Ireland

County Kildare

What It Is: A restored 18th-century Georgian mansion and its surrounding 550 acres of private grounds bordering the River Liffey.

The Rooms: This luxe county resort offers 60 spacious guest rooms and nine suites, as well as 23 annexed garden apartments (each containing two bedooms, two bathooms, a dining area, and kitchenette). Outfitted in richly patterened drapery and upholstery, each room has a generous sitting space and writing areas, Wi-Fi access, and DVD/CD consoles.

Amenities: Take advantage of the on-site championship Palmer golf courses and the large indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Kids get their own welcome kit (containing puzzles, bath toys, and coloring books) and nightly cookies and milk. The K Kubs program is complimentary for guests aged 4 to 11 and features daily storytelling in the Children's Library, a Learning Land stocked with children's DVDs and computer games, a craft center, and game room.

Activities: On site, enjoy guided nature walks, complimentary bike rentals, and age-tailored lessons in Irish dancing, fishing and golf. Nearby off-site attractions include horseback riding, the Straffan Butterfly Farm (open during summers), the picnic-friendly Morrell Farm, and the Irish National Stud and Horse Museum.

Details: Straffan, from 350 Euros for a deluxe room with a roll-away bed.

                        

County Mayo

What It Is: An ancient and atmospheric castle founded in 1228 on 350 acres of wooded grounds.

The Rooms: Enjoy cozy carpeting, counrtyside views, antique furniture, and thick, regal curtains in the castle's 72 guest rooms, six state rooms, and five suites. To help guests stay in touch with the 21st century, castle bedrooms are equipped with broadband Internet, interactive TV systems and U.S.-compatible sockets.

Amenities: For exquisite formal dining, visit the hotel's Connaught or George V rooms (don't foget a jacket and tie). Or try the nearby hotel bistro at the quaint Cullen's at the Cottage for a more casual meal. Live performances of traditional Irish songs and stories can be enjoyed nightly at the bright convivial Dungeon Bar. For kids, they provide milk and cookies, children's slippers and robes (pink for girls and blue for boys) in the room.

Activities: The hotel will arrange for guests to try a variety of country pastimes, including fishing, golf, horseback riding, archery, clay-pigeon shooting, and falconry. Lake cruises on the tranquil Lough Corrib will take you back to the historic Inchagoill Island, where cruise captain Patrick Luskin doubles as your tour guide.

Details: Cong, from 475 Euros for a Deluxe Queen family room, which sleeps four.

             

County Meath

What It Is: An approximately 258-year-old Georgian manor an hour's drive from Dublin and well positioned between the serene green banks of the River Boyne and the mythic Hill of Tara (thought to be the ancient seat of the Irish Kings).

The Rooms: The hotel's 34 bedrooms are distributed among several picturesque wood-and-stone buildings, including the Main House, the East and West Pavillions, the Stables, the Lean-To, and the Ruin (which also houses the spa). The décor pays homage to the house's Georgian foundations (ornamental moldings and large marble fireplaces (only in the main house) with some fun and modern touches (beanbag chairs and paper lanterns in the the shape of wall-mounted stag heads (only in the bar). Book one of the five two-bedroom Stables apartments, most of which sleep three or four.

Amenities: Each room at Bellinter House is equipped with Wi-Fi, a DVD player, and an extralarge plasma-screen TV, as well as supersized beds and organic Voya bath products. On a rainy day, lounge in the simple game room (stocked with a billiards table, board games, and cards) or dip into the indoor infinity pool and hot tub. In the Main House, the Eden Restaurant in the vaulted cellar offers half-portions for kids and parents can make requests.

Activities: Explore the surrounding grounds on complimentary bikes, or take your tackle box down to the River Boyne, where guests enjoy three miles of private fishing land. The hotel can also arrange for hot-air ballooning, horseback riding, clay-pigeon shooting, and golf at nearby locations.

Details:Navan, from 270 Euros for a stables apartment that sleeps three.

                 

Dublin

What It Is: Six adjoined Victorian buildings (including a stately fomer bank) centering around a sunny five-story atrium in the capital' s lively Temple Bar neighborhood.

The Rooms: The 146 bedrooms and 17 suites all have the chain's signature, supersoft Heavenly Beds®, rich mahogany furnishings, and Italian marble bathrooms.

Amenities: Courtesy of the Westin Kids Club, babies up to age 3 are provided with a nightlight, first-aid supplies, and a surprise toy, while kids aged 3 to 12 receive a welcome pack of make-your-own postcards, a hat, and a world map.

Activities: Temple Bar, Dublin's unoffical "cultural quarter," has year-round open-air festivals, live music, and film screenings. About a block away, the Trinity College campus doubles as a tourist destination, thanks to its centuries-old stone buildings and wide public plazas.

Details: At College Green Westmoreland Street, from 249 Euros for a classic room with a roll-away bed.

                        

What It Is: Five-star accomodations in four adjacent Georgian townhouses surrounding two enclosed period gardens.

The Rooms: The Merion's 122 bedrooms and 20 suites all have Itlaian marble bathrooms and unique antiques pulled from the hotel's private collection (one of the country's largest). Wireless Internet is available for a fee, and DVD players, fax machines, and cell phones are all available upon request.

Amenities: Kids get their own robes, coloring books, games, and special crockery at mealtimes. The Tethra Spa pool has white pillars and a mosaic floor reminiscent of the Roman baths. For special occasions, make a reservation at the hotel's two-Michelin-star Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, and try the signature lobster ravioli with coconut cream sauce.

Activities: The hotel is within walking distance of the picturesque Trinity College campus as well as St. Stephen's Green, replete with public lawns and fountains. The concierge is happy to suggest and book any further family outings around Dublin (including the Lambert Puppet Theatre and Viking Splash Tour).

Details: Upper Merrion Street, from 390 Euros for a double-occupancy superior room with a roll-away bed.

                        

Holywood

What It Is: A Victorian B&B overlooking the waters of the Belfast Lough and just five miles from the Belfast city center by car or train.

The Rooms: Each of the 11 rooms has its own vibe— some have modern black-and-white palettes, and others cultivate a traditional Victorian feel with heavy drapes and gilt-frame pictures. In addition to your standard ensuite bathroom and TV (and the added bonus of complimentary Wi-Fi), anticipate ensuite treats such as fresh fruit, stationary, sewing kits, and homemade shortbread in the evenings. Book a triple (need to get a roll-away for fourth person) or a family room, which can accommodate four.

Amenities: The room price also covers your gourmet breakfast of made-to-order delicacies such as spiced fruit compote and oak-smoked Irish salmon (the kids might enjoy the peanut butter and banana french-toast sandwich). The same restaurant tends to be fully booked for the evening meal, so make sure to book a reservation well beforehand.

Activities: The train station is a 10-minute walk from Rayanne House, allowing easy access into Belfast proper.

Details: 60 Demesne Rd., from 135 Euros for a triple room.

                        

Salthill

What It Is: An oversize yellow beach house with a wide deck overlooking Galway Bay, located just five minutes from the Galway city center by car or public bus.

The Rooms: The hotel's 153 guest rooms fall into the classic, sea-view, suites and superior classifications. (The sea-view suites and superior rooms cost a bit more for their broad harbor views.) All rooms are decked out in deep red and goldenrod and contain sitting areas and beds with luxury V1-spring mattresses. Reserve a family room, which sleeps up to four with a double and single bed and an additional fold-out bed.

Amenities: In the mornings and evenings (closes at 7 p.m.), parents can lounge at the hotel's Calmer Waters Health and Beauty Rooms while children ages 4 through 12 hang out at the Penguin Kids Activity Camp. Activities at the camp include Ping-Pong tournaments, life-size board games, movie screenings, treasure hunts, and Playstation gaming. A kid's dinner (or "high tea") us served there at 5:30 p.m. You'll want to try the Lobster Pot, the hotel's gourmet seafood restaurant; the bistro-style Café Lideo; or An Scadan Coach, the traditional Irish pub with live music.

Activities: The giant Atlantiquara down the street and beach at your doorstep make up fo the small pool. Take a ferry to Galway Bay's Aran Islands or a cruise through Killary Harbour for the chance to spot seals, otters, and dolphins. For land lovers, the nearby Historic Dartfield Horse Museum and Heritage Centre doubles as a ranch with lessons and trail rides. Don't miss the Saturday market, held weekly in front of St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, where you can pick up Irish cheeses and woolens and snack on warm pastries.

Details: The Promenade, Salthill, from 170 Euros for a family room (with two adults and one child.)

                        

Sildo

What It Is: A family-run Georgian country mansion on a 1,000-plus-acre lakeside estate that includes an environmentally friendly sheep farm.

The Rooms: Each of the six large guest rooms has antique furniture, original paintings, and cozy sitting areas that feel as though they were pulled right from Pride and Prejudice (with addition of revamped, power-showered bathrooms). Book the Castle Room, a spacious double with an adjoining single bedroom suitable for a kid. For large parties, there are also two self-catering cottages on the estate, which sleep either four (the Temple House Lodge) or eight (the Gardener's Cottage).

Amenities: Absent in this old-fashioned setting are your typical room service, minibars and in-room TVs. Instead, enjoy communal meals at the long dining-room table and strolls with the Perceval family dogs. If you elect to eat dinner at the house (only offered 1-3 times per week), you are served the fresh, local menu of the day (or special requests with advance notice) along with other guests. Wi-Fi is available in the morning room.

Activities: The house provides free rowboats for guests to take out on the Temple House lake and rents supplies for fishing (rods are free of charge to guests) and clay-pigeon shooting is located nearby. The surrounding wooded grounds are perfect for hiking and bird watching. Horseback riding at the Markee Castle Stables, and five different 18-hole golf courses are just short drives away. For a little cultural education, check out the varied galleries and theaters in the nearby town of Silgo.

Details: Ballymote, from 215 Euros for the Castle Room and adjoining single (with two adults and one child under 12).