Galgorm - Ballymena

Ralf R.

We’ve been to a number of high end spas as a couple and in many ways Galgorm is the best of them all. The facilities - largely outdoors - are exceptional with a number of hot tubs / spa pools being the highlight. They are all of a very high standard and extremely well maintained. There is also a large variety of sauna & steam rooms, and the heated water beds (a bit of a hidden secret) were wonderful. ||The treatments we had (massage and facial) were also of an extremely high standard. Facilities are excellent and the staff were totally professional. ||Having said that there are a few things to be aware of, especially for couples, as well as some minor niggles:||- the resort is huge and as a result there are multiple large groups that will fully occupy the pools, especially at peak times, which is not ideal for couples. We found the early mornings (facilities open at 8am) to be much quieter ||- breakfast is served in Gillies and the Conservatory. Gillies is a buffet which is ok; the Conservatory is a la carte. For some reason you can wear a robe in Gillies but not the Conservatory, although shorts / gym gear seems fine. Equally this is not publicised anywhere (eg FAQs) so we turned up in robes and were refused entry which was frustrating ||- for some reason personal water bottles are not allowed in the spa area. In the hotel there are “Galgorm” bottles, but these were not provided in the shepherds huts. Water areas in the spa are limited so this isn’t ideal||- we stayed in the shepherds huts which were lovely and I would recommend for couples, but be aware that these are quite far from the main hotel area||- since the spa facilities are largely outdoors it does get chilly so be prepared!

Stephen O.

We had an amazing night away in the Galgorm. From the moment we arrived the reception staff made us feel so welcome. We had our little 5 month old daughter with us and the staff went above and beyond. We went to our room where a cot was already set up including a cuddly toy and baby bathrobe which was a lovely touch. The spa was amazing and the hotel had a special family time in the evening when we could bring our daughter down to the pool for her first ever swim. We then had a great dinner in the restaurant. We were booked on the serenity package and the menu was unreal. A special mention to Sam who looked after us all night and was just amazing. Thank you so much Galgorm. Already looking forward to coming back again in the future.

Lisa M.

I had a lovely time celebrating my daughter's Birthday. |The staff were amazing and we loved the Spa. |The breakfast was sensational. We stayed in a lovely cottage which has everything we needed and was beautifully decorated. |The location was amazing and the staff could not have been more professional and welcoming.

Rachel W.

Having stayed the week before for the first time we were so impressed we decided to book for our son's 16th birthday. From the moment we arrived we were treated like royalty. Andrew the concierge made our stay he is such a friendly gentleman and nothing was too much trouble. We went straight to the thermal village where we enjoyed all the wonderful facilities relaxed with cocktails then went for our serenity private bathing experience. The whole thermal village is so clean and there are so many incredible places to explore. We booked the deluxe family room and it exceeded our expectations. I love all the little touches like the sleep pillow spray and the beautiful Cora toiletries which I could then purchase in the shop downstairs. The beds are super comfy and the room was immaculately clean. My only complaint is the rooms are very hot even with the windows open and the Dyson fan on I really do think they could benefit from air conditioning. The next morning we went to the thermal village at 8 am and it was magical sitting by the river watching the world go by I love that you can use it until checkout and that breakfast is served until 12 pm. The breakfast was ok could have been better but sitting watching the horses in the stables whilst eating it was a real treat. The staff in Gillies at breakfast are a little aloof and could be more attentive especially asking if you would like more drinks but all in all it was ok. I love the valet service and our bags were collected from our room and taken to the car this is a nice touch. Drinks are very expensive in the resort but you know this before going and as it was a special occasion I could justify it. We didn't eat in the hotel we went out for supper so I can't comment on the food. The gardens are beautifully kept and immaculate but sometimes we were disturbed in the Spa village by gardeners with leaf blowers I understand that work has to be carried out but when you are trying to relax in a quiet area it can be a little annoying. I love the fact that you can go anywhere in your Spa robes (except restaurants in the hotel) and that a lot of thought has gone into the areas around the spa to accommodate this We will definitely be back and highly recommend a stay here|Thank you for a wonderful birthday for our son and family members.

tom T.

perfect place to relax and recharge, offering top-notch spa treatments, a luxurious sauna, and breathtaking surroundings. The staff is incredibly professional and attentive, ensuring every moment is pure bliss. I left feeling completely rejuvenated and can’t wait to return!

Asta Z.

The hotel and spa are set in a beautiful, picturesque location. The outdoor area features numerous saunas, jacuzzis, and heated relaxation zones. We stayed from Monday to Wednesday in March and were surprised by how crowded it was on Monday. The hot jacuzzis were fully occupied, and all the lounge chairs in the pool area were taken. It felt like some guests were using them for extended naps, while others left their towels on the chairs and disappeared for long periods.
On Tuesday, a different staff team was on duty, and they did a much better job maintaining order. As a result, we were finally able to access areas that had previously been out of reach. The hotel and spa facilities are clean and entirely non-smoking. Our hotel room was spacious, the beds were comfortable, and the linens, towels, and bathrobes were changed daily. However, there was a noticeable urine smell in the bathroom, despite its clean appearance. This issue could use more attention, as the odor was evident as soon as the door was opened.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would gladly return—but only during the middle of the week.

Ciara O.

Not dog friendly 🐶

A nice hotel with excellent spa amenities. However do not bring your dog. Although the hotel is advertised as dog friendly, what they really mean is the dog can stay in the cottages and nothing else. We arrived at 12pm and asked for an early check in if possible as we had a small dog (which I had rang about in advance). However we didn’t get our room until 3.15 pm. Other hotel guests were able to use the spa facilities while waiting on rooms, we could not as we had nowhere to leave our dog. As we waited we witnessed every other guest get their room keys before us. After arriving early, asking multiple times and calling in advance you would think we could have been prioritised over other guests who didn’t need the room as we did. We basically had the use of a spa facilities for an hour before our booked treatments. Other than that, dining was also difficult. I’m not sure the staff on site were educated as to what premises were dog friendly as we kept receiving different information from the staff, reception telling us we could dine in their on site pub (pub food menu) with our dog only to be told when we got there that they don’t serve food. We ended up having to leave our dog in the cottage while we quickly dined and went home again. We met another couple who had a dog and had to take turns dining and using the spa facilities as they couldn’t leave their dog alone. It’s a really nice hotel but I wouldn’t believe their statement of it being dog friendly. There were other issues we had, which I have expressed my concerns to hotel management. Leave your dog behind if considering this hotel.

Clare C.

It's a beautiful hotel, but the prices are absolutely ridiculous. The cocktails by the pool are day light robbery. They really take the good out of coming to such a lovely location when you feel you are been ripped off at every turn. We were charged £7.50 for one scoop of ice cream. The food is beyond poor so it's very hard to stomach such outrageous prices.