Dublin hotels -- bad neighborhoods?
 

We're considering the hotels below in Dublin. Can anyone tell me if they're in questionable neighborhoods, i.e., I wouldn't want to walk around in them after dark? (The list is derived from Expedia and Travelocity.) We're looking for a place from which we can walk to Trinity, Temple Bar and most other "attractions." I'd appreciate any other info you might have on the list or suggestions for Dublin hotels under $150 US/night. Thanks much.

Parliament Hotel (Parliament St)
Temple Bar Hotel (Fleet St)
McEniff Skylon Hotel (near O'Connell St)
Comfort Inn Talbot St (18 Lower Baggot Street)
George Frederic Handel Hotel (16-18 Fishamble St Temple Bar)
The Principal Hotel (19-20 Fleet Street)
Best Western Royal Hotel Dublin (40 Upper O Connell Street)
Temple Bar Hotel (Fleet Street Temple Bar)
McEniff Grand Canal Hotel (Grand Canal Street)
Harcourt Hotel (60 Harcourt Street)
Academy Hotel Dublin (Findlater Place)
Berkeley Court Hotel (Landsdowne Road Ballsbridge)
Mespil Hotel (50-60 Mespil Road)
Comfort Inn Parnell Square (Great Denmark Street)

Hi hcoombs,

This doesn't really answer your question, but I can suggest another hotel to add to your list - the Jury's Inn Christchurch. It's in an excellent location, within your budget and has had many favourable comments on these pages. If you do a search in the box at the top of the page you should find more information & here's their website if you're interested:

www.jurys.com/ireland/jury's_christchurch.htm

Jim

Hi hcoombs!
We are also planning on Dublin this year and I had drinks with a woman who was raised in the City just last week to ask these exact questions!

She strongly recommended the SE area of Dublin (Dublin 2) as the best area to be in for walking, nice neighbourhoods, etc. Several of the hotels on your list are in that district and I think we surfed them all! We ended up booking (today) at Kilronan House (find it on Google), which is just a bit south of the heart of the City, but still only about a 10 minute walk from everything that we want to see. It is a small hotel (15 rooms) that is apparently renowned for it's customer service.

We won't be there until August, so I can't say that I'll be able to give you an actual review quickly!

Best of luck!

Alison

As a Dubliner, I would choose the Berkeley Court over any of the other hotels on your list (is it really under $150 per night?). It's in a lovely location (nice, quiet, leafy suburb with shops close by on Baggot Street), and also right beside the DART line so you can get into the city very quickly. The only thing is - at the moment, the DART doesn't operate at weekends. When are you coming over? (the line upgrades should be finished by mid summer).

Mespil Road and Grand Canal Street are also around the same area as the Berkeley Court. The area (Ballsbridge) is very nice, and is only a short DART ride or bus ride to the city centre. It?s also within walking distance of the centre (it would take about 25 minutes).

Anywhere around Temple Bar (Fleet St, Fishamble St, etc) is good location-wise as it's right in the city centre, however it is very touristy, and very loud! It's renowned for Stag and Hen parties and loud pubs and clubs so, unless you're into late-night sessions, I'd steer clear!

Personally, I would never feel safe walking down O'Connell Street late at night, so I would avoid those areas too if possible. O'Connell Street itself is undergoing a face-lift at the moment, but is still a place where dodgy characters like to hang out. Similarly, I would avoid Parnell Square/Great Denmark Street.

Parliament St is an ok location. It's close to the Jurys Inn in Christchurch
that JJBhoy mentioned. Again, it's not so safe late at night, but it's safer than O'Connell Street/Parnell Square areas, however I wouldn't walk around there alone!

The Comfort Inn Talbot Street isn't on Baggot Street. Baggot Street is a nice location on the south side of the city within walking distance of Grafton Street & St Stephens Green. Talbot Street is the north side of the city centre. I'm not very familiar with that area, nor am I very familiar with Findlater Place.

Harcourt Street is a good location, within walking distance of St. Stephens Green and Grafton Street. It's also a safe area to walk around at night. The only thing is that there are lots of road works around there at the moment for the new light rail system that's being put in (the LUAS), so it might get noisy!

What about Walton's Hotel on N. Frederick Street? I've read so-so reviews of it.

Loisde - I'm not sure about the hotel (I live here so never need to stay in hotels!! I just know the locations). Again, it's the north side of the city and is quite close to Parnell Square, which wouldn't be the most salubrious of neighbourhoods. TBH if you're looking for something central, I'd advise you to stay south of the Liffey.

HCOOMBS

I know that I have posted this accom on this forum before and it looks like I am trying to sell it, but it is the best value, central accom anywhere in Dublin and I do not work for them, I promise. Everyone that comes to visit me I put here. It will cost you no more then 100ish euro a night (room rate), depending on the time of year and it has THE best location for the price.

It is called the Pembroke town house and is located on Pembroke Road SOUTH dublin, 15 mintues walk from St. Stephen's green. Rooms are extremely comfortable and the Brekafast is GREAT.

They have a web site and it is www.pembroketownhouse.com I would agree with other posters, STAY AWAY FROM the NORTH INNER CITY. Low prices there but they are low for a reason!

Enjoy your stay...

Paul

I can vouch for Pnestor's recommendation. I don't know the hotel, but the location is great.

Thanks for all your help. We ended up picking a place not even on the list: Central Hotel on Exchequer St. It appears to be "central," indeed. I don't think it's in any of the neighborhoods cailin mentioned, but please correct me if I'm wrong. We can still cancel. By the time we'd decided, the rate on the Berkeley was gone. It's now nearly double. Thanks for all your help.

Exchequer Street is a great location. Very close to Grafton Street. There's lots of lovely little restaurants, cafes, shops, etc around that area. Definitely a good choice area-wise anyway!

Here is my thoughts on the hotels

Parliament Hotel (Parliament St) - Fine and I hear its well priced. Close o Temple Bar

Temple Bar Hotel (Fleet St)- ?? Not sure

McEniff Skylon Hotel (near O'Connell St)
THis is very far from O'Connell. You would not walk back yto this at noight. Its really outside the city


Comfort Inn Talbot St (18 Lower Baggot Street)

George Frederic Handel Hotel (16-18 Fishamble St Temple Bar) -Great location looks nice

The Principal Hotel (19-20 Fleet Street)-I Hvae no Idea where on fleet street this is but it could be noisy

Best Western Royal Hotel Dublin (40 Upper O Connell Street) - NO I have walked by and it is a bit dodgy looking

Temple Bar Hotel (Fleet Street Temple Bar) - Noisy at night and tiny rooms

McEniff Grand Canal Hotel (Grand Canal Street) - Not great at night.

Harcourt Hotel (60 Harcourt Street) - Good location and Good Prices

Academy Hotel Dublin (Findlater Place)?? No idea where this is

Berkeley Court Hotel (Landsdowne Road Ballsbridge) - Very posh take it if it is a good price!

Mespil Hotel (50-60 Mespil Road) Nice and Great location beside a residential area.

Comfort Inn Parnell Square (Great Denmark Street) - No Way!!

Kilronan House is meant to be good as well.

As for North Frederick St....No way too rough if you don't live here. Its a lovely georgian street in a very inner city area.

The Central Hotel is a great location as well. I would try that first!

I have just been told about this site and have found it very interesting, We will be first time visitors to Dublin in April and have booked a hotel in Talbot Street the Ripley Court Hotel, and now after reading all the comments about bad areas are starting to panic that we might have picked a bad area to stay, we can cancel out booking and go somewhere else, help what do we do.

IsaRob -

I would suggest that you change to a southside hotel. Talbot street is very near O'Connell street, whcih is one of the main streets in Dublin. However at night time that part of the city is not the best.

As most of the posts have said I would look at something on the southside of the city. What nightly rate are you being charged - then maybe I can recommend somewhere else to stay.

P

I would second pnestor's advice. It's not an extremely dangerous area, but it's not one of the best places to be located.

I don't know that I'd cancel reservations in that area. If you've been to NYC, it isn't any worse than some of the streets off Times Square. I frequent Dublin, have friends who live on the deep dark nasty "north side" and have never seen the big deal about staying at that end, other than the obvious snobbishness of the south siders. Just travel smart, as you would and SHOULD in any major european city.

Please forgive my piggyback onto this thread, but it seems the logical place to ask this and keeps a lot of great info on one thread.

How is the location of the Holiday Inn
DUBLIN CITY CENTRE, 99-107 Pearse Street
DUBLIN, 2?

I saw on one of the posts above that Dublin 2 should be ok. For FREE ( we are staying on points) I can put up with a lot, but I would pay to be at another hotel if this one is terrible.

For free ....go for it but take a taxi back if its late. This areas has picked up a lot but its slowly happening. There is nothing to do or see in theis area but its a quick walk in the daytime to the main areas. Its not far from the back end of Trinity College and there should be a number 3 bus stop out front. Do take a taxi at night if it is late. I still prefer it to Gardiner Street!

Dublin 2 on the whole is a safe bet, however there are areas you need to be a bit more wary - one of those is Pearse Street. It has improved in recent years, but, as Siobhan said, get a taxi at night (it won't cost too much from the city centre).

amyb: I have lived in Dublin all my life and although I believe that there is good and bad everywhere, parts of the northside of Dublin are known to be bad areas. I personally would feel uneasy walking north of the Liffey at night and I know many people that feel the same. I think the people here are doing the right thing by checking areas out in advance, I would say the same for every city though.

My daughter just back from Dublin and she did stay at Walton's Hotel on N. Frederick Street. She said she had a great time and at no time felt unsafe or uncomfortable. She did a fair amount of walking around at night taking photographs, but I don't believe (or so she tells me) she was out extremely late.

The hotel was fine. The telephone in her room did not work, but upon her request, they gladly moved her to another room.

She said that she never ran into anyone who was less than helpful or friendly. In fact, she received a free pint at the Guinness Storehouse for just responding to a couple of questions.