Grand Hotel, Tramore

Hotel Description

The Grand Hotel opened its doors in 1790. For 200 years, its name has been synonymous with the grace and style of that era.

It overlooks the golden strand of Tramore, which is probably the most enchanting and the most popular of the Atlantic resorts. The Grand Hotel is owned and managed by the Treacy family, who combine luxury with the elegance of a bygone age, whilst maintaining the tradition of efficient service in a warm hospitable atmosphere. The reception is open 24 hours a day and its aim is to assist you in any way from check-in to check-out, so that your stay at The Grand Hotel is as enjoyable as possible.

Personal attention is guaranteed if you wish to hold a conference for 5 to 250 people. The hotel caters to your group's specific requirements and offers tailor made packages for each booking.

The hotel was built by Bartholomew Rivers, a wealthy banker, merchant and ship owner, as part of his plan to develop the little seaside village as a thriving tourist resort. By 1801, the Hotel was leased to a John Walsh, and for a time it was known as Walsh's Hotel, but an advertisement in the Waterford Mirror in 1807 referred to it as the Great Hotel, and the name stuck.

Sometime in the 1830s, the hotel was purchased by the Phelan family, who had been running a smaller hotel known as the Little Hotel. It was undoubtedly a big jump for them to move to the Great Hotel, but they were quite successful in turning around the fortunes of the premises, which had been declining since the death of Mrs. Walsh some years previously. Under John Phelan's guidance the hotel was returned to prosperity. He also acted as secretary to the Tramore Races, a position which seemed to go hand in hand with the hotel.

The hotel then changed hands a number of times before it passed to Margaret Kavanagh. In 1894, the writer P.M. Egan produced his well known History of Waterford, and wrote of the hotel as follows: "Miss Kavanagh's Great Hotel has the highest repute for possessing all the qualifications befitting a first class establishment."

The hotel was leased to Martin J. Murphy in 1897. He continued the tradition as secretary of the Tramore Racecourse and invested heavily in the old racecourse at the back strand. It was Murphy who changed the name of the hotel to The Grand Hotel and, in keeping with the name, he enlarged the hotel considerably with a building programme that commenced in 1907, the results of which can be seen to the right in the photographs above.

The Treacy family have refurbished the hotel extensively, so that it combines a very high standard of luxury with the elegance of a bygone age, and the tradition of efficient service in a warm and hospitable atmosphere has been maintained.

7/10 Overall rating

Guest Services

• General: Luggage Storage, Restaurant, Bar, Parking , Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests, Heating, All Public and Private spaces non-smoking, Non-Smoking Rooms, Newspapers, Free Parking, Designated Smoking Area, 24-Hour Front Desk, Safety Deposit Box.
• Services: Currency Exchange, Wi-Fi/Wireless LAN, Internet Services, Airport Shuttle, Babysitting/Child Services, Room Service, Free Wi-Fi Internet Access Included.

Restaurants and Bars

The Doneraile Restaurant, with its panoramic view of the sea, has become famous in Waterford for its food, extensive menus, and friendly professional staff. Dining here is an experience not to be missed.

Hotel Policies

Important! Policies may vary from these depending on your room, date & rate selection. Please check the room information when booking.

• Check In: 14:00  hours
• Check Out: 12:00  hours
Cards accepted at the hotel:
• Visa,  American Express,  MasterCard
• Deposit: No deposit will be charged.
• Internet: Wireless Internet Hotspot is available in public areas and costs EUR 3.00 per hour. Wireless internet is available in public areas and is free of charge.
• Pets: Pets are not allowed.
• Parking: Free public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not possible).
• Extra Charges: VAT is included. Service charge is included. City/tourist tax is not applicable.
• Children and extra beds: All children are welcome. All children under 5 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding. All children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots. There is no capacity for extra beds in the room. Maximum capacity of babycots in a room is 1.
• Cancellations: If cancelled up to 2 days before date of arrival, no fee will be charged. If cancelled later or in case of no-show, the first night will be charged.

Important Information

Public areas are non-smoking.

Directions

By Car:
- From the Quay in Waterford City, follow the Cork road (N25) along the Quay and go straight through 4 sets of traffic lights.
- Pass the Land Registry office on your right and take a left at the fork in the road.
- At the Superquinn Roundabout, take the 2nd exit to Tramore and follow this road for approximately 10 km.
- At Tramore, take the 2nd exit at the next 2 roundabouts and the 2nd exit at the mini-roundabout.
- Go straight through the crossroads and up the hill.
- At the top of the hill, turn right. The Grand Hotel is on your left-hand side, where you will see a sign for The Doneraile Restaurant.

*Directions included in email booking confirmation