Pat

I will be in Ireland the first two weeks in August. At some point would like to stay in Dublin for two or three nights. Would like a centrally located hotel in the middle of town - most convenient to Grafton Street and thereabouts. Does anyone have any recommendations about where they have stayed and had a good experience?<BR><BR>Thanks for your help.

Liz

I just got back from Dublin and stayed at the Aberdeen Lodge on Park Ave. It is not within short walking distance from Grafton Street, but there is a Dart station only a block away. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff and the owner, Mr. Pat Halpin. I will go back again and again. A cab ride into town is only about $6 and though I initially thought that I wanted to stay in the city center, I was SO GLAD that I did not. This is a more quiet BEAUTIFUL part of Dublin close to the American Embassy and the exclusive 4 Seasons Hotel. taking the dart into town only took us about 15 minutes. The Aberdeen Lodge is fantastic!

bill

Pat:<BR><BR>1st, two nights should be plenty. Dublin is OK, but it's just a big city and the countryside of Ireland is wonderful.<BR><BR>If you want to stay in the city center, you may have a hard time finding a room at this point, especially on a weekend. None-the-less, Jury's Christchurch is fine for about E100 per night. They are at the far west end of Temple Bar. Not luxurious, but certainly very comfortable, clean and clean with all the amenities you would expect for that price range. Blooms is another option, but the book up early. It's right in the middle of Temple Bar. Same price range.<BR><BR>I stayed at an Ibis at M50 and N7 a couple of times and it was fine, but you will definitely need transport into town. It is about E60 per night. All those prices are per room.<BR><BR>Once again, I would book right away, though the Ibis would probably not book up as quickly, due to it's location. It is, by the way, a very easy ride to and from the airport.<BR><BR>Another note about staying in Dublin. I stayed at The Reefs in the town of Skerries. It's a B&B and is terrific. The bus to Dublin stops right outside the front door and most of the rooms look out over the Irish Sea. Probably about a 30 min bus ride into the city. Highly recommended.<BR><BR>Bill

carmen

Be careful about staying in the Temple Bar area unless you like to party late and get up early. It's fun, but VERY noisy until the wee hours when all the pub goers finally go home. Then a few hours later, the rubbish trucks come through to crunch all the bottles into little tiny pieces.

Diana

We stayed at the Ariel Guesthouse in the Ballsbridge area last summer for three days and loved it. It's not in the center of town but only about a 15 or 20 minute walk or you can take the DART which is on the same block. I suggest walking since the Georgian homes in the area are beautiful. As I recall, it was about $110 per night.

Dubliner

Bill’s references were way too far outside the city and Skerries is a long drive by car let alone public transport. Contact Bord Failte which is the tourist board for Ireland and they will help you with accommodation in your price range. I cannot find an international number for you to call but look up the website. Temple bar is not a place I would stay. It’s full of people out for the night drunk to the small hours and can be quite noisy. As for the Ariel Guesthouse this is a lovely area but I think $110 is expensive for a B&B and you can get much better rates in this area and Sandymount beside it. It’s a 5-10 mins bus to town and 20 minute walk. As well is a beautiful area around the American embassy. Enjoy

Dan

We're going to Dublin in Sept. and are staying 2 nights at the Central Hotel. I think it's right off Grafton St and across from Stephen's Green and Trinity. We are paying $100-150 US I think. I'd have to look but I'm cheap and I thought it sounded great for the local and price. Our travel agent, who has lived in Dublin for years recommended it. Hope that helps

Meg

Look at a previous post about tourist troubles in Dublin. Try "www.jurysdoyle.com". They are having fantastic specials on rooms. Some of them are in their 4 and 5 star hotels for only 99 euros per night (per room). Some are right in the heart of the city, walkable to everything. Apparently there is a shortage of tourists this year and the weather has been terrible - take advantage of a special if you can.

xxx

The Central hotel is a great location and has a lovely library style bar in it. I would poick this over any Jurys. You are literally 2 minuts from Grafton street and all the action.<BR><BR>Enjoy

bill

Jury's Christchurch is far outside the city? <BR><BR>Bill

Ann

Check with the Gresham, and see if they're doing any deals. They do some incredible midweek prices sometimes.

Dubliner

I would be careful of the gresham as a friend booked from the states and the rate I felf was high for what it is and I called an tried to book with my accent (irish) and the price was much less. As well the area is not nice at night and the hotel bar has signs on every table to mind your bags because of thieves. It was a grand hotel in it's day and still historical but I would not feel it's a nice place to stay. I have booked people into the Russel Court Hotel on Harcourt Street before. Not sure rate now but each room was decorated lovely and had a beautiful 4 posoter bed in one of them. Ask for a higher up room as there is a bar in the basemment. It is 5 mins walk to Graftin street and has a beautiful hidden park across the street called the Iveagh Gardens. Very few people know about it even dubliners! Enjoy

suze

Although I have not yet stayed there, I'm booked into the Ariel Guesthouse in a few weeks. It was highly recomended in R.Steve's or Frommers (forget which one). Per night at time of booking: about US$79 - but that may have changed with recent $ weakening ag/ the euro.<BR>I'm told it's an excellent place / value and am hoping it's true. I'm really excited about my trip and hope you enjoy yours too!

alice

I am going to Dublin in October.. staying at Harrington Hall.. looks wonderful.. they have a website. near St. Stephen's green... have parking available also.. check it out..

jenny

Hi,<BR>Don't know if you've booked at this stage, but Jurys-Gresham group is advertising 99euros per room until the end of august. all their hotels are good

Ann

Not all of Jurys hotels are good. Jurys Christchurch is basically a dump. Looks okay from the outside and the lobby's okay, but the rooms are run-down and dirty.<BR><BR>Dubliner-I've experienced that problem in pubs. But it's always so much fun for me to point out that I've been overcharged. I'm an American and my husband's from N.Ireland, and I'll usually get the third or fourth round when we're in a group, and we all love to see the face of the barman when I point out that he charged me more than my Irish friends. Then my Irish friends yell at him for awhile, and then we all get a free round.<BR><BR>I haven't stayed in the Gresham for several years, and we didn't have any problems then, but the area must have changed.

bill

Ann:<BR><BR>I stayed at Jury's Christchurch in May and it was NOT a dump. The rooms were very clean, the staff was quite pleasant and the room was quite modern. The buffet in the restaurant in the morning was merely ok, but other than that, I don't have a clue what you are talking about. I believe it was listed a s 3 star. When was the last time you were there?<BR><BR>Bill

Ann

Stayed there in '99, and then friends stayed there (against my recommendation) in '01. My friends were gracious, and allowed me to say "I told you so."<BR><BR>Our room was dirty, including but not limited to a cigarette butt in the toilet. It was incredibly hot in the room, and when we called to find out how to turn down the heat, the clerk told us that we couldn't. The mattress sagged badly, and did not really give us the night's sleep we needed to embark on our three-week hike across Ireland. The wallpaper was peeling, and the remote for the TV was missing (also told by the front desk that there was nothing they could do about it).<BR><BR>I used to recommend the Jury's in Belfast to people, but now I've heard that even that's run down, after only being open for a few years.

Bill

Ann:<BR><BR>I wonder if things have changed since 2001. I had none of those problems, the bed was great, the rooms were very clean and in good shape. I didn't have a problem with the temperature, granted, it was cool outside. I didn't pay close enough attention to see if it looked they they had remodeled recently. My opinion of it was that it was nice and comfortable. I would certainly consider staying there again if I were to stay in the city.<BR><BR>Bill

Ann

Well, my friends were there in December, so can't imagine they've done much work since then.