The Glenview Hotel & Leisure Club

The hotel's spectacular views of the Glen of the Downs and surrounding Wicklow mountains, combined with its beautifully maintained gardens and woodland walk, create a memorable and serene atmosphere. Guests frequently highlight the friendly and attentive staff, the excellent food offerings, and the comprehensive leisure facilities as top features. This makes the hotel an ideal fit for couples seeking a relaxing escape, families looking for engaging activities and spacious accommodations, and sightseers eager to explore the natural beauty of County Wicklow. Business travelers also find it suitable due to its quiet setting and convenient access. To enhance your stay, consider requesting an upgraded room for potentially better views and condition, and be aware that spa treatments may require advance booking due to high demand.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel boasts an impressive leisure center that is a significant draw for many guests. It features a large swimming pool, often described as clean and warm, suitable for both adults and children, though some guests note that swim hats are required. Complementing the pool are excellent wellness facilities including an indoor hot tub, sauna, steam room, and a unique outdoor hot tub with a plunge pool, providing ample opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation. A well-equipped gym is also available for guests. Beyond the leisure center, the hotel offers extensive gardens and a tranquil woodland walk, perfect for leisurely strolls. While free Wi-Fi is available, some guests report inconsistent connectivity within their rooms. The presence of ice machines and vending machines adds to guest convenience.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on room comfort and cleanliness is varied. Many describe their rooms as spacious, clean, and comfortable, with plush beds and comfortable pillows ensuring a restful sleep. Upgraded rooms are often noted as beautiful and modern. Conversely, a significant number of reviews highlight rooms that appear dated and in need of refurbishment, citing patchy paint, stains on walls, torn curtains, and visible cobwebs. Bathrooms are generally a decent size, but some guests report issues like broken toilet seats, mould, dirty grout, blocked drains, and inconsistent shower temperature that can be scalding or freezing. Noise is a recurring concern, with complaints about noisy doors that bang shut and poor soundproofing allowing sound from hallways and adjacent rooms. In-room amenities like coffee machines are appreciated, though some note a lack of drawers or USB charging ports.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel offers diverse dining experiences, with the Woodlands Restaurant and the Conservatory Bar serving meals. Most guests praise the food quality, often describing it as delicious, excellent, and of a high standard. Specific dishes like lamb curry, roast beef, chicken wings, and fish and chips receive positive mentions. The breakfast is frequently highlighted as excellent, offering a good selection including a hearty full Irish buffet and appreciated cooked-to-order options. The restaurant atmosphere is enhanced by beautiful views of the glen. However, some guests find the breakfast overpriced or report issues with cold food on hot plates, cheap sausages, or tinned fruit. While many enjoy the bar food, some find the bar menu limited or the overall food mediocre. Service in the bar area can sometimes be slow or appear disinterested, contrasting with the generally positive dining experiences.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's beautiful location is a significant highlight for guests, nestled beside a forest and offering spectacular views of the Wicklow mountains and the Glen of the Downs. Its proximity to the N11 motorway ensures easy access from Dublin, making it a convenient base for exploring popular Wicklow tourist spots such as Powerscourt Waterfall, Glendalough, and the Sugar Loaf mountain. Despite its tranquil, secluded feel, guests appreciate its accessibility to nearby towns like Bray and Greystones. The hotel provides plenty of parking for guests, and some reviews even mention the availability of EV chargers, adding to the convenience for those traveling by car. The natural surroundings also offer opportunities for pleasant outdoor walks directly from the property.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise, with guests frequently describing them as friendly, welcoming, helpful, attentive, and professional. Many reviews highlight instances where staff members went above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay, from accommodating early check-ins to assisting with car issues. The check-in process is generally reported as smooth and efficient. Guests appreciate the quick room service and the overall positive demeanor of the team. However, feedback on bar service is mixed; while some commend its efficiency, others describe it as slow or note a perceived lack of training and disinterested staff. Some guests also express disappointment with management's responsiveness to complaints or issues raised during their stay, particularly regarding initial check-in discrepancies or room concerns.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware of certain policies and features that impact their stay. A recurring point of contention is the €150 security deposit requested upon arrival, which many guests find unexpected and feel is communicated poorly, leading to discomfort. For those planning to use the pool, it is important to note that swim hats are required, a detail some guests find surprising or stingy as they are not complimentary. If considering spa treatments, it is highly recommended to book these in advance as they can be fully booked, limiting availability during a stay. Some guests also experienced confusion regarding the exact inclusions of dinner packages, with discrepancies between online information and what was provided. Inconsistent Wi-Fi connectivity in rooms is also mentioned, potentially affecting guests relying on internet access. Additionally, some guests note a lack of comfortable lobby seating outside of the main dining and bar areas.