lanejohann

Hi there Fodorites
Have booked the first night at Malahide - casltelodge b and b.. but after our seven day loop of dublin-derry-galway dublin im thinking we should stay right at the airport but the reviews for the Clarion and the Radisson werent too flash

We need to sleep 3 in a room
We would like to park the car at a hotel( or even maybe return it the night before. on the saturday..dont know yet)..then go back into the city centre using public transport

in the morning we will have some time after breakfast to have another peak at Dublin because at the moment we have only planned two afternoons/ evenings and being winter, it will be dark by then
..we need to be at the airport by 330 i think for a 6pm flight to Paris

so has anyone done something similar?
the reviews of both the clarion and the radisson suggest that both take advantage of their location and are actually shabby and overpriced

Has anyone stayed in either of these hotels recently?

Would it be just as convenient to say, stay in Swords, catch the train/ bus whatever in for a visit to the city centre and then whizz out via the accommodation to the airport, return the car and get to the airport without too much of a flurry?

im thinking we will have to make tracks by 230/ 3pm..ie finish up and head to the hotel/ airport...staying on the north side of the Liffey was suggested in someone elses thread a while back to avoid dublin traffic

also...just in case we decide not to eat breakfast at the hotel...or simply have a snack...where would you suggest we do this in dublin...nice cafe or similar...want to avoid the greasies if we can...would rather eat healthy so maybe a hotel breakfast might offer fruit and cereal

any thought appreciated!

Padraig

A number of hotels near the airport offer free shuttle services so you can return your hire car the day before your departure.

I would expect any airport hotel to be soulless. All you should really require is that it be clean and, for your programme, be well located for public transport links as well as having a shuttle to the airport.

alya

We've just stayed at the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown and would recommend it. They do have rooms with 2 queen beds.

Easy public transport 2/3 minutes walk from the front door and only E2.80 per person but you do need correct change - the bar in the hotel changed our paper money and gave us the fare in one hand and the change in the other
The 39A is a quicker trip since it avoids Blanchardstown but even on the no. 39 it only took 20 minutes to Connolly Street and the buses are regular and run early and late in the day.

There is also a reasonable sized mall over the road from the hotel for any shopping urges.

I assume you can return the car at the airport when you catch your flight?

lanejohann

yes thanks for that Padraig

bland we can do...grubby/smelly..not so much !

the shuttle buses are available as you say...

just wanted to get opinions on just how shabby these two airport hotels are and what alternatives there are

thanks in advance!

abram

We stayed at the Radisson Blu Sept 1 and thought it was a very nice hotel. The room was beautiful and the staff extremely nice. We returned our rental car in the evening and walked back to the hotel in less than 10 minutes. The shuttle ride to the airport in the morning was very short.

flpab

I have stayed at the Clarion, it is not dirty just needs an overhaul. Bring something to drink or you have to buy bottled water from the bar.Last trip we just stayed at our hotel in the city and caught the bus in. You can return the car and buy a day tripper pass and go stay in the city. We had a late night snack at the Clarion watching the soccer game and it was not edible. I am not picky but that was the truth.

nytraveler

If you want to go into the city both the evening before you leave AND that morning - why stay at an airport hotel?

Just drop the car and stay downtown. The trip to the airport the next day is very short.

lanejohann

HMM ...theres a few ideas here...thank you...just thinking it through
Ok..firstly about the Radisson Blu..that certainly is heartening...
and it is also a relief that the Clarion isnt all that bad either

I have stayed at an airport hotel in Vienna..seriously good..yes not much soul but it was modern and clean and we got to wheel our luggage across to the terminal...that was the coolest
and there was no noise...at all

now...why do i want to stay at the airport?
seriously i have this obsession...for instance...here back home i feel like i want to go to the airport the night before...and thats insane! once packed I just want to be off and i hate the anticipation that there might be a problem..a traffic jam..a breakdown...goodness knows what else..
its not a real obsession cos of course i never do stay the night at a hotel before a trip

it is OH who wants to hang on to the car til the last day...thats his obsession...a man and his vehicle should not be parted..hes very independent...so im not playing in his arena
but nytraveler...i see your point..we could get rid of the car before entering the city for the night...catch a shuttle or cab and settle into a hotel right in the midst of the action and then just get to the airport
that does make sense
only thing...if, on the morning of our departure we decide wed actually like to visit something other than dublin...(unlikely ...cos i doubt that we would have seen dublin in daylight at that stage)...anyway then we would need a car

thank you ..it's got me thinking...will run it past OH when he gest home from work

lanejohann

alya..have just noted your recommendation...good to know..thank you