The Internationl hotel is a favourite for most because its mid range in everything from room prices, to bar prices to restaurant prices.

If it was my choice, I would choose the Scotts Garden Hotel. Im in Killarney far too much for my own good and have stayed in most. I do not really stay in the town anymore because I have grown very fond of The Brehon which is owned by the Scotts Garden(vice versa).

The Killarney Plaza is nice, can be pricey and not much in the line of bar food and the restaurant is over priced. Hey, somebody has to pay the pianist.

My daughter and I stayed at Lake Hotel. I cannot understand why it doesn't receive more good press. The setting is truly picture postcard. We received an upgrade to garden suite in new wing and woke up Saturday morning to see 6 does strolling past our window only metres away from us!!! You can't pay to have this type of experience.

The staff is marvelous from our waiter who told us not to miss the ferry to Valentia, to the concierge who showed us UTube of Joe surfing while he printed our route to Kilkenny. The reception even told us that RiverDance was on across the street and arranged tickets for us.

Breakfast is the same wherever we stayed, but dinner was wonderful.

It is a short walk to the town centre - maybe 15 minutes.

"You can't pay to have this type of experience." Of course you can because you did.

The lake hotel is overpriced with is its failing. The views are amazing as being directly lakeside it looks directly onto the National Park.

The best hotel with the best view is the Hotel Europe 5* on the Killorglin road. Its very expensive of course.

Central location with lively bar and good food is probably definately going to be the Scotts Garden hotel.

http://www.scottshotelkillarney.com/

Yes, the Lake Hotel is a wonderful setting and the prices are comparable to other 4 star hotels in the area. (My father currently works there but I have always enjoyed a quiet drink on the patio or food looking out onto the lake and mountains long before he did.) And the views are comparable to that of the Hotel Europe both being on the water's edge. The best views though have to be from the Aghadoe Heights Hotel which looks in the same direction as Hotel Europe but with its higher elevation the panorama is greater. The location of the Lake Hotel however, being on the edge of the National Park, makes it a better choice for a quiet weekend of long strolls in the park.

That said, it does not fit the requirement of the town center location. My first choice would be the Killarney Park but it would be more quiet than lively as far as the bar goes. The Ross Hotel, its sister hotel, is right next door to the International (another good choice). The Ross is boutique hotel with a lively cocktail bar and excellent restaurant. Pres. Clinton's brother stayed there once but long before it recent refurbishment. The Towers and Plaza both have lively bars but as said are bordering on the overpriced. Scott's is a lively establishment but I am not convinced on their quality of service.

My suggestion would be to find a hotel such as the Park or Malton and use it as your base. The town is so small that you can easily walk to McSorleys or The Grand for your entertainment and to Lord Kenmare's or Chapter Forty for your meals.