Tripadvisor Best of the Best — and Here’s What That Really Means
By Terry McCartney
There are moments in business that stop you in your tracks. Moments where you have to sit down, take a breath, and remind yourself that what you’re reading is real. This week, Belmore Court & Motel experienced one of those moments. We were named a TripAdvisor Best of the Best winner for 2026 — ranking us No. 3 accommodation in the entire United Kingdom. I’ve been in this industry for over 30 years, and I genuinely don’t have the words to describe what that feels like.
If you’re not familiar with the award, let me explain what the TripAdvisor Best of the Best actually means — because I think it’s important to understand why it carries the weight it does.
What Is the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award?
TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel guidance platform, and each year it analyses millions of reviews submitted by genuine, verified travellers to identify the very best properties, destinations, restaurants, and experiences across the globe. The TripAdvisor Best of the Best is the highest accolade the platform bestows — reserved for the top 1% of listings worldwide.
This is not an award you can apply for. There is no entry fee, no judging panel, and no industry vote. The TripAdvisor Best of the Best is decided entirely by the people who matter most: the guests themselves. Every review counts. Every rating matters. Every piece of feedback, left by real travellers after a real stay, contributes to whether a property earns a place among the world’s finest.
And in 2026, Belmore Court & Motel earned that place. Third in the United Kingdom.
Why This Ranking Is So Extraordinary
Here is the context that makes this TripAdvisor Best of the Best recognition so remarkable. The properties ranked first and second in the United Kingdom are large, luxury hotels in London. Grand properties with international reputations, hundreds of rooms, world-class restaurants, and the commercial advantage of operating in one of the most visited cities on earth.
Belmore Court & Motel is none of those things. We are a 60-bedroom, family-run motel in Enniskillen — a market town in rural Co. Fermanagh, on the western edge of Northern Ireland. We don’t have a bar. We don’t have a restaurant. What we have is a team of local people who genuinely care, a property that has been lovingly maintained and developed for over 35 years, and guests who feel that care every time they walk through our doors.
To sit third in the entire United Kingdom in the TripAdvisor Best of the Best rankings — ahead of celebrated country houses, coastal retreats, and five-star city hotels — on the basis of nothing but authentic guest reviews, is something that this team should be immensely proud of. I know I am.
The People Behind the Award
I want to be very clear about something. This TripAdvisor Best of the Best award does not belong to me. It belongs to every single person who puts on a Belmore Court & Motel uniform and turns up with a smile.
Carl, our Reception Manager, sets the standard every day. Shane and Dianne on reception — familiar, warm, professional faces that guests mention by name in their reviews time and again. Collette, whose quiet efficiency keeps everything running smoothly. Vasant and Amanda, along with the rest of the team, ensure our locally sourced breakfasts are served with genuine care each morning. Sarah, who holds the whole operation together behind the scenes. And our housekeeping team — winners in their own right, having been recognised by the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation for their exceptional standards many times.
These are the people who turned a TripAdvisor Best of the Best win from a possibility into a reality. This award has their names on it.
Thank You to Every Guest Who Left a Review
The TripAdvisor Best of the Best is built on the generosity of travellers who take the time to share their experiences. Every five-star review, every kind word, every constructive piece of feedback — it all contributes. And over the past 12 months, thousands of guests chose to write about their stay with us.
To every single one of you: thank you. You didn’t just help us win an award. You told other travellers that Fermanagh is worth visiting, that Enniskillen is worth exploring, and that a small, family-run motel in rural Northern Ireland is worth choosing over anywhere else in the country. That means more to us than any accolade ever could.
This is now our 15th consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award — and our first TripAdvisor Best of the Best. Fifteen years of consistency. Fifteen years of guests choosing to share their experience. We do not take a single review for granted.
What This Means for Fermanagh
Fermanagh is often described as Northern Ireland’s hidden gem — a county of extraordinary natural beauty, rich history, and genuine warmth that sometimes gets overlooked in favour of Belfast or the Causeway Coast. This TripAdvisor Best of the Best ranking puts a spotlight on this corner of Ireland that we hope will inspire more visitors to make the journey west.
From the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark and the spectacular Marble Arch Caves to the tranquil beauty of Lough Erne, the history of Devenish Island, and the charm of Castle Coole — Fermanagh has everything a visitor could want. Belmore Court & Motel is the ideal base from which to explore it all, as well as the wider delights of Donegal and Sligo just a short drive away.
We have always believed in this place. The TripAdvisor Best of the Best tells us that our guests believe in it too.
A Sustainable Stay at the Heart of It All
One thing that sets Belmore Court & Motel apart — and which guests increasingly tell us matters to them — is our commitment to sustainability. We operate on 100% renewable electricity, have reduced our carbon emissions by 85% since 2021, hold Green Tourism Gold certification, and are on track to achieve Carbon Net Zero by April 2030.
We also offer EV charging — including a 120kW rapid charger — for guests travelling by electric vehicle, and our pet-friendly Standard rooms mean that four-legged family members are always welcome. We believe that exceptional hospitality and responsible environmental stewardship go hand in hand, and we’re proud that this TripAdvisor Best of the Best win reflects both.
Come and Experience It for Yourself
A TripAdvisor Best of the Best ranking is wonderful. But the best way to understand what makes Belmore Court & Motel special is simply to come and stay.
Book directly at www.motel.co.uk for our best rate guarantee, complimentary 3pm check-in, noon check-out, and the knowledge that you’re booking with Northern Ireland’s only 4-star motel — and the third finest accommodation in the United Kingdom.
We look forward to welcoming you.
TripAdvisor Best of the Best FAQ
What is the TripAdvisor Best of the Best award?
The TripAdvisor Best of the Best is the highest accolade TripAdvisor bestows — recognising the top 1% of properties worldwide. Unlike other awards, it is based entirely on genuine, unprompted reviews from real travellers over a 12-month period. There is no entry fee, no judging panel, and no industry vote. It is, in every sense, a guest-led award.
How did Belmore Court & Motel win the TripAdvisor Best of the Best 2026?
Through 35 years of caring genuinely about our guests. Every review that has ever been left about Belmore Court & Motel has contributed to where we are today — and in 2026, TripAdvisor recognised that with a No. 3 ranking in the entire United Kingdom.
Where did Belmore Court & Motel rank in the UK?
We were ranked No. 3 accommodation in the United Kingdom in the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Awards 2026. The properties ranked first and second are large, luxury hotels in London. We are a family-run motel in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
Is this Belmore Court & Motel's first TripAdvisor award?
Not at all — 2026 marks our 15th consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. The Best of the Best ranking is the highest level we have achieved, and we are enormously proud of it.
What type of accommodation is Belmore Court & Motel?
We are Northern Ireland’s only 4-star motel — a concept inspired by the classic American motel model, which places the focus entirely on the quality of the accommodation and guest experience rather than on-site bars or restaurants. We have 60 rooms across Standard, Superior, Executive, and Executive Suite categories, plus our Lodge at Lough Erne for self-catering guests.
Does Belmore Court & Motel have a restaurant or bar?
We don’t — and that’s a deliberate choice. By focusing entirely on our rooms and our guests, we’re able to give every stay our full attention. The good news is that Enniskillen has a brilliant selection of restaurants, bars, and eateries just a short stroll away, including the popular WV Bar immediately next door.
What makes Belmore Court & Motel different from a regular hotel?
everal things. We operate the American motel concept — self-contained rooms, many with mini kitchens, at exceptional value. We are 100% focused on the guest room experience rather than upselling food and beverage. We are also Northern Ireland’s most sustainably operated accommodation, with 100% renewable electricity, Green Tourism Gold certification, and a Carbon Net Zero target of April 2030.
