Fodor's Expert Review Parknasilla Resort

This limestone custom-built hotel was constructed in the mid-19th century to facilitate the growth in local tourism at that time. Its austere design is softened somewhat by its decorative features; like towers, gables and high pitched roofs---often casting a romantic reflection onto Kenmare Bay from its perch on a startlingly beautiful inlet. Parnasilla is synonymous with old-style resort luxury, attracting guests like George Bernard Shaw, Princess Grace, and Charles de Gaulle. You can still sip sherry beside an open fire in the Doolittle Bar and dine in the stately Pygmalion Restaurant, but you can also enjoy one of two outdoor Jacuzzis, a seawater hot tub or the sea view from the indoor infinity pool. Well-appointed villas and apartment suites now stud the sylvan 500-acre grounds, and guests here have access to all of the hotel's amenities. Public rooms display an endearingly homey mix-and-match style, while spacious bedrooms (suites are ballroom-size) are beautifully coordinated with fabulous inlaid antique furniture; all enjoy peaceful vistas. There are miles of mapped hiking trails within the estate and a range of country pursuits to try. Self-catering houses are popular for multi-generational stays.