45 hotel rooms in Ireland that sleep families of five, six or more

And yet it sometimes feels like the family holiday industry is built around the number four. If that’s you, it clicks. If not, well... you’ve probably spent countless hours online learning that it doesn’t.

“We have four children under 10, and it’s very hard to find a nice hotel that can cater for this size of a family plus have space to walk around the room,” says mum Jacqueline Kelly. “Most hotels just offer us two rooms.”

“A couple of years ago, I booked a family room in a hotel in Dublin,” says another mum, Ruth Hegarty. “When I mentioned [that we have] three children, they told me that ‘for insurance reasons’ they could not have more than four in the room. I had to book two rooms, at nearly double the cost.”

Interconnecting rooms are one fix, but can ramp up costs (though it’s always worth asking for a discount on the second room).

Families of five are more likely to find single rooms that fit with camp-beds or bunks, but if you’re a party of six or more, finding a large hotel room in Ireland can be tough. Lots of online drop-down menus only allow you to select limited kids, and ages max out at 12.

For ‘non-standard’ bookings, it’s generally best to book direct, and by phone (both to discuss your individual needs, and for options not listed online, like unusually large rooms or apartments).

But this can be a hassle, too.

“What I found most frustrating was I ended up emailing the hotels directly,” says Carol McKeown from Co Meath. “It made the booking process so much more drawn out and most responses were that they could not accommodate five in a room and very few actually have interconnecting rooms...

"My only holidays in Ireland in the future will realistically be glamping/camping, as hotels are just not worth the money or the stress!”

That’s a shame, because one of the joys of hotels are their facilities – pools, kids’ clubs, breakfast buffets, bars... all in one place. Of course, you can book an Airbnb or self-cater. Hostels and glamping lodges are options. But they are different types of holiday. Large families like hotel breaks, too.

So how can you book a hotel room that sleeps five, six or more - without the expense?

Below are lists of hotels with large rooms in Ireland (remember that prices may be higher during school holidays like summer and mid-term, for example).

Irish hotel rooms sleeping six or more

1. Diamond Coast Hotel, Co Sligo

The Enniscrone four-star has family suites sleeping up to eight in two doubles, a double bunk, camp bed and cot if required. "We can boast that we have the largest family rooms in the West of Ireland," says manager Michael Yates. A separation wall allows for "semi-privacy" between adults and kids , and there are two separate TVs to boot, with Netflix and in-house games. €€€; 096 26000; diamondcoast.ie

2. Amber Springs, Co Wexford

Previously named Ireland's top family-friendly hotel in our Reader Travel Awards, this Gorey four-star has 48 family suites, with "family dens" including a double bed in the main room and a separate, private internal kids area with two sets of bunk beds and "a heavy duty blackout curtain" for privacy. 65m2 open-plan family suites have a double, two singles and you can add a cot or camper bed. €€€€. ambersprings.ie

3. 360 Quay Stay, Co Waterford

The largest family room at this new Dungarvan stay sleeps up to seven adults in a double, two singles, bunk and pull-out bed. "We felt there was no place in the town to accommodate large families or groups, especially on a one- to two-night stay," says Tiarnán Murray. It’s dog-friendly, too (recently featuring in our 'Ruff Guide' to dog-friendly Ireland). Family rooms sleep five; large rooms are also available. €€€; 058 3646; 26 60stay.ie

Read our list of the 100 best hotels in Ireland here.

4. Marine Hotel, Co Antrim

This Ballycastle four-star has two beach house family rooms that can sleep five in a double, a three-sleeper bunk and space to add in a cot or camp bed, making it popular with larger families. €€€; +44 (0)28 2076 2222; marinehotelballycastle.com

5. Breaffy House Resort, Co Mayo

Larger family rooms include bunk beds - the largest has a double bed and double bunks (i.e. sleeping two on each level, or four children in total). €€€; 094 902-2023; breaffyhouseresort.com

6. Glenview Hotel, Co Wicklow

Executive family rooms at this four-star near Kilmacanogue cater for up to four kids (though it stipulates they should be under 12... something worth checking everywhere). €€€; and you should contact the hotel directly to book. 01 274-0000; glenviewhotel.com

7. Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny

This Kilkenny four-star's Club rooms can sleep up to six with a double, single, bunks and pull-out sofa, it says. Overnight B&B stays are available for a family of six in the rooms and family dining can be added at an extra fee. €€€; kilkennyormonde.com

8. Midleton Park Hotel, Co Cork

A recently refurbed family suite has a king, queen and bunks sleeping six in total. €€€; 021 436-5100; midletonpark.com

9. Mill Park Hotel, Co Donegal

"We have two rooms that can sleep up to six people and still have place for a cot," this four-star in Donegal town says - the basic configuration is a double and four singles, and the rooms were recently refurbished. Contact the hotel directly to discuss. €€€; 074 972-2880; millparkhotel.com

10. Coach House Hotel, Ballymote, Co Sligo

The hotel's large family room "sleeps two adults and up to five kids all in single bed occupancy", the hotel says. It also has board games and games consoles. A small family room has a double and a set of bunks sleeping four. €€; 071 91 8-3111; coachhousesligo.com

11. Galway Bay Hotel, Co Galway

"We have really large family rooms here that can accommodate up to six," the hotel says. The configuration is one double, two singles, one camp-bed "with a proper mattress" and an additional cot or camp bed. €€€; 091 514-644; galwaybayhotel.ne

12. The Grafton, Dublin: This new Dublin four-star is just a stone's throw from Grafton Street, and has family and "multi-sharing room" sleeping up to six "without the expense of interconnecting rooms or an uncomfortable camp bed," it says. They include two sets of bunk beds, and a super king double. €€€€; thegrafton.ie

13. Glenavon House Hotel, Co Tyrone

The four-star Cookstown hotel has family rooms that sleep two adults and up to four children in a double and four single beds. €€€; +44 (0)288 676-4949; glenavonhotel.com

14. Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

The city hotel's largest family rooms can sleep up to two adults and four children (up to 12 years) in a double and one or two double sofa beds. €€€; 01 475-9666; camdencourthotel.com

Read our list of the 30 best family hotels in Ireland here.

Irish hotel rooms sleeping six, with a cot

15. Riverside Park Hotel, Co Wexford

The Enniscorthy four-star can sleep five in its superior family rooms, with the addition of a cot making six (extras include additional TVs and headsets for kids - some have dividing walls). €€€; 053 923-7800; riversideparkhotel.com

16. Hodson Bay Hotel, Co Roscommon

Newly refurbished family rooms at this popular lakeside resort include two doubles, one single and space for a travel cot. €€€€; 090 644-2005; hodsonbayhotel.com

17. Roe Park Resort, Co Derry

The four-star golf and spa resort has newly refurbished family suites that can sleep up to six with a king-size bed, two singles, a sofa bed and "ample room for cots." €€€€; +44 (0)28 777 22222; roeparkresort.com

18. Sheraton Athlone, Co Westmeath

Family rooms have two double beds and a large sofa bed – in total these can be arranged to sleep a family of six, with a cot placed in the room. €€€€; 090 645-1000; marriott.com

19. Connacht Hotel, Galway

Bunk Bed Family Rooms sleep a max of five, but family suites offer self-catering options with a double and adjoining bedroom with a double and single - you can add a cot to sleep six. The Connacht Cruiser RV (see video) is an American-style motorhome sleeping up to eight starting from €350 per night midweek; with a two-night minimum stay. Read our Connacht Hotel review here. €€€€; 091 381-200; theconnacht.ie

20. Holyrood Hotel, Co Donegal: Family rooms can accommodate two adults and up to four kids - with a double, two singles and additional camp beds, for example. B&B rates with a two-night minimum stay. €€€; holyroodhotel.com

21. County Arms Hotel, Birr, Co Offaly: Recently launched family Suites at Birr's County Arms Hotel have triple bunk beds and a king-size bed for parents. A cot will also fit comfortably, they say, giving a maximum of two adults and four children per family suite. Art materials, goodie bags and a T-pee are available in the room, too. €€€; countyarmshotel.com

22. Creggan Court Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath: The midlands hotel has family rooms with room for up to six in a double, single and up to two camp beds and a cot if required. €€€; creggancourt.com

23. Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, Co Westmeath: New family dens are suitable for families of up to six, this hotel says, with beds build into bunk formations, crisp new designs and a bonus rainforest shower in the bathroom. Contact directly to book families of 2+3 or more. €€€; bloomfieldhousehotel.ie

24. Lahinch Coast Hotel & Suites, Co Clare: The clue is in the name - family suites include two bedrooms and a kitchen and lounge - similar to apartments, really. "They are a big hit with families and there are a total of two double and two single beds, with plenty space for an additional cot or even rollaway bed for an additional child," says Operations Manager, Bríd O'Meara. €€€€; lahinchcoasthotel.ie

Irish hotel rooms sleeping five

25. Ocean Sands Hotel, Enniscrone, Co Sligo: Recently elevated from three- to four-star status, The Ocean Sands Hotel has large family rooms that can cater for up to two adults and three children. Travel-cots are also available for children under the age of three. It also has seaside apartments in two and three bedroomed options, including a fully equipped kitchen with washing machine. €€€€; theoceansandshotel.ie

26. Kingston's Townhouse, Kilorglin, Co Kerry: A family room at this bar and townhouse sleeps five across a double and three singles. "We are a family of five ourselves so felt it was important when designing the townhouse," the owners say. €€€; 066 976-1178; kingstonstownhouse.com

27. Clonakilty Park Hotel, Co Cork: Family rooms sleep five; apartments and holiday homes are available too (with use of the leisure club). €€€€; clonakiltyparkhotel.ie

28. Garryvoe Hotel, Co Cork: Family rooms include one double, two singles and one fold-up bed (suitable for kids up to age 10). €€€€; garryvoehotel.com

29. Vienna Woods Hotel, Cork: Family rooms have one double bed and three single beds - this can take up to five adults. €€€; viennawoodshotel.com

30. Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Adare, Co Limerick: Regular superior rooms can take up to two adults and three children, the hotel says. €€€€; woodlands-hotel.ie

31. Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan: The Monaghan four-star has family rooms with a double and single, plus the choice of bunk beds, couch bed, or camp beds. €€€; hillgrovehotel.com

32. Holiday Inn, Dublin Airport: 42m2 king rooms feature a king-size double and a sofa bed suitable for two children aged 12 and under; a cot or fold-out can be added. €€€; holidayinn.com/dublinairport

33. Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny: This four-star describes its superior family rooms as "the most luxurious rooms in Kilkenny... suitable for families up to three children." They have two doubles and one single bed. It recently added 'Jurassic Newpark', ‘Jurassic Newpark’, an interactive experience featuring life-sized, robotic dinosaurs, to its family-friendly activities. €€€€; newparkhotelkilkenny.com

34. Treacy’s West County, Ennis, Co Clare: Family bunk rooms sleep five - children up to age 13 are included in the family rates. €€€; treacyswestcounty.com

35. Great National South Court, Limerick: "We have some family rooms here at that cater for a family of five with a double bed and three singles," the hotel says. €€€; southcourthotel.com

36. The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim: Luxury twins & family rooms can accommodate a family of five, the hotel says. €€€; thelandmarkhotel.com

37. Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co Kildare: Superior family rooms have a double, single and pull-out sofa bed sleeping two small children. €€€€; glenroyal.ie

38. Inn at Dromoland, Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare: The 3-star has rooms with a double and three singles (these haven't been refurbished), or doubles and two singles with a cot. €€€; theinnatdromoland.ie

39. Emmet Hotel, Clonakilty, Co Cork: One of the hotel's family rooms has a double and three singles. €€; emmethotel.com

40. Slieve Russell, Co Cavan: Family suites feature a large double bed with two additional singles or a set of bunk beds (with one double on the bottom and a single on top). The suites are "ideal for two adults and a maximum of three children (up to age 14)," it says, and a cot can be provided for babies. €€€€; slieverussell.ie

41. Radisson Hotel, Limerick: 32m2 family rooms feature one double and three single beds. €€€; radissonhotels.com

42. Brandon House Hotel, New Ross, Co Wexford: Ground floor superior family rooms have a double, two singles and "a sturdy sleeper sofa bed" with room for a cot, too. €€€; brandonhousehotel.ie

43. Charleville Park Hotel, Co Cork: Open-plan superior family suites have one king bed and two singles, with "ample space for extra camp beds and cots". €€€; charlevilleparkhotel.com

44. Ardilaun Hotel, Galway: This four-star has superior family rooms that can sleep five (king, single, sofa bed) and a family suite with two rooms. €€€€; theardilaunhotel.ie

45. Pillo Hotel, Ashbourne, Co Meath: The hotel has rooms for five and six people, it says, with a configuration of two doubles and one single. It's close to Tayto Park. €€€; pillohotelashbourne.com

More options

Family travel blogger Sinéad Fox has a great list of hotels in Ireland with rooms for families with three or more kids on her blog, bumblesofrice.com.

In addition, the Maldron hotels in Wexford and in Smithfield and Parnell Square in Dublin, as well as the Clayton in Sligo and Clayton Whites Hotel in Wexford, tell me they have rooms that can sleep families of 2+4 "or more, including camp bed availability". See maldronhotels.com and claytonhotels.com.

Price Guide

€: Budget bolthole

€€: Affordable for most

€€€: Mid-range magic

€€€€: Luxury at a fair price

€€€€€: Eye-watering, but worth the splurge

NB: This article is being updated on an ongoing basis.