Melissa5

My husband and I are headed to Ireland in September 2011. It's our 2nd trip to Ireland but it will be our first visit to Dublin! We are in our 50's so I expect we will feel ancient in youthful Dublin.

I am giving up Glendalough to spend 2 nights in Dublin at the end of our Ireland trip.

What do you think of Number 31? Have you stayed there?

Here is what I'm looking for in an accommodation:
--Quiet room for sleeping at night.
--Convenient location; walkable to see the sites (Grafton St., Trinity College, Temple Bar, etc.)
--Friendly & knowledgeable owners or staff
--Charming & Irish
--a little romance

I also considered the Merrion but it's so expensive... Is it worth it? I think my husband won't be too relaxed if he sees the bill at the Merrion. We don't actually spend much time in our room. But I do like to sleep well at night, and I'm a light sleeper.

Our 16-night trip to Ireland will also include stays in these areas:
--Kilkenny
--Kenmare
--Clifden
--Ennis
--Bunratty

THANKS for your advice on Dublin!

flpab

http://www.buswells.ie/ I have stayed all over Dublin and this time went for something in a little quieter location. It was a lot cheaper than Number 31. I wanted something close to Grafton St and Trinity so am trying this place. Not sure about the little romance but the reviews say they have a great bar.

Melissa5

flpab: I hope you enjoy your new find. Let us know when your return. It's not easy to find a quiet room in a convenient location in Dublin it seems.

flpab

We are in our 50s and love Dublin. I am going this trip with my girlfriends and Buswells had a triple room. Do the hop on hop off bus, we did our first trip and it was great. Helps you to get the layout of the city and a quick history lesson.The tourism office on Suffolk is a gem at helping you out and it is in a church, so beautiful.

bluejayca

We stayed at Buswells in Dublin in May and liked it very much. Even though our room looked out onto the street, it was very quiet at night. It is right across from the museum and easy walking distance to Grafton, Trinity College and Liffey River. We stayed there two night. The staff was extremely helpful. The room was quite large. We did not eat there, however.

I definitely would stay at Buswell's again.

flpab

bluejayca, thanks for that. I heard the breakfast was better down the street for half the price! I have stayed at three other places and two of them were wild. One was the Adams Trinity and it was party central on the street. The Stags Head was in back of us but the noise was from the dance club across the street. We stayed in Temple bar once and the Harding which I loved by Christ Church. This just looked good and the price was great for three of us.

Melissa5

<b>flpab:</b> I'm curious to ask you what it is that you love about Dublin, since you have stayed all over Dublin. We will only have 2 nights in Dublin, so it will be interesting to narrow down my huge list of what we will do in Dublin. (Probably I will post a separate question about what people love most about Dublin.)

<b>bluejayca:</b> Thanks very much for posting a reply.

I haven't booked a room in Dublin yet. It's always interesting to know where other travelers have enjoyed staying.

Ozarksbill

We really enjoyed time in Dublin a few years back...at age 70. But surely wouldn't want to miss Glendalough. We did lots of walking (stayed in modest Charles Stewart Guesthouse up O'Connell St.) In addition to Trinity College-Bk of Kells, St. Stephens Green, Evensong at Christ Church, Castle, Guinness plant tour (forget it) I'd recommend Irish Writer's Museum on O'Connell and also Kilmainham Jail plus Post Office murals for a bit of uprising history. Also we went to two plays...at Abbey and Gate theatres. And we really enjoyed the Irish music and dance in the Temple Bar area.

Bill in Boston
[email protected]

Melissa5

<b>Ozarksbill:</b> I'm getting excited about visiting Dublin, just reading about all of the sites which you enjoyed! I like the idea of looking into some theatre...I'll have to see if any interesting plays are on during our dates.

I'd really like to be within walking distance of central Dublin, to soak in the atmosphere of Dublin while strolling the streets. But I do like a quiet night's rest. In cities, I think it pays to research accommodations.

flpab

I love Irish history, rent the movie Michael Collins. It will help to understand so much of what I look at in Dublin. I first had to go to the General post Office on O'Connell St. You can still put your fingers in the bullet holes in the columns. I love Croke Park and hill 16 which was built from the debris of the Easter uprising. The National Museum, The Brazen Pub is my favorite. St Michan's Church, a little bit macabre but different. Glasnevin Cemetery. This time I am exploring more on the other side of the Liffey. I have never gone to the Jameson distillery and have heard that eating and drinking is cheaper on that side. We hop on a train and go to Greystone and north to Howth for lunch and a walk along the coast. Both are beautiful villages if you want a break from the city. I love to shop in the grocery stores and spent half a day looking in hardware stores for Mind your head and step signs...I found them and have them in places in my house that you do need to mind your step. Best of all I love the pubs and watching a Rugby game with the locals.

Melissa5

flpab: Thanks for all the great ideas of things to do while in Dublin! The signs you located sound like an original souvenir!

I am looking at all the recommended accommodations so I can try to decide where I might be able to get the quietest night's sleep.

I did see the movie Michael Collins but its been a few years. I'm going to watch it again to refresh my sense of history. Thanks for reminding me.

rncheryl

Melissa: My husband and I don't usually stay at high end hotels; we are of the idea that $$ could be better spent on other things,

We took a trip to Ireland several years ago. It was a package tour with coupons to stay in B&Bs, flights and a rental car. We added two nights, one in Dromoland Castle and one at the Merrion.

It is one of my fondest memories. We were greeted by a charming doorman in a top hat and made to feel very welcome. We had a wonderful room in the newer wing of the hotel. The public rooms are lovely, with fireplaces blazing (we were there in November). We had Tea in the library, dinner at Restaurant Patrick Guillbaud (spelling?). Next morning clad in our hotel robes under the fluffy comforter, had breakfast in bed.

No matter what, you will enjoy Dublin. Best wishes

Melissa5

<b>rncheryl:</b> Thanks for sharing your happy memories of the Merrion!

I'm also looking at the Old Schoolhouse hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin. It sounds like they may have some quiet rooms. Has anybody stayed there?