Dublin help
 

We booked a sort of last minute cruise leaving from Dublin in Sept.
We would like to stay 2 nights ahead of time.
The 2 nights are on a Fri & Sat so we're coming up with a lot of no availability

The boat leaves from Dun Laoghaire but we'd probably want to stay in the city center. We've been to Ireland twice but never stayed in a Dublin.

Any favorite hotel suggestions would be much appreciated. Probably up to $400 or so.

Since the FODORITES just saved my bacon with a Lisbon hotel at the end of the cruise I'm counting on your help again.

We stayed at The Clarence - fabulous central position.

Although there' s been a recent post critizing the booking.com website, most who use it really like it. I do. In your case plug in your dates and they'll show what's available. You could then come back here with possibilities if you really feel you need more input. Much easier and more efficient than asking for recommendations which may already be booked.

Dublin is a weekend destination for many, so Friday and Saturday nights are difficult. If your dates are for the first or third weekends in September, then you have the additional pressure of major sports fixtures - the All-Ireland Hurling and Football finals.

Dun Laoghaire is a nice place to stay, and has good transport links to the city centre. You could look at the Royal Marine Hotel as a backup in case you don't find suitable accommodation in the city: www.royalmarine.ie/

Dublin is oversubscribed when it comes to available accommodation of any sort, especially Friday and Saturday with the influx of pre wedding parties adding to the load and if it is Finals weekend Forget It Altogether.

As said stay in Dun Laoghaire and use the train in and out of Dublin. Brefer Bray myself but thats further out.

maldron on Smithfield Sq, great for luas transportation. I would do booking to see availability. See what you come up with and can tell you if location is ok. I like city center myself.

When I had a similar query, Tony2phones suugested The Clarence, right on the River Liffey and partially owned by U2 band members.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...blin-hotel.cfm

We stayed there very happily and would return in a heartbeat.
Good luck with your planning!

We stayed at the Shelbourne in the past and really enjoyed it. Showing availability for your dates, albeit the queen is 426 euros per night. Might be worth keeping an eye on this site for promotions / sales:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...issance-hotel/

Still searching and yes I do look at booking.com then go right to the hotel site.

Looks like The Clarence & Shelbourne are full as is the Royal Marine in Dun L.

Any comments on O'Callahan's St. Stephens Green hotel?

That would be great. Check to see what is on at the Gaiety theater. My freind saw Riverdance there yesterday.

I stayed at Buswells. It was very good and I would stay there again. Have you seen if there is availability there?

Buswells is our go to hotel in Dublin when not renting an apartment.

Buswells was fully booked

Thanks for all the suggestions.
We finally booked in at O'Callahan's

Glad that's done

@ nyse Glad it worked out @ the Clarence. I had checked a few places on my list, none has weekend availability.

Believe O'Callahan's has a great chief..