Hotel review — Co Kilkenny four-star is the best-kept secret for families looking for adventure and value

The family-run Avalon House in Co Kilkenny has one of the country’s top activity parks located just 300m away

The creeper-clad exterior of Avalon House Hotel

Tanya Sweeney

While there’s no shortage of family-friendly stays in Ireland with kids’ activities on-site, the price of a weekend stay — along with all those fun extras — can work out as prohibitively expensive for many parents. As we edge toward summer, demand in the well-known resorts starts to swell, along with the prices.

Avalon House Hotel in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, is a smart and reasonable alternative — a family-run four-star with plenty of family activities nearby, thanks to Castlecomer Discovery Park, just 300m from the front door.