Amy Adejokun
Section editor
It really is difficult to identify the plus points of this hotel, somewhat lost along a very busy avenue far from the capital, not to mention to unpleasant odour of the surrounding marshlands. It makes a functional and very basic pied-a-terre, but nothing more!
Tara Towers Hotel - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
Tara Towers Hotel - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
The hotel is located on Merrion Road in the district of Booterstown, 15 minutes from the centre of Dublin by train or bus and 40 minutes from Dublin International Airport.
The 111 very basic but functional guest rooms come in two categories, namely standard and 'Executive' (of which there are 32), with two of these providing disabled access. There are also ten triple rooms, but the three single beds are squashed into the same sized space as the double rooms, so the beds are too close to each other. On top of that, the double-glazing lets plenty of noise in from the street below. The basic rooms have blue carpeted floors and white walls, and amenities include a television broadcasting 12 channels, a desk, tea and coffee-making facilities and a telephone, whilst the safe is available in reception. The small bathrooms are equipped with a bathtub, a large mirror, a hair-dryer, a storage cupboard and basic hospitality products.The 'Executive' rooms are, of course, larger than the others and were renovated more recently than the standard rooms. Room service is available for breakfast.
The hotel stands along a very busy and noisy avenue which runs beside the long bay and the sea and consists of a large, modern, six-storey block, built in the 70's and renovated in 1999. The railway means that you can't easily access the water, but as it is rather stagnant anyway, bathing is definitely off the cards. A petrol station and a few houses surround the hotel, as well as a large free car park where you'll find a few tables and chairs for smokers laid out on a wooden decked area. From the tiled entrance you'll see through to the hotel's only bar, a large, split-level affair complete with bench seats, parquet flooring, a wooden ceiling and generally rather pleasant decor, where the locals can come and watch various matches on the television screens dotted around the place.
Guests at the hotel have the choice between continental or Irish breakfast, with the buffet open from 7:00am to 10:30am. Lunch is served in the bar or restaurant, which are adjoining, between 12:15 and 3:00pm and consists of a selection of sandwiches, kebabs, pasta dishes, etc. From 5:00pm to 7:00pm, the menu consists of a choice of three different starters, main courses and desserts, whilst from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, a more extensive menu is available with a choice of ten dishes (salmon, mutton, steak, etc. and notably a selection of well-done vegetables). Prices range from ?16 to ?26.
The unpleasant odour is inevitable due to the stagnant water in the bay. Wi-Fi Internet is available at the hotel, though there is a charge of ?8 per minute for using the computer. The hotel is closed from 23rd to 28th December. You cannot bathe in the bay because of the marshlands.
Accommodation advice:
Go for a room on the car park side of the building if possible, as whilst the view is anything but charming, these rooms are significantly quieter than those facing the sea (in the distance)!
beauty salon, spa, Turkish bath
Anonyme.
Really nice place! Nice reception, rooms are really cosy and clean. Good location, close from everythings (airport, center, etc...) We asked for a room in front of sea and we got it!
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