Six Accommodation Options in Ireland

I was in Ireland recently and choosing accommodation can be challenging when visiting. What you’ll get for your money will differ greatly in comparison to other countries given the cost of living. During my visit, I stayed in a mixture of hostel dorms, hotels and self-service accommodation. I hope that this post will give you some ideas if you decide to travel around Ireland. This post covers six accommodation options in the counties of Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Wicklow for a range of budgets.

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1. Clink i Lár - D01 Y3Y7 35 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin, Ireland.

Located just off of O'Connell Street, Clink i Lár is a chain with one of it's hostels in Dublin City Centre. The big pro here is the hostel location as you're within a walking distance of anything in the city centre and transport links elsewhere. It's a great spot if you're looking to discover Dublin for a few days.

Check-in is at 3pm and they’re strict on this. When I visited there was a large crowd of people waiting to be checked in. Be prepared to queue if you’re checking in at 3pm. Staff at the reception when I checked in were friendly and chatty. I was given my key card and another card with my room and bed number. 

There’s also a bar which operates until midnight and you can get food, including a buffet breakfast in the morning (not included in the price). Next to my dorm, there were two toilets and two showers (all separate) with great privacy. They were very well kept throughout the duration of my stay. I was surprised that whenever I needed to use them, there was no queue! They were clean and everything worked well.

The room was easy to access by elevator and there was a great mix of ages. From solo-travellers, to concert-goers, to families with teenage kids. There was security at the door as well. If you want to meet people, I feel like you could get to know others at the bar, in dorms or through the Hostelworld app which sets up a chat once you book.

However, I did end up with an issue during my time there. I was informed that the sockets on the walls didn’t work and that I could use the one by the light which I couldn’t see as it was late at night. 

When I went downstairs to ask for a power bank, they didn’t have any that worked along with the receptionist telling me to ‘flip it’. I didn’t understand what she meant she took it back and started explaining what she meant in a belittling tone. In addition, I also got a lecture on how it was a shared space when I shared that I wanted to try not to turn on the lights late at night when I knew that others were sleeping.

I would recommend this hostel for its location, quality of the facilities and some of the reception staff working there. I wouldn't recommend it for price I paid and luggage storage, broken sockets and a lack of customer service. I probably wouldn't stay here again unless I had to. Ultimately, it's still an accommodation option. Take a look for yourself here.

2. Generator Hostel - Chimney Viewing Tower, Arran Quay, Smithfield, Dublin, D07 F2VF, Ireland

This is another hostel chain with a location in Dublin City Centre. It's a bit of a walk from the action but I spent a night here when I was passing through. I stayed at Generator about ten years ago and it felt like it was the place to be. There was a great atmosphere, with a huge range of guests. It was on the higher end of the budget scale and great value for money back then. I used to recommend it to everyone.

This time, my experience this time couldn't have been more different. I made an error with the dates in my booking on Trip.com and while the customer service at Trip tried to help me, Generator Hostel did not. They refused to rectify my booking, despite several attempts. When I arrived, I wasn't even greeted and they didn't couldn't find my original booking.

The dorm rooms were spacious but they hadn't been updated since I had last stayed there, almost ten years ago. I could also say the same for the carpets on the corridors. The room was stuffy, it was hard to sleep and it wasn't pleasant. I spent as little time as possible there. In peak season, the place had no atmosphere. There was a teenage tour group from France staying there and a small amount of other visitors.

This felt like another money grabbing hostel trying to normalise all the extra additional costs. When I asked about luggage storage, the receptionist told me I had to pay but 'it's very cheap'. Then, I asked about the price. I wasn't told the price, but 'it's very cheap'. To save you having to ask the receptionist and not receiving a direct answer, please find the 'very cheap' (shouldn't be paying extra for) prices for something which is usually free in most hostels below.

Another thing I remember that I enjoyed the last time I stayed was their food. Again, this was overpriced and bang average at best. The pancakes pictured below cost €8. The person who served me was probably the most pleasant person I came across during my time here.

It wouldn't surprise me if they increased this and their luggage storage rates after my final stay here. My prediction for next year is that they will 'focus on sustainability' as a veil to be cheap and cut more costs again. Lastly, for a country which prides itself on its hospitality, basic customer service training is needed here.

3. Osprey Hotel - Devoy Quarter, Naas East, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 X40K, Ireland

The Osprey Hotel in Kildare ended up being the most greatest surprise when I visited. Now, Naas in County Kildare isn't somewhere I'd typically think of if travelling in Ireland but it's a great spot if you're looking to avoid the Dublin traffic and explore further afield via the motorways to the south and southeast. There's also Kildare Village and several racecourses nearby. The staff were exceptionally friendly and well trained in the craft of hospitality.

The bedroom and bathroom were both very spacious and well looked after. I slept so well and there were plenty of towels and toiletries provided. In addition, there is a gym with a pool, sauna and steam room which is very popular with locals as well. This was definitely one of the hotel's many selling points because the gym was an actual gym rather than a few pieces of equipment thrown into a room. Moreover, the pool was well looked after and you could swim in one of the lanes without issue.

The Osprey Hotel also has a bar and restaurant. There were sports on the tv when I was there but there were plenty of quiet areas if you wanted as well. There were no hidden surprises here and the food was delicious. I especially loved the breakfast buffet which was included in the price. While I typically wouldn't consider Kildare to be a place my list of places to travel (I was en route to a wedding), I would recommend The Osprey Hotel and I would consider staying here again.

4. Rathsallagh House - Rathsallagh House Ltd, Rathsallagh Demesne, Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow, W91 XK68, Ireland.

I stayed at Rathsallagh House for a wedding so full disclosure I didn't have writing a blog post about accommodation here fully in mind. However, even from making the booking, Rathsallagh House was absolute top tier. They took my booking over the phone when my transaction wouldn't go through and there were no issues throughout my stay.

It's an old country house that has expansive grounds and is located near racecourses and Kildare Village, similar to The Osprey Hotel. You do need a car to get around this part of Ireland though. The room was very comfortable but the stand-out for me was the food on offer. Also, while this isn't on many people's mind when they're travelling, the tea and coffee making facilities were probably the best I've seen in a long time. It has several rooms for lounging and meetings, too.

Rathsallagh House is exceptionally homely and hospitable. If you like to golf, you can visit Rathsallagh Golf Course which is a 15 minute walk away. If you're not a guest, they also provide food and Sunday lunch. I majorly regret that I didn't get to explore the grounds more.

5. Yugo Explore, Kavanagh Court - Kavanagh Court, Gardiner Pl, Mountjoy, Dublin, D01 V2P9, Ireland.

After not being convinced to stay at Clink i Lár or Generator again, I opted to book a room at Yugo Explore on Kavanagh Court. My experience here was short but sweet. It's typically used as student accommodation during the academic year but it's used for short term accommodation during the summer.

Located not far from O'Connell Street, it's a great place to stay if you're in Dublin for a few days or if you need to be near a direct public bus route to Dublin Airport. Toiletries are provided at reception and you can take what you need. My room had a desk and a comfortable bed overlooking the street. There is an ensuite bathroom and kitchen/lounge area.

I didn't come across anybody else in the apartment when I stayed there but I felt like I had plenty of privacy. There were a mixture of people staying at this accommodation from young solo travellers to couples and families. While the accommodation was fine, walking back via O'Connell St in particular left me with a few moments of feeling unsafe. That said, I couldn't fault the accommodation itself at all.

6. Yugo Lee Point - Lee Point, S Main St, Centre, Cork, T12 NFR3, Ireland.

This was another seasonal summer accommodation finding. Yugo Lee Point is located in Cork City Centre and during the academic year is student accommodation. It has a great location close to many amenities such as University College Cork, Cork City Gaol, Cork English Market and Fitzgerald's Park. The staff were very friendly and similar to Kavanagh Court, toiletries were available for you to take what you need. There was also a desk with a chair if you needed it along with an ensuite bathroom and shared kitchen.

When I stayed there, there were a a mixture of older couples and solo travellers on the complex. You can hear some noise at night as it's off one of the main streets with plenty of bars and clubs nearby but I was very happy with my stay. I do feel that it's also important to mention that they didn't charge me to keep my luggage there for a few after check-out. There were no hidden charges or unpleasant surprises. Click here to see if there is any availability.

Final Thoughts

During my time in Ireland, I first of all couldn't get over the obscene cost of living since the last time I was there. I totally understand why tourists wouldn't want to or wouldn't be able to afford coming here on a trip in comparison to ten years ago. There is also a distinct difference between what you're paying and what you're getting in return nowadays.

The lower budget hostel options have a plethora of hidden costs which they're now trying to normalise. That said, I'm also at an age where my time and patience for hostels is starting to run out and I would choose another option if it's financially possible for me. The real winner of these options are the student accommodation which turn into short-term accommodation over the summer, but that's only seasonal. The higher end options cater only to those who can afford it. I don't know if now is a time that I would recommend people come to Ireland if I wanted them to build a lasting impression of it.

Thanks for Reading!

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope that it was of some use. If you liked it, you may like some of my other posts here:

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