Hi everyone! I am traveling through Ireland starting next week and thought I might treat myself to a real hotel for my 1st night in the city, since the rest of my trip will be in hostels. I know though that some hostels offer private rooms too. Are these rooms LIKE a hotel room, or are they just rooms with 1 bed and closed door?

I was looking for a budget accomodation, like a hostel with a common room/kitchen etc.. but one that had a TV in the room so I could just veg out and be alone while I get over my jetlag.

Any thoughts??

THANK YOU ALL!

Do you need an eggbeater with that?

Hi lnplaster - I've stayed in several hostels in a few countries, but never one with an in-room TV (even in a private room). You're correct when you say they are typically just rooms with one bed and a closed door, and sometimes an ensuite bathroom.

If a TV is important to you, I'd look for a bed and breakfast. I'm not sure what area of the country you'll be in, but in my experience (in Clare and Kerry), a B&B was not much more expensive than a twin hostel room, and you get a more comfortable, often ensuite room (with TV) plus breakfast. And those breakfasts can last you quite awhile, if you choose. There were two of us traveling, so the cost breakdowns for you may be different - but I personally think it's worth looking into.

A matter of semantics: There are 'youth' hostels, 'tourist' hostels, B&B's and Hotels. Hotels have a 'star' rating, tourist class being a 3-star property. Sometimes you may encounter an establishment that calls itself a Tourist Hostel but for all intents & purposes it's a Hotel that couldn't qualify for a 2-or-3 Star rating.

Like jent103, I've never stayed in a Hostel with private in-room TV. B&B's? Yes! But in some of those a big screen TV was only available in a common area.

Flights from the U.S. usually arrive in the early morning hours. Hotels will have an earliest check-in time around noon; but a B&B might let you check in as early as 09:30 if you have a reservation. You can take a 3-to-4 hour nap to get over your jetlag.

As a matter of fact, just last week I stayed in a private hostel room that had a private bathroom and a TV - in Zacatecas, Mexico. But I haven't seen a TV in a private hostel room in Europe.

Quite often a private hostel room is not cheaper than a hotel room, particularly if you assiduously bargain hunt. Look into Priceline and Hotwire for starters - www.betterbidding.com .

You didn't mention which city, but if it's Dublin look into Lesson Bridge Guest House. It has good trip advisor reviews. We're staying there later this week for 69 Euros per night, for a studio with kitchen, flat screen TV, etc. Some rooms are even less this January. Have a great trip!

I've stayed in a few hostels with TVs in the rooms:

Ireland:
Citi Hostel in Dublin

Northern Ireland:
Armagh City Youth Hostel

Scotland:
Edinburgh Backbackers
Euro Hostel in Glasgow (though you had to feed this one with coins to get it going).

So....they're definitely around. You just have to hunt for them if that's something important to you. These were all in private rooms, by the way.