Courtesy of the heavenly Temple Country Retreat and Spa near Moate in Co. Westmeath, CheapEats.ie has a fantastic prize to give away. Temple is a truly special, exclusive, intimate haven of peace, relaxation and harmony – and their food kicks ass to boot! They’ve got some excellent value deals at the moment, and we’re delighted to team up with them.
Valentines Overnight Getaway for Two
The package includes overnight accommodation for two on Valentines Day, Saturday February 14, with champagne toast on arrival, gourmet dinner in the Garden Room Restaurant and delicious breakfast in the morning.
All Temple Spa’s packages include access to spa facilities (Jacuzzi, sauna steam room) and participation at your leisure in their daily programme of activities including yoga, guided country walks, tai chi and relaxation classes.
Temple is only an hour from Dublin, and they can organise a pick up from the bus-stop in the nearest village if the winner doesn’t drive.
To Win
To be in with a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what sort of deals and offers you want to see from hotels and spas.
It’s not one of those annoying tie-breaker questions; we will choose one winner completely at random and the writer of that comment wins the prize. Tell your friends!
Terms
- This competition is only open to residents of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Do not enter this competition if you are outside the island of Ireland.
- Please make sure you leave a working email address with your comment (email addresses will not be publicly displayed) so we can contact you for your details.
- Please do not comment more than once, if we see more than one comment from the same address we will delete all your comments and you will no longer be eligible for the competition. If you have questions about the competition, use our contact form.
- The competition will close at 12pm on Monday February 9, and the winner will be announced later that day.
- There is no cash alternative for this prize.
About Temple Spa 
In a former life, I was lucky to spend a few months reviewing spas around Ireland. I stayed at Temple and fell in love with it, so we’re really delighted that they have sponsored this competition.
It’s one of only three luxury destination spas in Ireland and,overall, it’s one of the best. It’s small, intimate, in a gorgeous setting, and surrounded by the historic retreat of Clonmacnoise.
Owners Declan and Bernadette Fagan, along with a dedicated staff, treat every guest like royalty. They’re genuinely passionate about creating a unique and utterly wonderful experience. It’s got 23 rooms, a great selection of indulgent spa treatments, and a brilliant local, seasonal, and often organic food philosophy.
Head chef David Godin has worked in some of the world’s most renowned restaurants, and I relished every mouthful of his healthy and scrumptiously indulgent creations.
This is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day. And if you’re single, bring a friend!
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Fabtastic Prize … i would love to see more B&B deals that include a treatment or two and use of the spa facilities such as thermal rooms etc .. i think having to pay extra for these after paying for a room in the hotel/spa is ridiculous.
I shall be dreaming of winning this prize now all weekend 🙂
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 12:35 pm
A weekend away for friends which includes treatments would also be nice – there never seems to be enough offers for girls/mums/sisters to go away together and get pampered!
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I’d like to see more room only price deals – none of this pps sharing lark – with good additional offer addons for food / treatments / golf so you can build your own offer ..
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Weekends away are way to expensive , would love to see more offers for couples including either a meal other than just B & B or a spa treatment . Temple spa and retreat would be right up my alley. Would be a valentines weekend to remember.
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 3:12 pm
In some cases, offers in spas offer the less popular treatments e.g. dry flotation – whereas massages and facials which are labour intensive remain excessively expensive.
I would like to see a couples getaway offer specifically designed for people with children. As babysitters are hard to come by, one night dinner, B & B – some possible extras that would be very enticing and cheap to include include a complimentary welcome bottle of cava, late check out the next day, Sunday papers, breakfast in bed, and some very tranquil treatments!
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I would like to see room only prices for these places. I find PPS very misleading. I would also like to see more valuable yoga weekend trips or healthy weekend trips where activities are included. Temple Spa sounds amazing!
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 3:37 pm
“All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what sort of deals and offers you want to see from hotels and spas.”
Is it too easy to say I really want to see free deals/offers from hotels and spas?
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I love the 2 nights + dinner deals that hotels have on offer. If they’re willing to throw in a spa treatnent then count me in!
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Hmm. The concept of any deal in any spa anywhere in the world already sounds like a warm and fuzzy daydream to a sleep-deprived mum of 2-under-2. Guarantee me eight hours of uninterrupted sleep and you can stick me in the leaky shed out the back.
Ok, kidding, but seriously…
1) Offers that suit families, eg ones that mean there’s a babysitter included in the price for one of the night’s you’re away – it can make a real difference to switching off.
2) Deals that encourage couples to use the spa together – my other half, like most men, can be a bit shy about all that the girly, pampering aspect of a spa, but couples treatments can help. There’s a Seaweed Bath place in Sligo that has a bath and sauna in the room. It’s for two people to share and take alternate turns soaking/steaming – great idea and very private for spa-shy blokes.
3) Spa treatments can be pricey, so a ‘buy one, get one half price’ deal would be great. I’ve often gone away and just gone for one break-the-bank treatment, but would be tempted by an offer like this.
4) If dinner is included in the price of the break, a complimentary bottle of champagne or good wine with dinner would be nice.
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I would love to see more deals on weekend breaks that include a meal and a free treatment. and maybe an organised activity.
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I would like to see more offers from hotels that include all meals (luncha and dinner) in the price, not just b&b. That way you could really work out how much your weekend away is going to cost, rather than arriving and finding the menus are really expensive and going hungry!
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 6:24 pm
What a fantastic prize to offer! What can be better than going with your valentine to a nice hotel and treat yourself better than you usually do?
I sure can’t think of anything else..
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I wouild like to see weekend deals, ideally with dinner included. Also any sort of package regarding spa treatments. And I agree about the pps pricing – very confusing, would prefer to see a room rate.
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 7:25 pm
1 – Def would prefer room-based pricing rather than pps
2 – I’d like to see weekend offers with late Sunday checkout.
3 – Complimentary bottle of wine with a meal is always going to catch my eye 🙂
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 7:39 pm
what a wonderful prize on this horrible friday.
The thoughts of just getting away and to relax is like a distant dream.
Anyway…I’d like to see more family breaks advertised ,you know the kind of thing,children occupied while mum relaxes.:))
Even a night away really recharges your batteries,but getting kids minded for even the night brings it’s own stresses.All in packages also really appeal to me as i’ve nothing to think about.
p.s. Great site only just got it recommended to me and will recommend it to all my on-line pals.
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Room only offers is the way to go. I’m silly that way, I’ll then order room service and treatments and all that, but when I’m faced with a 150pps I baulk.
I also think that encouraging girl groups of two or three would work, dinner, one treatment and even a triple room if they exist..
Valentine’s passes my man by, but it sounds like a wonderful deal. Maybe it’s time for me to be a proactive woman and organise my own Valentines.
Friday 30 January, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Brill prize. I’d like to see offers on 2 night breaks at the moment, perhaps with a choice of with dinner or without. Maybe tying them together with events such as the KK Comedy Festival or Horse Racing…
Saturday 31 January, 2009 at 2:13 am
I’d like 24-hour babysitting/creche. (Not for me, mind.)
Saturday 31 January, 2009 at 11:40 am
Sounds like a brilliant prize! I agree with others that it would be nice to get deals that include a spa treatment as well as dinner.
Saturday 31 January, 2009 at 1:44 pm
1. More “pre-wedding spa treatment with the girls” kind of offers.
2. Complimentary tea/coffee and scones on arrival in hotels
3. A page on the website for last-minute deals
4. “spa-bundles” where you can get a spa card on credit for a few hundred euro and get cheaper spa deals that way. Or a loyalty card, similar idea
5. Buy two get third person free on spa treatments
6. Getting a cheaper room if you book a spa treatment with it
Saturday 31 January, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I’d like to see more weekend room + dinner deals.
Only signed up for the blog last week, so far so good.
Saturday 31 January, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Deals-
-at least one treatment included in the price of the room
-if you book two nights, free dinner one night
Sunday 1 February, 2009 at 10:28 am
Deals on midweek breaks and other low-season times would be great. D+B&B. Champagne on arrival 😉 – makes you feel special. Loyalty scheme for regular visitors where they get extra discount for each visit or a free treatment on every other visit.
Sunday 1 February, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Affordable family holiday deals where you can go with your children and have a chilled out weekend or a week-long break in school holidays. Ideally there would be activities for children like horse riding, archery, swimming, exploring nature, karaoke, etc and relaxing stuff for parents like yoga, massage and yummy food.
Sunday 1 February, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Same as other posters -would be interested in dinner ,b and b weekend deals around Ireland .Also girly weekend value break -maybe spa or shopping .love the site.
Sunday 1 February, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I would love to see an all-inclusive body and soul package, B +B, healthy dinner and relaxing treatment. Would also love to see something like a meditation or yoga class included just to get the spiritual balance right as well as the pampering. Ideally 2 or 3 nights package as I find it hard to unwind on just the one night.
Sunday 1 February, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I would like to see weekend deals – all the good deals are mid-week deals. I want a deal that is all inclusive. All meals built in so I dont have to go too far.
I would like activities to be built into the deal for lads. So things like canoeing, surfing, shooting etc., followed by massage etc.
A loyalty scheme would be good. A way to taylor your package deal would also be cool.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 12:12 am
Oh so many ideas! Have just recently been looking for a spa hotel break with a friend so have been comparing them all…temple looks stunning!
Ideas:
1. Late check-outs and early check-ins
2. Lots of towels and smellies
3. Tasting menus with wine included so can try a bit of everything
4. Set menus in hotel bar area ie lighter snacks rather than full 3 courses
5. Bigger fluffier bath robes!
6. DVD/music selection in rooms
7. Lovely candles in rooms
8. Library with books/mags/newspapers
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 9:29 am
Hi! I’m enjoying your blog! Would love to see weekend deals for couples. Meals doesn’t have to be included, but spa treatments would be a bonus.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 10:33 am
At times when my kids are driving me nuts, I would love to be able to go to a spa for one night, where I could be alone to read, chill out, be pampered and above all get a night’s uninterrupted sleep.
The 5 children would stay at home with daddy so a room without a single supplement, dinner and breakfast included and preferabley delivered to my room, with a minimum of interaction with anyone else would be bliss. Silence would indeed be golden.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 10:56 am
Would like to see more hotels including a Kiddies Club. Went to one hotel last year that had one, children enjoyed it so much. Very safe and secure also, children could not leave area without parent collecting them. Activities were tremendous design your own egg then had an easter egg hunt, creative arts and crafts, face painting, disco etc. More hotels should have them.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 11:43 am
Total opposite- what about an adults-only spa? Not an adults-only HOTEL, but for the spa to be child-free- which isn’t unreasonable, as most children wouldn’t want/can’t have spa treatments.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Great way to do some market research – and a great way to get the views of your consumers, win win I say.
Anyway, I’d love more weekend break deals. Mid-week just doesn’t suit most people.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 2:53 pm
For these recessionary times, I would like to be able to pay a flat fee (say €200) and be able to get as many treatments as i would like for a day. Also longer opening hours for the spa would be great!
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I see great hotel deals sometimes, but not having a car can make it difficult to get to nice countryside places. If a hotel sorted out lifts from the closest station or town centre and included the collection/drop off in the price for a weekend or short break I think this would be helpful and might encourage people to use public transport where available.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Hotels deal that I find appeal to me, Cater for people travelling at weekend and will include a breakfast ad dinner including, also something that can be appealing is a reduction on the use of facilities (ie 25% off Spa), A few Hotels I have noticed have launced a number of themed weekend such as cookery courses or language courses
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I stayed in the Ritz last year in Powerscourt for a night, and it was really luxurious. Every table was offered a tour of the kitchen in the Gordon Ramsay restaurant and they have a fantastic table in the kitchen for a chef’s special event. I would love to try more of this kind of thing – where they offer you samples and then cook something specific to your tastes.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I would like to see more packages that included dinner + spa treatments. I think the idea of knowing how much your weekend is going to cost up front would be appealing.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I would like to see a total price, not pps. It would be nice if such prices also included one spa treatment per person.
There can be great mid-week deals, but most working people can’t avail of these. So more offers at weekend time would be nice to see.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I feel offers need to get more creative so my suggestion is a bit unusual – that you pick a very expensive bottle of wine from your cellar (say worth €150) and that you offer customers a free meal or a free nights B&B if the order the particular and exclusive bottle of wine!
It’s a strange one I know but look at it this way:
1. It you do something like this you have a very strong marketing message that will stand out from all the other deals out there and capture peoples imagination (and will generate additional word of mouth and PR for you)
2. Everyone would love to try a €150 bottle of wine but would rarely order one (and you’d be helping facilitate this with such an offer)
3. You get to clear out some cases of premium wine from your cellar that you may not otherwise get to sell in the current climate.
To make a difference today you need to get creative and capture peoples imagination!
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Hiya, Sounds gorge… I’d like to see weekend breaks with activites included.. cooking courses, hiking, that sort of thing…
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 8:12 pm
On a day like snow with the bustling blizzard, I think everyone could use a weekend at the spa! I would like to see more affordable weekend deals. It seems to me that weekend deals have become more frequent lately but they also need to be advertised better. It’s hard to know what’s out there unless it’s advertised well.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Hi all,
Love the site!
I would love to see more hotels that would be open to accomadating our beloved pets.
I have a wonderful budgie and I find it hard to go away as I don’t want to leave him.
If hotels were more open to welcoming dogs, cats, birds etc., I believe they would do great business.
Monday 2 February, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Id love to see a last minute price deal where hotels and spa’s sell off their empty rooms at a very low cost. They get to fill their rooms and all treatments are sold and the consumer gets a bargain so everyone is happy!
Tuesday 3 February, 2009 at 10:59 am
More agressive pricing based upon availability especially last minute offers. Prices per room – not per person.
Flat rate to include 3 (?) treatments of your choice
Tuesday 3 February, 2009 at 11:00 am
So many things I would love to see from hotels and spas:
– Last minute offers (Im on a few mailing lists for hotels where they give offers for that weekend)
– I hate hotels where you pay a fortune for staying in the hotel and they then charge you extra to use the pool/steam room
– Include Breakfast in the room rate, everyone likes a fancy hotel breakfast
– Per room rates rather than per person
– Fancy toiletries – when you stay in a really nice place its nice to have a little something smelly to take away.
– More interesting package offerings – e.g. cookery class/yoga/golf/dance classes
– Little extras – I stayed in a hotel once in the UK on a river that had fishing rods in every room, free little bottles of whiskey for nightcaps, smarties instead of mints for turndown, fluffy slippers you can take away, milk and cookies for turndown. Little personal touches are great.
– I have seen a few places that have hotel dogs you can take for walks – love this idea.
– Games and DVDs for evenings in spa/country hotels
Tuesday 3 February, 2009 at 11:27 am
Like others, I’d like to see more room rates (rather than pps) and last-minute deals to fill hotel rooms would be very welcome.
Tuesday 3 February, 2009 at 11:51 am
The type of deal I love is a weekend spa package which includes just one or two treatments and then offers a discount on additional treatments.
It’s great when there’s an alternative to treatments for one or some of the group who might prefer a guided walk or a round of golf somewhere nearby. Kids clubs are also a fantastic facility to have.
Tuesday 3 February, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I’d like to see weekend deals, not just midweek ones. It’s great when b+b’s offer packages that include in house facilities but I’d like if there was offers for other activities in the nearby locality so that you actually get to see the area for the weeknd not just the grounds of the hotel/b+b/guesthouse
Tuesday 3 February, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I would like to see more package deals. Special early bird offers in the restaurant so you can entice people to eat at off peak times. 20% off SPA treatment if you spend more than €60 in restaurant. Free Bottle of wine if 2 or more treatments are purchased. Ryanairs approach special rates for few places in Booked in SPA each month. Also cheaper in off peak. Have a loyalty card. For every 3 nights you stay you get a percentage of a meal or a treatment. As people normally stay 2 nights, this will entice them to come back for a second stay.Everyone loves dressing gowns. Free dressing gown after 10 treatments.