other dog owners and exchanged daily pleasantries about this unique place.

Early morning pre-breakfast walks to Renvyle beach where we would swim with Rieko became our daily ritual. A memorable hike up Diamond Hill is also highly recommended followed by an outer-worldly lunch at the Misunderstood Heron where dogs are also extremely well looked after.

A day trip to Inisbofin on the ferry - also dog friendly - with an amazing lunch at Andrew Murray’s Doonmore Hotel - doggie friendly too- was also a real highlight.

If you, like us, are reluctant to leave your canine companion in a kennel and you are looking for a dog-friendly hotel with amazing food and service set in the most idyllic of places then look no further. This really is a special part of the world and we cannot wait to go back!

I would like to thank Joanne and Reiko for sharing their dog-friendly holiday with the Paws Friendly family! It sounds like they had an absolutely PAWsome holiday, and hopefully there are some new places and adventures to add to your "dog-friendly must see and do" list!

If you have been on a dog-friendly holiday and would like to be featured on our blog, please send us an email to info@pawsfriendly.com.

Also, if you are planning a dog-friendly holiday, you can find hundreds of dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, cafés, and bars, on our website.

While you are enjoying time out and about with your furry friendly be sure to tag @PawsFriendly!