More Bang for Your Buck

More Bang for Your Buck

You get what you pay for. For decades Dublin was synonymous with cheap but unexciting accommodation. The Celtic Tiger years transformed expectations for visitors to Dublin. When it comes to their hotels, it was indeed the best of times and the worst of times. Choice and quality expanded exponentially, but so did prices. The sudden economic downturn has seen prices frozen and even falling in many medium- and high-end hotels. But rates are still not cheap and with money tight for everyone it's more important than ever to get the best deal for your dollar. First lesson is in a buyer's market: don't be afraid to haggle when you are making a booking, as they can only say no and you might just make a big savings. If location is a priority but you don't want to spend a fortune, try the moderately priced, redbrick Central Hotel, which lives up to its name: it's 100 yards from the front gate of Trinity College. The rooms are small but stylish, and you have easy access to the wonderful Library Bar, the most serene drinking spot in Dublin. To stay just off the ever-trendy Grafton Street for less than EUR 100 is a real treat, and the no-frills but stylish Grafton House also throws in nicely furnished rooms in a Victorian town house. Or, in Victorian-era Ballsbridge, head to the charming Ariel Guest House, where homemade jams and warm scones can be enjoyed under the Waterford-crystal chandelier in the sumptuous, fireplace-warmed drawing room. Globetrotters Tourist Hostel is the pick of its kind in the city, and it even has a cute B&B next door.