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Should You Stay In The Dingle Skellig Hotel? Well, Here’s Our Honest Review

Should You Stay In The Dingle Skellig Hotel? Well, Here’s Our Honest Review

I first came across the Dingle Skellig Hotel in Kerry when I was doing a bit of research for our guide to the best hotels in Kerry.

Photos showing the views from the popular County Kerry hotel caught my eye and the Dingle Skellig was sharply filed away in a corner of my mind marked ‘places-to-spend-a-night-in-sharpish’.

Then, a couple of years back, we were given the chance to visit (one of the few free-stays we’ve been given over the years).

And so here we are – an honest, no-bs review of the Dingle Skellig Hotel, from the rooms and the food to the views and more.

Some quick need-to-knows about the Dingle Skellig Hotel

the skellig hotel

If you’re not familiar with the Dingle Skellig, there’s a few need to knows that’ll make deciding whether or not you stay here that little bit easier.

Note: if you book a stay through one of the links below we’ll make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Location

You’ll come to the Skellig Hotel right before you hit the final roundabout that leads into Dingle Town. It’s location is hard to beat and it’s a short, 5-10 minute walk away from the harbour and some of the best restaurants in Dingle.

2. The hotel itself

When we arrived at the Dingle Skellig back in 2019, it wasn’t much to look at from the outside (see the photo above). The inside of the hotel was dated in parts but the service and the standard of the rooms made all of this redundant (more on this below).

3. The rooms

There are several different room types at the Skellig Hotel. We stayed in the older rooms (photos below) and they were clean, comfy and offered great views of the bay. The newly added rooms are a step up (see below) and the views they offer are mighty.

4. Service

Although the Dingle Skellig Hotel is a 4 star, the service rivaled some of the service I’ve experienced in some of the well known 5 star hotels in Kerry. Expect a warm welcome and friendly encounters throughout your stay.

5. Food and drink

The food at the Skellig Hotel, as you’ll discover below, is the business. There’s a good mix of food on offer and there’s some nice cosy spots to tuck yourself away in for a pint or 4.

6. Gym and spa

The spa in the Dingle Skellig is small enough, but it packs a punch. The big windows offer Dingle Bay views and there’s a hot tub that overlooks the water. The gym was dated when we visited, but it had everything you’d need for a decent workout. 

Our honest Dingle Skellig review

dingle skellig reviews

Although I’ve stayed in several hotels in Dingle over the years, I usual opt for B&Bs, as they tend to be a good bit cheaper.

I also don’t tend to spend much time in the room when I’m visiting places like Dingle, as there’s so much to see and do about the place.

Our visit to the Dingle Skellig was a nice change of pace. It’s a large, homely hotel that’s a short distance from the town and many of Dingle’s best-loved attractions.

Check prices + see more photos here

Our room at the Skellig Hotel

dingle skellig rooms review

coffee at dingle skellig

Our room at the Dingle Skellig was spacious, spotless, comfy and came with a glorious view out over Dingle Bay.

As you can see in the photo below, it was lashing down on the evening that we arrived, so we had to wait until the following morning to really appreciate what lay beyond our window.

And, to be fair, it was well worth the wait – we had an uninterrupted 180-degree view of Dingle Bay. The perfect companion for the first coffee of the day.

Check prices + see more photos here

The new rooms at the Dingle Skellig

skellig hotel new rooms

There was a multimillion development at the Dingle Skellig Hotel a few years back, which saw a number of additional swanky guest rooms and suites added.

The new bedrooms include

  • 16 Deluxe King Suites
  • 6 Deluxe Executive Suites
  • 5 Deluxe Family Suites
  • 5 roof top interior designed guest rooms which will also feature private balconies that make the most of the hotels panoramic views across Dingle Bay.

As you can see from the photo above, these rooms are a step up from the one we stayed in previously, and the views are the business!

Check prices + see more photos here

The hotel facilities

breakfast view at the dingle skellig

The only two facilities that I really used were the gym and the spa area, but from looking at some of the Dingle Skellig reviews online, the pool is top-notch.

Here’s a bit of an insight into what the spa area and the gym at the Skellig Hotel are like (note: I know f-all about spas, so I’m probably not doing it much justice below).

The Gym

dingle skellig hotel gym

The gym at the Dingle Skellig and the equipment were both reasonably dated when we visited, but it’s absolutely perfect if you’re a fan of any form of weightlifting.

If you visit you can expect a good mix of weights, a decent squat rack and a mix of machines and that kind of craic. There’s also cardio equipment, if you’re into that kinda thing.

The Spa

dingle skellig spa

One of the highlights of our stay here was being able to flake out in the spa area (we didn’t have a treatment or anything like that, we just chilled).

The view as you kicked back on one of the lounge chairs inside was incredible. The view from the outdoor hot tub was even better.

There’s something pretty damn special about chilling in hot, bubbly water while a cold Atlantic breeze washes over you as you admire a view like the one below.

Check prices + see more photos here

The food at the Dingle Skellig

dingle skellig breakfast

Breakfast at the Dingle Skellig was cracking. There was a solid choice of a hot and cold buffet along with all of the usual juices and fruits.

I opted for the scrambled eggs (which were actual scrambled eggs and not that creamy mass produced shite that you get in some hotels), rashers and a couple of sausages.

While the food was class, it was all about the views. It was refreshing to see that many of those eating in the breakfast room with us had left their phones down, opting to admire the lush green landscape that lay before them while they chewed away.

Obviously I wasn’t one of those people as I was fluting around and taking a photo…

The dinner

fillet steak dingle skelligguinness at the dingle Skellig hotel

That evening we headed down to the hotels Binn Bán Brasserie for a bite to eat. The Guinness here was arguably the best that I’ve had in the past 4 months. Velvety perfection.

I went for the fillet steak for the main which was tasty-out, even if it was a little bit tough to chew. 

In reality I should have sent it back, but I didn’t want the fuss, which is very unlike me as I’m normally a contrary f****r.

For desert I went for a very basic trio of ice cream plonked on top of a crumbly shortbread biscuit. This was 10/10 and demolished in about 80 seconds.

Related read: Check out our guide to the best pubs in Dingle.

Other things to know about the Dingle Skellig

The Dingle Skellig is a handy ramble from some of the best things to do in Dingle. It’s also a short spin away from both the starting point for the Slea Head drive and Conor Pass.

Here’s some other info on its suitability for families (it’s one of the better-known family-friendly hotels in Ireland) and it’s wedding offering.

A good spot for families

This hotel is set up well for families looking to get away for a couple of nights.

Watch the video (note that it’s from 2014 so some things may have changed) below to get a sense of what you can expect if you bring the bambinos here.

Weddings at the Dingle Skellig

If you’re in search of a wedding venue, the Dingle Skellig could be a good shout. They’re licensed for civil and humanist ceremonies and can cater for weddings of up to 250 guests

Celebrations take place in the Skellig Suite, which offers panoramic views of Dingle Bay. Wedding Celebration Package for dates in October to April from €70.00 per guest.

Final verdict on the Skellig Hotel

chill out area

Personally, when visiting Dingle or places like it that boast endless adventure opportunities, I tend to choose pocket-friendly places to stay, as I spend little or no time in the hotel apart from when I’m sleeping.

If I was visiting the area with a packed itinerary, I’d probably stay in an Airbnb in Dingle. If I was in the area and looking for a great hotel, with comfortable rooms, amazing views, and a top-notch leisure suite, I’d stay here.

I’ve no trouble recommending the Dingle Skellig Hotel to anyone reading this article – it’s a comfy place to stay with great service and it’s a short stroll from the town.

Check prices + see more photos here

FAQs about staying at the Dingle Skellig Hotel in Kerry

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from whether the Skellig Hotel is worth spending a night in to what the rooms are like.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is the Dingle Skellig worth the price they charge?

In my opinion, yes – the service, the views, the location and the rooms combine to make this good value for money. Of course, what one person defines as ‘cheap’ the other might regard as ‘expensive’, so you’ll need to weight it up.

How far is the Skellig hotel from town?

It’s a handy 5-10 minute walk from the hotel into the harbour. You’d won’t need to worry about a taxi or a long walk home.

What are the rooms like at the Dingle Skellig?

We stayed in one of the ‘older’ rooms and it was lovely. The newly added rooms look brilliant (see photos above).

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