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)!
Turkish bath, beauty salon, spa
Aladin J.
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!
Location Quality Price
Size of the room Size of the bathroom
The Burlington stands in a quiet residential area on the outskirts of Dublin and is one of the few hotels of its size in the city, with no fewer than 500 comfortable rooms. It also has a large conference room, ideal for business clientele.
Ariel House is a comfortable guest house in a handsome Victorian residence in Ballsbridge, one of the most peaceful residential neighbourhoods of the capital.
"Make yourself at home" could be the slogan of the Aberdeen Lodge, a small Edwardian haven of peace where guests and owners rub shoulders. A comfortable and pretty dwelling, together with a friendly atmosphere and on-demand dining, are the successful ingredients for a simple yet charming stay.
Guests staying at this beautiful yet cosy Victorian property, which is kept busy by the wonders of word-of-mouth, will enjoy a personalised service, making them feel really at home.
The Merion Hall is a moderately sized establishment offering a peaceful, stylish setting outside the city centre. It provides a simple and comfortable home base for your trip.
In a residential neighbourhood of Dublin, the Mount Herbert has been run by the same family for the past 50 years and is a wonderfully relaxing place. The level of comfort is apparent and the interior decorating was done with great care.
The Davenport hotel is housed in a former church which dates back to 1863 and enjoys a central location not far from Trinity College and St. Stephen's Green park. Needless to say, its façade is unique, and the fine interior decor is impeccable as the hotel was renovated at the end of 2008. Basically, this is a good place to stay for those who like to keep it simple!
This hotel is ideal for business trips, due, first of all to its location in the heart of a business district, but also due to its facilities, which are a lot bigger than many of the regular city hotels, in particular its swimming pool and superb gym.
Verdant countryside stretches for miles around. The Carton House's estate also stretches over two superb and very popular golf courses. This large Palladian house, Irish in style, blends old and modern features perfectly. The original building was actually the Duke of Leinster's summer residence, but now houses 18 magnificent suites.
It is not hard to see why the Merrion Hotel has been awarded the Leading Hotel of the World label! It is installed in a superb set of interconnected Georgian houses in perfect condition, and offers guests a luxurious, stylish, and comfortable place to stay at the heart of the capital. With a spa and a swimming pool, it also boasts the only restaurant in Ireland with 2 Michelin stars.
Tucked away in a posh residential area in the south of Dublin, the Four Seasons lives up to the group's famous reputation for luxury. While there is not much to do in the surrounding area, the hotel itself has plenty to fill both guests' days and evenings, whether it be in the restaurant, one of the three bars, or the superb spa and swimming pool. Unless you're in Dublin on business, in which case note that the hotel has no fewer than six meeting rooms.
A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, The Morrison was not built in honour of the famous rock singer Jim Morrison, but it does pay tribute to Irish musicians, bands and artists. Reopened in February 2013 after 10 weeks of refurbishment, The Morrison now boasts a designer interior - a rare choice of decor in this city where most hotels are decorated in a more classic style. Add to this the delicious restaurant and the art gallery, and The Morrison is unquestionably a safe bet in Dublin.
Behind the big, tall bay windows of the luxurious and comfortable Fitzwilliam Hotel, a member of the "Preferred Hotels and Resorts" group boasting an ideal location in front of St. Stephen's Green, lies a very stylish and contemporary interior, replete with designer fittings. Apart from it's beautiful and cosy guest rooms, the real advantage of the establishment is its restaurant, which is run by Ireland's top chef from 2009.
This "Small Luxury of the World" is a charming hotel, very well located in a calmer area at the heart of the city. The rooms are romantic and very comfortable, the welcome is friendly, the food is delicious, the concierge is keen to please and the whisky bar is classy. All of this makes for a very popular establishment.
The beautiful 5-star Dylan Hotel was not built in honour of the famous rock star. No, the Dylan simply chose to take up residence in the street of the same name. Now a small hotel with 44 guest rooms, the Dylan was first a hospital, then a hotel, before becoming the Dylan Hotel. It has been welcoming guests into its entirely unique, modern and elegant interior since 2007. Far from being a chain hotel, the Dylan has a bar, restaurant and lounge, but unfortunately no well-being centre.
The Clarion, opened in 2001, is a pleasant modern hotel without much character. It is ideal for fans of hotel chains or, more generally, those looking for a good well-being centre! Apart from the massage rooms, sauna and hammam, the hotel also has a lovely large swimming pool, which is quite rare for the Irish capital. Neither too big nor too small, the Clarion Hotel enjoys a privileged location at the heart of the city centre, on the banks of the River Liffey.