Is Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick worth it? An honest pros and cons list
Yes — Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick is a solid choice for travelers who want on-site spa and family facilities plus easy driving access to Limerick and Shannon Airport. It’s especially worth it if you value a heated indoor pool, Rain Spa treatments, and event/wedding spaces on 20 acres of grounds; budget-minded guests should note that breakfast and some leisure services carry extra fees.
In this guide
Location & access
The hotel sits on 20 acres of landscaped parkland on the Ennis Road in Cratloe, County Clare, about a 10-minute drive from Limerick city centre and roughly a 19–20 minute drive from Shannon Airport according to the property listing.
There’s free self-parking and coach parking on site, and a local bus stop on the N18 is a short walk away. The hotel does not provide a complimentary airport shuttle, so plan a taxi or pre-booked transfer if needed.
- Address: Ennis Road, Cratloe, County Clare, V94 YA2R, IE
- Free self-parking for guests (on-site)
- No guaranteed free airport shuttle (taxi cost estimates are published elsewhere)
| Nearby place | Approx. travel time (by car) |
|---|---|
| Limerick city centre / King John's Castle / Treaty Stone | ~10 minutes |
| Thomond Park | ~7 minutes |
| Shannon Airport (SNN) | ~19–20 minutes |
Rooms — variety, comfort and what’s included
The hotel offers a range of room types (154 rooms total) with free Wi‑Fi and in‑room tea/coffee facilities standard. Room names you’ll see when booking include Standard Room, Family Room, Garden View, Family Room (Large), Junior Suite, Premium Room, Superior Room and Suite.
Room rates typically do not include breakfast — breakfast is offered for an additional fee. If you need a specific bed configuration or extra sleeping space, check the listed bed options per room before booking; some listings note that extra beds are not provided.
- All rooms include complimentary Wi‑Fi and tea/coffee facilities.
- Minimum check-in age is 18 for the primary booker; valid photo ID and the booking card are required at arrival.
- A refundable incidental deposit (€50) is taken by card on arrival (refunded after inspection).
| Room type (exact name) | Beds (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Standard Room | 2 Twin Beds or 1 Queen Bed |
| Family Room, Garden View | 2 Twin Beds |
| Family Room (Large) | 2 Twin Beds |
| Junior Suite | 1 King Bed |
| Premium Room | 1 King Bed |
| Superior Room | 3 Twin Beds or 1 Queen Bed |
| Suite | 1 King Bed |
Spa, pool and fitness — who benefits most
Rain Spa is the hotel’s on-site spa and wellness centre; it offers ELEMIS treatments (massages, facials, waxing, mani/pedi), a thermal suite (sauna, steam room, heated benches) and an outdoor hot tub. Spa opening hours are published and treatments must be booked in advance.
Hotel guests and day visitors can use the 10‑metre indoor heated pool; the property publishes designated family swim and childrens’ pool hours, and non-member day-guest pool fees are listed on the hotel site.
- Pool: 10‑metre indoor heated pool with designated family swim times; children's pool/leisure hours listed in the guest directory.
- Spa: Rain Spa open Mon–Fri 10:00–20:00, Sat–Sun 9:30–18:00; minimum age 16 for spa/thermal suite access.
- Fitness Club: adult-member hours published; complimentary fitness assessment included for members.
| Facility | Key detail |
|---|---|
| Indoor pool | 10 metres; family swim hours published |
| Rain Spa | ELEMIS treatments; thermal suite; min age 16 |
| Fitness Club | Opening hours published; member programs available |
Dining & bars — practical notes
On-site dining options include The Brasserie Restaurant (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and Quench Bar (traditional Irish pub setting). The Brasserie lists weekday and weekend breakfast hours and a published per-person breakfast price on the hotel's site.
There’s also a Lobby Bar serving light meals and a 5 Mile Coffee Bar for grab-and-go items. Reservations are recommended for The Brasserie, especially at busier times.
- The Brasserie Restaurant: serves Irish and international dishes; breakfast available for an additional fee (hours provided on site).
- Quench Bar: traditional pub-style drinks and light bites with televised sports; weekend earlier opening hours.
- Lobby Bar and 5 Mile Coffee Bar provide snacks, coffee and lighter meals during daytime hours.
| Venue | Typical service |
|---|---|
| The Brasserie Restaurant | Breakfast (fee), Lunch, Dinner |
| Quench Bar | Drinks, pub food, televised sports |
| 5 Mile Coffee Bar / Lobby Bar | Coffee, light bites, daytime service |
Events, weddings and business facilities
The hotel has seven flexible meeting and event rooms including the Ryan Suite and Ryan Suite (combined) for large weddings and conferences. Capacities and room sizes are published; the Ryan Suite options include large pre-conference and reception areas.
The property advertises a guaranteed one-wedding-a-day policy and offers wedding services such as a dedicated coordinator and banquet facilities. On-site parking for delegates is available (complimentary for up to 300 cars).
- Ryan Suite: floor-to-ceiling windows, private terrace, advertised banquet and theatre capacities (large combined capacities published).
- Meeting/event spaces total approximately 1,000 m² with theatre-style capacities up to several hundred depending on configuration.
- On-site coach and car parking for events; event details and capacities are published on the hotel’s meetings pages.
| Space | Notable capacity/detail |
|---|---|
| Ryan Suite (combined) | Reception/cocktail capacity published up to 800 |
| Ryan Suite 1 | Banquet up to 200 (size and capacities listed) |
| Pre-conference area | Approx. 134 m² for coffee breaks and registrations |
Family friendliness & accessibility for children
The hotel is marketed as family-friendly and lists a free kids' club, an on-site playground, and designated family swim times at the pool. Children of all ages are welcome, though the primary booker must be at least 18.
Spa and thermal-suite facilities have a minimum age of 16, so families should plan spa time around that restriction. If you need cribs, cots or extra beds, verify availability with the hotel because some listings indicate extra beds may not be provided.
- Kids’ club and playground are available (some activities may incur a surcharge).
- Pool family hours and children’s pool times are published; check the guest directory for exact times.
- Spa/thermal suite access is restricted to guests 16 and older.
| Family facility | Note |
|---|---|
| Kids' club | Free kids' club listed; some activities surcharge |
| Playground | On-site outdoor play area |
| Pool family swim | Designated family times published |
