Ireland, Dublin-Need Help
 

I hate to ask for accommodation advice. I have been reading and researching and I am still confused. I am booking for a party of 9 so that is part of the problem. My choices so far in Dublin are
Harding Hotel
Fitzwilliam Townhouse
O'Neills Victorian Pub and now I'm thinking of possibly
D4Hotel Ballsbridge Inn. This would probably require bus transportation into the city. Is that a hassle? That is part of my problem....don't know if the bus situation would be a headache vs somewhere we could just walk. Please give me some advice.

Hi hbo6

I live in Dublin so haven't stayed in any of the hotels you mentioned. I'm posting this in the hope of bumping your message back to the top so others can comment.

I can give you some info on location though.

The Harding, Fitzwilliam Townhouse and O'Neills are all very central.

They are all in OK areas, walking distance to the centre. The Harding is the closest to the nightlife but the others are a short walk away. Both the Harding and O'Neills are above pubs so this might add to the noise levels up to closing time. The Harding in particular often has live music which is fun but perhaps not if you're trying to sleep upstairs!

These three are all on main roads with O'Neills in particular being on a very busy road. It depends on what kind of a sleeper you are but it may be worth asking for an inside room if you decide on O'Neills.

The Ballsbridge Inn used to be Jury's until very recently so for more info try doing a search on Jury's. It's that little bit too far to be walking distance to town, but is a cheap taxi ride away and there are plenty of buses (though with 9 people 2 taxis will only be marginally cheaper than 9 bus fares and there is a taxi rank right outside).

It's a much quieter, purpose built hotel - also on a main road but set back from the road so noise levels are not such an issue - and I would have perceived it as being in a different (slightly higher) category to the others but yes it's not immediately in the city centre.

Not sure if this is any help!

jane

Jane, Thank you for you knowledge. Now I'm thinking of the Comfort Inn, Granby Road, Parnell SQ or Days Inn, Talbot Street. Any thoughts on those????

Can't help you on the others but when I lived in Dublin I went to the Fitzwilliam for a pedicure once. Very nice hotel and great central location IMO.

We stayed at Bewley's Hotel in Ballsbridge. Most often we just walked into the centre of town -- a nice walk and not too long -- but it was very easy to take a city bus.

Hi Jane - have you checked the comments on TripAdvisor? If someone says it was noisy - believe them! Problem is, when I was researching my Dublin nights, nearly all the places had bad reviews for noise. Check also the location of a bar in or near the place. And check out the room first so you're not overlooking the entrance, or some loud area. whew. Good luck! Dublin is really fantastic.

Hi hbo6

I'd be inclined to stick with the places on your first list just going by location alone - Parnell St / Talbot St are also central but in a slightly seedier area.

Of course if anyone has actually BEEN in any of the hotels I'd suggest you take their advice over mine!

best wishes

jane

Sorry - in my first post I meant to say "2 taxis will be marginally MORE EXPENSIVE than 9 bus fares" - not cheaper!

OK, thanks for all comments. Now, please, if anyone has stayed at Comfort Inn, Granby Road, or Days Inn, Talbot Street, please post with your thoughts. Also, don't chain hotels offer discounts, ie., AARP,or AAA as they do in the States?

I've been at O'Neill's for three nights in 2006. Yes, it's noisy (we had an outside room) but the rooms are nice and large. Lots of steps, it really was a Victorian house. Huge tall ceilings. Decent breakfast, and good food at the pub. Three brothers run the place, they were great. Good location, within walking distance of lots of things, right near Trinity College.

I haven't stayed in either the Comfort Inn (Granby ROW, not Road) or Day's Inn, but I know they are both bog-standard modern mid-range hotels, both fairly new.

They are in areas that are not very bad, but where you need to be streetwise.