Galgorm Spa Resort in Northern Eire: Is It Value It?

The idea of spa resorts in Europe are traditionally fairly outdated – a few of the oldest ones had been constructed up round pure mineral springs and thermal swimming pools that had been considered good for the well being. (Individuals have been “taking the waters” in cities throughout Europe for the reason that Roman instances!)

Spa cities in Europe like Spa (Belgium), Tub (England), and Karlovy Range (Czech Republic) noticed a resurgence in recognition within the 18th and nineteenth centuries, and right now the spa resort idea has expanded into full lodges and resorts devoted to blissful rest.

Within the twenty first century, a spa resort often refers to a flowery resort or resort that provides well being and wonder therapies. Generally these resorts are modern and completely fashionable with all the most recent applied sciences and facilities. However generally they’ll nonetheless hearken again to a few of these early spa cities centered round pure springs and thermal swimming pools.

Galgorm Spa Resort in Northern Eire is just a little little bit of each. You possibly can get pleasure from spa therapies like facials and massages in a swanky spa, but additionally spend the day stress-free within the out of doors thermal village subsequent to a pure water supply (the River Maine)

When researching distinctive locations to remain in Northern Eire to rejoice my husband Elliot’s birthday, I stumbled upon Galgorm and knew that it will be excellent. We stayed at Galgorm for 2 nights, and will have fortunately stayed longer!

Staying at Galgorm: Every part you could know

Listed below are all of the issues you could learn about staying at this distinctive resort in Northern Eire.

The place is Galgorm?

Galgorm is positioned simply exterior the city of Ballymena, which is a 35-minute drive from Belfast and a 45-minute drive from Giants Causeway. It is tucked away on 380 acres of lush parkland, and feels prefer it’s worlds away from something – although it is completely positioned to go to a lot of the high websites in Northern Eire.

You would conceivably base your self at Galgorm and discover the Causeway Coast from there. Although, actually you may most likely need to put aside a day or two simply to remain on the resort, as a result of there’s a lot to do!

What all does Galgorm provide?

The resort a part of Galgorm has 150+ luxurious rooms and cabins for company, plus it has the normal Spa and Thermal Village. Together with these, there are three eating places, two bars, and a conservatory the place they serve afternoon tea. In addition they have a Championship Parkland golf course, and a 6-hole Pitch & Putt course.

There are extras you’ll be able to e-book, too, like non-public out of doors sizzling tub soaks, afternoon tea, and even a gin tasting contained in the resort’s “Gin Library.” (Elliot and I did the gin tasting, and it was implausible!)

Galgorm Spa Resort: The Thermal Village

Anybody staying at Galgorm will get full entry to every thing within the Thermal Village, which is an out of doors spa expertise that was the primary of its variety in Eire when it opened. It is made up of assorted manicured gardens and themed areas that supply every thing from saunas to sizzling tubs to out of doors swimming pools, alongside distinctive rooms and locations to loosen up.

The primary themed areas of the Thermal Village:

• The Riverside Backyard – Alongside the River Maine, this space has an out of doors jacuzzi pool, the Beltane sizzling tubs (the most well liked ones you may discover), the Celtic Sauna with a plunge pool, the Salt Cave, and a heated rest room overlooking the river.
• The Alpine Backyard – This space has a mixture of small saunas and heated cabanas to loosen up in. It is also acquired a heated infinity pool overlooking the River Maine.
• The Walled Backyard – This gorgeous space has a steam room and sauna, in addition to a pair of sizzling tubs with drink service from a cute bar known as The Palm Home. You may also hang around and revel in drinks contained in the Palm Home.
• Indoor pool space – There is a 20-meter-long indoor pool, together with a Sanarium (a sauna at a decrease temperature) and the Snow Cabin.
• Parts Cafe – A restaurant proper contained in the Thermal Village that you may get pleasure from in a gown and flip flops. (In actual fact, another type of apparel is not even allowed!) The cafe sits inside a picket dome and has cozy seating areas the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from gentle fare and drinks. There’s additionally an out of doors eating space above the river.

There are additionally non-public sizzling tubs dotted all through the Riverside and Walled gardens. The riverside sizzling tubs are wood-fired and have views of the river, whereas those contained in the Walled Backyard include non-public little cabins full with heated beds to loosen up on.

You possibly can e-book 60-minute soak periods in these individually – excellent for a {couples} journey!

How lengthy does it take to expertise the Thermal Village?

I will be trustworthy with you: I undoubtedly do not take into account myself a spa individual. I do not like massages and facials, I can not sit in saunas, and I do not like sharing small sizzling tubs with strangers. BUT, in a spot like Galgorm’s Thermal Village, there’s a lot area to discover that I completely loved myself.

Elliot and I spent a number of hours floating between the assorted themed areas. We swam within the out of doors jacuzzi pool, relaxed within the River Home, sat within the Salt Cave, had drinks within the Palm Home, swam within the alpine infinity pool, and relaxed in a heated cabana. We additionally booked a personal riverside sizzling tub for an hour-long soak.

Spa-loving individuals may most likely spent DAYS right here.

You CAN go to Galgorm for the day, however I extremely advocate spending at the very least 1 night time right here. You get entry to the Thermal Village from earlier than test in time till try time, giving your self loads of time. (Plus, it tends to be quite a bit quieter within the early morning and night hours.)

Room choices at Galgorm Spa Resort

Talking of staying at Galgorm, there are fairly a number of room choices, all providing luxurious touches and entry to the Thermal Village.

The Galgorm room choices are:

• Resort guestrooms and suites – These are the hotel-style rooms at Galgorm, positioned in the principle constructing that homes the Conservatory and is related to the Spa. They provide a wide range of room set-ups and views, from Superior Rooms (the smallest) to Deluxe Rooms to numerous Suites.
• Shepherd’s Huts – Nestled in their very own nook of the resort property (in an space they name “Galgorm Wooden”), these huts are extra like luxurious tiny houses, full with kitchenette, out of doors bathtub (and indoor bathe), cozy mattress, and even a small electrical hearth. Most of those solely sleep 2, however they’ve at the very least one 2-bedroom hut.
• Cottage Suites – In case you’re touring with extra than simply two individuals, the Cottage Suites at Galgorm could be a great choice for you. These luxurious cottages (arrange type of like townhomes) are available in 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and even 3-bedroom varieties.
• Log Cabins – Galgorm has 2 giant log cabins overlooking the River Maine which are excellent for bigger teams. The extra rustic cabins sleep 6 or 8, and every include a personal river-facing sizzling tub.
• Residences – Much like the Log Cabins, the Residences are greatest for big teams (10-12 individuals), corresponding to maybe a marriage celebration. These residences are secluded and opulent, that includes issues like non-public saunas and sizzling tubs, full kitchens, and even non-public backyard areas.
• Treehouses – Coming quickly, apparently!

See the total checklist of non-hotel-room lodging choices here.

The resort rooms, Shepherd’s Huts, Cottage Suites, and Residences additionally include complimentary mini bars, which embody provides to make your individual gin and tonics, amongst different issues.

The place ought to I keep at Galgorm?

After studying as a lot as I may about every room kind at Galgorm, Elliot and I made a decision to e-book one of many Shepherd’s Huts. I favored that they are very non-public, however nonetheless positioned a brief stroll away from the remainder of the resort (they even have their very own check-in space).

Our hut was extremely cozy, but additionally practical. The hut was small, however thoughtfully laid out. The mattress was comfy, and although we did not use the kitchen a lot since our room fee included breakfast, it was good to have. The out of doors bathtub and hearth pit space was additionally wonderful, and the complimentary mini bar was a success!

For every thing included, I assumed the in a single day fee for the Shepherd’s Hut was fairly good. (We paid about 250 GBP per night time again when the pound and US greenback had been virtually at parity. And contemplating that fee included our room, breakfast, and entry to the Thermal Village, I believe it is respectable even with right now’s alternate fee.)

(You possibly can book directly with Galgorm here, check it out on Booking.com, and read reviews on TripAdvisor here.)

How costly is Galgorm Resort?

Talking of costs, the costs to remain at Galgorm can differ quite a bit relying on room kind and what time of yr you are visiting. The Superior Rooms contained in the resort resort appear to often be the most cost effective choice, although you’ll find good charges on Cottage Suites, too. (And by good charges, I imply below 200 kilos per night time, which could nonetheless be costly to some, however this IS a luxurious spa resort.)

Galgorm has a number of totally different packaged offers, too, which embody room/meal/spa therapy combos to go well with most wants. (And keep in mind that any room reserving mechanically comes with entry to the Thermal Village.) You may also save whenever you e-book properly prematurely, or pre-pay on your keep.

Glancing by means of their autumn specials, it appears to be like like you’ll be able to e-book a Shepherd’s Hut stick with breakfast for £210 per night time whenever you pay forward, a resort stick with breakfast and a personal spa soak for two for £295.

Do it’s a must to keep at Galgorm in a single day?

You do not *have* to remain in a single day at Galgorm, for the reason that resort additionally affords day passes and packages for individuals who solely need to go to for a number of hours. These day spa experiences differ in value, however can embody issues like spa therapies, lunch or afternoon tea, non-public sizzling tubs, and naturally entry to the Thermal Village.

Day passes vary in value from £69 for a morning go to to £160 for a go to that features a spa therapy. For my part, you might as properly keep at the very least one night time!

Eating at Galgorm

In case you’re staying in a single day, it is usually extra handy to eat at one of many on-site eating places. The eating places presently accessible at Galgorm embody Fratelli Ristorante, Gillies Grill, and Fort Kitchen + Bar. Fratelli and Gillies are each inside strolling distance from all of the Galgorm rooms, whereas the Fort Kitchen requires a brief drive – however the resort will take you!

You do want reservations for all these spots for dinner. We ate at each Gillies and Fort Kitchen, which actually have fairly comparable dinner menus. The meals is sweet, however dear because you’re at a resort. (The breakfast at Gillies, although? Wonderful!!)

You are additionally shut sufficient to Ballymena that you may drive into city for dinner if you wish to skip the resort eating places.

And throughout the day, you’ll be able to have lighter meals on the Parts cafe, or contained in the Conservatory (which additionally serves afternoon tea).

Are you able to carry children to Galgorm?

Technically sure, Galgorm is kid-friendly and isn’t an adults-only resort. Nonetheless, the vibe in a lot of the indoor and out of doors areas right here is quiet rest (aside from the recent tubs exterior the Palm Home, that are just a little louder as a result of alcohol), so I am undecided it will be the perfect surroundings you probably have youthful children who simply need to splash round in a pool.

There are family-suited rooms within the resort, although, and the Cottage Suites and Log Cabins would even be good for households.

Who goes to Galgorm Spa Resort?

I do not even bear in mind how I stumbled upon Galgorm as I used to be researching our journey to Northern Eire. I believe I used to be simply looking for distinctive locations to remain, since we had been celebrating a birthday. However I do know that there wasn’t a ton of details about the resort aside from on Galgorm’s personal web site.

That is partially as a result of they’re fairly good at optimizing their website for serps – but additionally, I believe, partially as a result of Galgorm is not very well-known exterior of Eire and Northern Eire. Galgorm is unquestionably a preferred getaway for locals. However when Elliot and I visited, we had been continuously getting stunned appears to be like once we stated we had been from the US.

So I might say the individuals you are most definitely to run into at Galgorm are {couples} from Eire and Northern Eire. Which we liked, as Irish individuals are usually very welcoming. The resort is definitely busy from an area standpoint, however does not really feel “touristy” from a world standpoint.

What time of yr do you have to go to Galgorm?

Galgorm is open year-round – sure, even within the winter! And it is busy year-round, too, although definitely extra busy throughout the summer season and round holidays.

We visited in late September, and located it a reasonably good time to be there. The Thermal Village wasn’t overly crowded, and it was nonetheless heat sufficient to stroll round outdoor in our robes (although solely simply; I am undecided the swimming pools and tub would really feel heat sufficient within the winter for me personally).

I’d personally most likely keep away from July and August if doable, each due to crowds and since a lot of the rooms usually are not air conditioned (as is fairly regular throughout the UK and Eire), and these can get toasty throughout the summer season.

Is staying at Galgorm value it?

Galgorm is unquestionably a luxurious expertise by UK/Eire requirements. For this American, I discovered the resort costs to really feel honest for what you get, however I notice that the costs maybe really feel greater for locals. (Within the US, you’ll be able to not often discover a resort room in a serious metropolis for below $250 per night time, so accessing an entire thermal village for not rather more than that felt like nice worth!)

The service and facilities at Galgorm additionally felt like they lived as much as the value level, and I personally liked our Shepherd’s Hut keep. Food and drinks is dear, although, so you may need to plan for that.

In my general opinion, sure, Galgorm is value it!

I’d undoubtedly keep once more, and advocate it to anybody on the lookout for one thing distinctive in Northern Eire.

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Have you ever ever stayed at a spa resort? Does Galgorm seem like a spot you would like to remain?