Some hotels have a bowl of apples at the front desk.  Others leave chocolates on your pillow. And there's one chain that boasts about its chocolate chip cookies.  But I think Ashford Castle's welcoming touch was both original and lovely:  two perfect, ripe and juicy nectarines.  They were laid out on a glass plate with bottled water, silverware, and napkins -- a welcome treat as we arrived after a long day of driving. 


To read more about my experiences at Ashford Castle, check out my review.