Laurie Kahle wrote an article for Forbes highlighting both the amount of time and money Fred Krehbiel invested into the Ballyfin restoration. Krehbiel spent tens of millions of U.S. dollars and took over eight years to complete the massive makeover. The amount of time spent on the makeover was more than the amount of time the builders took to construct the original property.
Kahle highlights the number of rare antiques from around the world that fill the Ballyfin. The mirrors and French chandeliers by Thomas Chippendale also standout as well as the expensive art collection that adorn the walls and rooms of the Ballyfin. The paintings belong to some of the most well known Irish artists and date back to the 17th century. The modern bar and spa feature more contemporary artwork from modern artists such as Louis le Brocquy and Mainie Jellett.
Conor Power from Irish Examiner was very impressed with his stay at the Ballyfin. Power and his wife visited the property and felt that the Ballyfin had not been touched in the last 200 years as the hotel and the demesne looked so spectacular. Power enjoyed the fact that the hotel was so secluded and provided them with a peaceful and undisturbed holiday. One of the special features of the property according to Powers is its rich cultural heritage. According to Powers, any one of the less frequented parts of the property would easily be a major highlight in any other five star hotels in the world.
Powers also had good things to say about the cuisine that head chef Mike Tweedie served up. The Power's thoroughly enjoyed the luxury accommodation, fine food and impeccable service which made their stay at the Ballyfin a memorable one.
John O'Ceallaigh from The Telegraph Luxury wrote that the Ballyfin has set new benchmarks for luxury travel in Ireland. O'Ceallaigh noted that VIP travelers who are used to paying top dollar for luxury accommodation in places like New York, Paris and the Maldives will find the costs at the Ballyfin somewhat of a bargain. The hotel package also includes a number of outdoor activities including canoeing, archery and full access to over 600 acres of property that has massive parklands, pristine gardens and ancient woods.
O'Ceallaigh also praised head chef Mike Tweedie for sourcing most of his fruits, vegetables, eggs and honey from the hotel gardens and then going on to create some fabulous dishes. While O'Ceallaigh does make mention of a few areas of improvement, his overall experience at the Ballyfin did meet the lofty expectations he had in mind before he arrived at the Ballyfin.
This website showcases a small, colorful set of 360-degree photos taken of the hotel.
Pól Ó Conghaile, who stayed and dined at Ballyfin,
wrote a wonderful review of the restaurant. Similarly,
here, one can find even more sophisticated review of the restaurant's cuisine by a popular restaurant guide and critic.
Weddings, celebrations, and team-building events can all be hosted in style at Ballyfin. In fact,
MyDreamWedding.ie calls Ballyfin a "wedding wonderland".
Additionally, the hotel is often used as a venue for fashion photo shoots, such as
this one by Patrick McHugh.
Liadan Hynes of Travel Ireland was fascinated with the Ballyfin and the rich history of the property. She said staying at the hotel made her feel like the 19th century owners still lived in the building. Hynes stated that often times, boutique hotels have way too many staff that are always around to cater to the needs of every guest. She felt the service at the Ballyfin was a lot more relaxed, less intrusive and very friendly.
Hynes felt the privacy offered by the Ballyfin meant that it would be very rare for one to bump into another guest at the hotel. All the hotel rooms come fully furnished with modern amenities including a separate rainfall shower and a huge bath. Hynes pointed out that while there are a number of outdoor activities available, the weather played a huge part in determining the final plan of the day.
This review notes that guests are greeted upon arrival by a team of liveried staff, ready to open the car door, refer to guests by name, and take their luggage to their room.
Those interested in architectural history or anyone who just wants a deeper perspective of the hotel will find a
wealth of information on theirishaesthete.com. Here, Robert O'Byrne describes the mansion house's entire history. It also contains some excellent pictures of the hotel's architectural details.