Hotel: Glenlo Abbey

Address: Bushy Park, Galway

TraveLife Ranking: Five Stars

Website: glenlo.com

Rooms: 47

Room rates: $200+

Awards: Voted one of the top 6 hotels in Ireland.

Highlights: Hotel offers great views of Loch Corrib. Pullman Restaurant is made up of historic rail cars used in the movie Murder on the Orient Express, based on the Agatha Christie novel. The two most famous cars are named Linda and Leona. One of them also carried the body of Sir Winston Churchill back to its final resting place. The public areas are crammed with Irish antiques and great works of art.

History: Glenlo Abbey was built in 1740 by one of Galway’s 14 family tribes – the Ffrench clan - who once ruled this 500-year-old city. After the Ffrench clan moved out, another of the 14 family tribes, the Blakes, took it over in 1855 before a family named Palmer moved in 1897. They liked Glenlo so much they stayed in it for almost 90 years. In 1984, the Bourke family bought the 56-hectare estate and embarked on a five-year restoration of the classic property. The cut stone abbey that is joined to the main hotel dates back to the early 1790s. It was built as a private church by the Ffrenchs, but a bereavement in the family caused work to be stopped and the abbey was never consecrated. The Bourkes finished the job as part of the restoration and the charming abbey is now used as a private dining room that can hold up to 30 guests. As you can imagine, this venue is favored by brides and grooms.

Interior highlights: At first sight Glenlo Abbey looks stuffy but its friendly staff and warm surroundings quickly dispel that feeling. The cozy parlor and library invite guests to curl up with a good book or a pot of tea. The enchanting Brian Bourke, the owner's son, always makes time to chat with guests and fills them with historical facts about the ancient property and its many treasures. The ornate Ffrench Room has been restored to its original glory with sculpted cornices, harp motifs and fine antique furniture. This room would not look out of place in the great palaces of Europe.

In the next room: Because it’s located on a secluded hill overlooking Galway, Glenlo Abbey is favored by visiting heads of state and Hollywood types. A few ghosts have also been causing noise in the next rooms – or is that the sound of newly weds?

The rooms: The rooms at Glenlo Abbey are what you'd expect to find in a property of this quality. Crisp Egyptian cotton sheets and down pillows and comforters lull you to sleep on feathered (mostly) four-poster beds. En suites are crammed with things that make you smell and feel good all day long. Every room at Glenlo comes with a view - some offer vistas of Lower Lough Corrib and others look out onto the Old Walled Garden and the abbey with its stained glass windows.

Amenities: There’s a fine nine-hole golf course attached to the hotel and it’s a double green lakeside gem that is fun to play. There's also a practice facility with a 12-bay driving range. However, the true sports passion at Glenlo is fishing and an on-staff ghillie will lead you to the best spots on the lake for fly and course fishing.

Restaurants: Dining at Glenlo is a fulfilling experience. The thrill of eating in one of the Pullman cars is complemented by some fine dining experiences in the hotel's opulent River Room, which specializes in Irish and international dishes. For lighter fare there's always the Oak Cellar bar, a great place to gather with fellow guests and review the wonderful things you get to see in this fascinating area of Ireland.

Shopping: Galway’s collection of antique stores, book shops and fish and chip parlors are a delight to explore.

Close By There's plenty of history to discover in this part of Ireland, starting right in Galway, the university city where Christopher Columbus once attended school. In the surrounding area, there are wonderful back roads to explore and some lead you to impressive attractions like Connemara, the deserted famine village with its thatched-roof cottages. Some of Ireland’s most famous golf courses, like Lahinch, are easily accessible by car from Glenlo Abbey.

Tips: This fabulous hotel is part of the Emerald Triangle group of properties - Rathsallagh House near Dunlavin and the Sand House Hotel near Donegal are the others - which gives visitors a chance to see both of Ireland's great coasts and stay at three of the country's best properties. The golf course is a nice warm up for the championship courses that dot the emerald landscape around historic Galway. Parking in Galway can be hard to find so ask the hotel staff to drive you into town. The Pullman Car dining experience must be enjoyed to be believed.