Travelling with teens or tweens brings its own challenge: this age group can be tricky to keep amused, and finding a hotel with activities on-site or nearby can take real time to research. To save you the legwork, we asked our parent audience to share their picks for the best hotels for families with teens in Ireland – places they’ve actually stayed and would happily book again.
In no particular order, here are their recommendations.
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Every hotel below has been tested by our parent audience and their teens. We hope you find one (or several) to enjoy with your own family.
Best Hotels for Families with Teens in Ireland
Diamond Coast Hotel, Sligo
The Diamond Coast Hotel in Enniscrone sits beside a stunning Blue Flag beach with plenty of water sports for teens, tweens and kids of all ages. On top of its brilliant location, the family rooms are impressive too.
On-site there’s a basketball court, soccer pitch, tennis court and a pool room. In the village of Enniscrone you’ll also find the Waterpoint Aqua Park, with its swimming pool and flume slide, plus a pitch and putt course and several well-regarded golf courses nearby.
The hotel can arrange surfing and stand-up paddleboarding lessons, pony and horse riding, bike hire, kayaking, boat trips and more. You may struggle to see much of your teens if you book a family break here!
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Castleknock Hotel & Spa, Dublin
Castleknock Hotel is an award-winning 4-star hotel set in lush grounds beside the Phoenix Park. Just five minutes from Blanchardstown Village and fifteen minutes from Dublin city centre, it’s a great base for families with teens who want to explore the capital while retreating somewhere calm at the end of the day.
The hotel’s amenities suit families with teens or tweens well: an 18-hole golf course, popular restaurants and bars, an outdoor BBQ area, an 18-metre pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.
Family rooms sleep up to four, or you can book a family suite with interconnecting rooms, kitted out with the little luxuries that make a difference on a family trip – think Netflix, Sky Sports and a coffee machine in the room.
Nearby attractions include the National Aquatic Centre, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Fort Lucan Adventure Centre, Emerald Park (formerly Tayto Park) and Dublin Zoo.
For current staycation packages, visit the hotel’s website or contact reservations directly.
The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney
Situated beside the INEC in the centre of Killarney, the Gleneagle Hotel has a great range of on-site activities for teens and tweens, including:
- Tennis and squash courts
- Pitch and putt
- Snooker and an activity centre
- A leisure centre with a large pool
- Nightly entertainment year-round
With a large selection of family rooms, suites and two-bedroom apartments, the Gleneagle caters for families large and small – and with the Killarney National Park right on the doorstep, even the most active teen or tween will find plenty to do.
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Delphi Resort, Galway
Set in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way, on the border of Connemara, Co Galway and south Mayo, Delphi Resort offers family packages to suit a range of ages, tastes and budgets.
Accommodation ranges from cosy family rooms and luxury one- and two-bedroom suites in the hotel to more budget-friendly options in the on-site hostel.
Delphi is best known for its adventure activities, with a long list of family-friendly outdoor options suitable for teens and kids aged 4+, including:
- Kayaking on Killary Fjord
- Surfing on the Wild Atlantic Way
- Mountain bike riding
- A treetop adventure course
- A zip wire
The hardest part will be deciding what to try first.
For younger family members, supervised kids’ activities run throughout the day, so parents can enjoy some outdoor time with older teens, or opt instead for dinner, a spa treatment or simply a good book by the fire.
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The Lough Allen Hotel, Leitrim
The Lough Allen Hotel & Spa in Drumshanbo offers family rooms, two-bedroom apartments and larger self-catering houses to suit all group sizes. There’s a swimming pool for hotel guests, a spa for older teens, and lake activities during the summer months.
One of our reviewers visited with a group of kids and teens and found everything from horse riding at the stables near the hotel entrance to stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, Canadian canoe trips on the lake and an inflatable water park – enough to keep everyone happy.
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The Maritime Hotel, Cork
The Maritime Hotel in Bantry offers one- and two-bedroom suites, perfect for families with teens. Each bedroom has its own TV, plus one in the living space too – so there’s no need to argue over what to watch.
For those feeling active, there’s a well-equipped gym, a large swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. Nearby, guests can enjoy golf, horse riding, paragliding, quad biking, adventure centres, a variety of water sports, and bike hire for exploring the surrounding area.
You can even take a boat trip to nearby islands such as Whiddy, Sherkin, Cape Clear and Garinish, keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins along the way. Bantry also holds a regular local market, and Dursey Island’s cable car, Mizen Head and Barleycove Beach are all a short drive away. There’s something here for teens, tweens and adults alike.
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Amber Springs Hotel, Wexford
Set in the picturesque town of Gorey, the Amber Springs Hotel comes highly recommended by parents with kids of all ages. On-site, you’ll find crazy golf, football, go-karting, a large indoor pool with spa facilities, a fully equipped gym, a VR games room, table tennis, air hockey and organised game nights.
If you have a mix of teens, tweens and younger children, you’re likely to find something here to keep everyone entertained.
Please note: some activities mentioned above may incur an extra charge.
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Mount Juliet, Kilkenny
Mount Juliet in Kilkenny is home to an award-winning restaurant, which might not be the first place that springs to mind for a family break with teens. But on-site there’s a genuinely varied range of activities, including equestrian pursuits, golf, archery, fishing, falconry, a health club with a fully equipped gym and swimming pool, and a luxury spa.
If you have a teen who appreciates the finer things in life, this could be exactly the spot for you.
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The Beacon Hotel, Dublin
The Beacon Hotel is ideally located for a break with teens in Dublin, and has designed family packages specifically with teens in mind.
With complimentary wi-fi and fitness studio access, plus savings on dining, you’ll have room in the budget for the Luas into town, shopping or the cinema at Dundrum Town Centre, golf, an indoor ski slope, trampolining or a day at the races – all within easy reach.
Best of all, you get quality time together while giving everyone their own space, with rooms allocated on the same floor or next door to each other, with or without interconnecting doors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should we look for in a hotel when travelling with teens?
Look beyond the standard kids’ club offering. Teens tend to enjoy hotels with a pool, gym or spa access, nearby towns or attractions they can explore semi-independently, and good wi-fi. Family suites or interconnecting rooms also help everyone get a bit of personal space.
Are these hotels suitable for a mix of younger children and teens?
Yes – most of the hotels above cater well across age groups, combining supervised activities for younger children with more independent options (watersports, gyms, golf, spas) that appeal to teens and tweens.
Do I need to book activities in advance?
Some on-site activities and adventure add-ons can get booked up, especially during school holidays, so it’s worth checking with the hotel directly when booking your stay or shortly after.
Are there hotels here suitable for a weekend break, not just a full week?
Yes, all of these hotels work well for both short breaks and longer stays, and several are close to a wide range of local attractions, so you won’t run out of things to do even on a shorter visit.
Related Articles
- 20 More Fun Things to Do on the Wild Atlantic Way
- 40 Fun Things to Do on the Ring of Kerry and Beyond
- 101 Ideas for Your Family Vacation in Ireland
- 30 Terrific Things to Do in Dublin for Teens & Older Kids
Before You Go
Planning a family trip with teens takes a bit of extra thought, but the right hotel makes all the difference. Save this article for when you’re planning your next family break, and browse our other Irish travel guides for more ideas across the country.
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