On Monday 14th March 2016; myself, two very excited bridesmaids and an equally excited bride checked in to the impressive Galgorm resort and spa. On what turned out to be quite possibly the best day of the year thus far I ventured on a road trip to the stunning Ballymena estate.

Check in was at 3pm and we were greeted by a very helpful receptionist who was able to amend our dinner reservation which we had made online from 7pm to 8pm to allow us to fully relax and enjoy extra time in the spa.

We were escorted to our room by a very friendly concierge who was able to advise us where dinner and breakfast would be served and how to get to and from the spa. The reception area was very impressive, luxurious and full of grandeur. Our room did not disappoint either, we were treated to a spacious double room with a stunning bathroom and a view of the new thermal village.

Once we had dropped off our bags we rushed to get down to the spa adorned in our robes and slippers embellished with the galgorm motif. None of us had been to the Galgorm for anything more than a wedding reception or dinner so the use of the spa was top of our list. The one thing I think we all commented on was the cleanliness and appearance of the spa and changing area, I was in awe of the high spec finish and luxe details.

Before we arrived we had wondered if we would need to book individual spa treatments but I can confidently say that there is enough variety in the thermal village to suit everyone and plenty to keep you occupied for a few hours with no need for additional treatments. Of course these would be a lovely addition and maybe better if staying for two nights so you can get the best of both experiences.

The new thermal village boasts an abundance of ways to relax including an indoor hydrotherapy pool, orangery, outdoor jacuzzis and hot tubs as well as the unique (and chilly -10 degrees) snow cabin to name but a few.

After a glorious few hours of basking in the unseasonal Northern Irish sunshine whilst lounging in the outdoor jacuzzi and occasionally retreating inside for a refreshing drink, we headed back to our rooms to get glammed up for a delicious dinner. Our overnight package included a 3 course meal in the well known Gillies bar and grill which I had heard rave reviews of. For starter I chose the honey glazed salt and chili chicken which is quite possibly one of the most delicious meals I have ever had! For my main I opted for the Gillies burger topped with onion rings and a side of fries; again a fabulous choice! And for dessert (although I was struggling for room by this stage) I had the chocolate fudge cake with honeycomb ice cream and chocolate sauce….yum!

Although there was entertainment on that evening in the bar, we were so full and so relaxed that all we could muster the energy for was to climb into bed. The bed in question was so comfortable (and cloud-like) that it deserves a blog post of its very own! We woke the next morning wishing that we didnt have to leave but it wasn’t over yet as our package included a scrumptious full irish breakfast.

With breakfast over there was still time remaining for one last spa visit before packing up, checking out and returning to the real world.

Overall how did I rate my first proper Galgorm experience? Lets just say I already want to go back!

Thanks for reading

Emz xx