2024 Award Winners PET FRIENDLY DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 2024

Seaview House Hotel & Spa, Ballylickey, Co Cork

Finding the right place to stay can make all the difference to a holiday or short break when travelling with your four-legged friend. But it’s not always as easy as it should be in Ireland, and we’re probably missing out on an important market - notably from the UK. This is especially true in the coastal holiday areas that are awash with good walking, including ever-popular West Cork where there are surprisingly few pet friendly hotels - so it’s a real pleasure when you hit on somewhere that feels genuinely welcoming. And it’s not always the most likely places inviting you to ‘Bring your furry friend...’ Take Seaview House Hotel, for example, a restful country house hotel overlooking Bantry Bay. Known for many years for its family antiques and the exceptional hospitality extended by former owner Kathleen O’Sullivan, it is now owned by Miss O’Sullivan’s nephew, Ronan, who is ensuring that a genuine welcome and personal supervision remain the hallmarks, while also introducing changes, including an Organic Seaweed Bath House and Spa experience, using Voya products from Sligo. And they have pet friendly ground floor rooms with direct access to the garden, which are just perfect for dog owners – no fuss, just a very comfortable set up that makes for a relaxing stay for everyone, at a very modest charge. One for that little black book.