Short walk to variety of attractions and conveniences
Stylish rooms with coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, and
flat-screen TVs
Cocktail bar and restaurant with hearty fare for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner
24-hour front desk with concierge service
Discounted access to nearby swimming pool and fitness center
Rooms
are affordable given location
Cons
No on-site gym or business center
Fees for breakfast and parking
Some rooms are small and could use refurbishment
Rooms lack air-conditioning (but do have fans)
Rooms facing street may have noise issues
Bottom Line
A small, moderately stylish hotel, the
four-floor Forster Court boasts an excellent location in central Galway. Eyre
Square, Shop Street, and the Spanish Arch, among other attractions and
conveniences, are within easy walking distance. The 50 contemporary rooms here come
with free Wi-Fi and flat-panel TVs, and the three pearl hotel also offers an on-site
restaurant and bar along with discounted access to the gym and pool
at the nearby Radisson. A stay at the Forster Court is a suitable choice for
travelers who want clean and modern rooms at affordable rates in the city
center.
Friendly, relaxed hotel with restaurant and modern
rooms
Housed in a striking contemporary white
building, Forster Court offers a hint of style throughout its interiors. The lobby features walls and a reception desk in slate blue along with a
chandelier, leather armchairs, and a table topped with tourist brochures. The
restaurant is decked out with hardwood floors, red upholstered seating, and tan
leather banquettes, accentuated by natural light from skylight windows. The bar has attractive dark wood counters, hardwood floors, and black-and-white photos. The Forster Court draws a largely domestic and international tourist
crowd, while locals like to visit the bar for its parties and cocktail classes. The hotel participates in the many Galway events by
decorating in the theme of the festival of the moment. The bar can get a little noisy, but in general the
hotel has a relaxed atmosphere.
The hotel boasts a superb
location in central Galway on the busy but pleasant Forster Street, which has a
mix of businesses, offices, shops, and cafes. The property is a block northeast of
Eyre Square and two blocks northeast of Eyre Square Centre shopping mall. The
Galway train and bus station is a two-minute walk southwest while Galway Coach
Station at Sean Duggan Centre is a half-block northeast. The Shop Street
pedestrian area with stores, restaurants, and pubs is about a five- to 10-minute
walk south. Located an eight-minute walk southwest of the hotel is Nora
Barnacle's House and St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Ireland's largest
medieval parish church still in use. The Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum, and additional
pubs and nightlife are also southwest. Sports fans can walk 10 minutes
northeast for Galway Sportsground (Home of Connacht Rugby) or drive 10 minutes
southwest for Pearse Stadium. Featuring a 145-foot tall dome that’s one of the
city's main landmarks, Galway Cathedral is a 13-minute walk west of the hotel
while Galway Airport is a 15-minute drive northeast.
Simple, stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen
TVs
The Forster Court has 50 non-smoking
guest units on three floors of a four-story building. Modern rooms range in size from
204 to 322 square feet; the 204-square-foot rooms feel a little small.
Spaces are tastefully decorated and the color palette is
largely white, beige, and brown, with a dash of color in the mauve doors,
carpets, and throw pillows. Additional accents include wood furnishings, striped
curtains, and wall art. Rooms also come with hairdryers, coffee/tea makers,
free Wi-Fi, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with cable, and plush white cotton
bedding with duvets and cotton-rich linens. Rooms lack air-conditioning but do
come with fans. There are also no mini-fridges, mini-bars, in-room safes, or
irons, but the reception desk has safes and irons and ironing
boards. Rooms facing the street may experience noise while other units don't
get a lot of natural light. Some spaces are a little worn and could use
refurbishment. Bathrooms, some of which are shower only,
are clean and well lighted, and come with ample counter space.
As a
relatively small hotel, the Forster Court has few property facilities. It has
no business center but does offer a lobby computer with Internet access (for a
fee). It also has no fitness center, but does offer discounted access to the gym
and swimming pool at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, located a few minutes walk southeast. The Forster Court has an excellent breakfast (for a fee)
with a continental spread of fruit, yogurt, pastries, cheese, ham, cereal,
toast, and more. The hotel also offers cooked-to-order items like eggs and
bacon and traditional Irish fare like sausages, tomato, beans, and black and white
pudding. The on-site restaurant serves lunch and dinner with fare like seafood
chowder, Galway Bay prawn rolls, goat cheese and red onion tart, sirloin steak,
Atlantic salmon, and vegetable curry. The bar pours a variety of wine, beer,
and liquors, also hosting bachelor and bachelorette parties with cocktail
classes. Also on hand are a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, and
public parking at an adjacent lot (for a fee).
Customers Who Viewed Forster Court Hotel Also Viewed
