Seven Reasons You Should Stay At… Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone

There's nothing like a few days away but a long journey can sometimes be more hassle than it's worth. Luckily, we have a whole host of beautiful getaway spots in Ireland and one of our favourite is the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone. While the town might not immediately spring to mind for a staycation, Athlone has a a host of attractions to offer and will keep everyone from a history buff to a spa addict happy. Here are our top seven reasons to visit the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone.

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Fine food The Radisson Blu is home to two restaurants - Elements Bistro and The Quayside Bar And Lounge, with both offering a selection of contemporary and international dishes. Lunch on some tasty tapas or a pizza on the terrace before enjoying a feast of Goats Cheese Arancini and Connemara Confit Lamb in the main restaurant. The hotel can also arrange a BBQ on the terrace for special occasions, which would be a great choice for a birthday party of post-wedding celebration. Culture cruise Viking Tours offer water cruises along the river and on our trip, we received a really interesting commentary from our captain on the history of the area. While in the area, you can also visit Athlone Castle and enjoy the traditional features of this historic walled town. Terrace time If the weather is favourable, there is no place we'd rather be than on the Radisson's terrace, which sits on the Athlone Lock of the River Shannon. Whether you want to dine al fresco or sit back with a glass of wine and a book, the views are nothing short of stunning. Aquatic adventures While the hotel is nice enough to spend all your time in, you might want to venture out and try something a bit different. Luckily, Baysports is located a hop, skip and jump from the hotel and is brilliant fun for all ages. Visitors can try their hands at kayaking and Chinese water boating before hitting the inflatable water park, all at incredible reasonable prices. The centre also designs packages for those on hen parties, birthday parties and school tours and all necessary gear, such as lifejackets and wetsuits, are available on site. We haven't laughed as much in years! Creature comforts Due to the location of the hotel, most of the rooms enjoy beautiful views of the Shannon, as well as very comfortable beds, fast wi-fi and all the bits and pieces you would expect from a four-star hotel. On our last visit, we enjoyed a lazy morning with breakfast in bed before a swim in the leisure centre and we would thoroughly recommend it! Finance friendly The Radisson offers some fantastic room rates so getting a little escape from the day to day without breaking the bank is definitely achievable. Click here for all the details. Shopping satisfaction Athlone is home to the very impressive Athlone Town Centre, which includes Zara, Born, Coast, H&M, Monsoon, Next, Oasis, River Island and Warehouse to name but a few. It might be safer to leave the credit card at home...