I spent 6 evenings at McElroy Budget Accommodations in October of 2014 as part of running the…read moreDublin Marathon. A few thoughts on this lodging:
Location: 3.5 out of 5
I purposefully chose a location for lodging that would be close enough to the city center that if I wanted to go out and about and visit pubs or shops, I'd be able to do so quickly via the bus. I also wanted a location that was far away enough from the city center that I could sleep peacefully at night. McElroy did not disappoint: it was a 5-7 minute bus ride to O'Connell Street (or a 15 - 20 minute walk), and the only real noise I heard at night consisted of a small yappy dog who usually went inside by 10:30pm. Bus routes are plentiful, and note that you can get from the airport to the intersection of Dorset and Gardiner via #16 or #41, which leads to a 2 - 4 minute walk to the property. Do NOT take the Airlink #747 no matter what the staff try to tell you; the closest stop is about a 20 minute walk which is difficult with baggage. Purchasing a Leap Card at the Spar in Terminal 2 will help you with your travels; alternatively, if you know that you'll be doing the double decker Dublin Bus tour, get a 3 day Freedom Pass which includes all bus routes and a few discounts (30 euro). A 1-way fare from the airport to the property was 3.05 euro. Convenience stores (SPAR, Costcutters, Tesco Express) are within a 2 - 5 minute walk for most of your food and beverage needs.
Staff: 4 out of 5
I encountered 2 people during my stay. The first was one of the proprietors (Catherine) who was friendly and nice enough to let me check in early. She has a sensible personality and was cordial. The second person (Christine?) was the staff who keeps the McElroy side of the guest house going. Our interaction consisted of her bringing me breakfast on most mornings, but she was really sweet and nice about it, and made sure to ask each morning if I needed anything. I let her know a day in advance that I wouldn't need breakfast one morning, and she inquired as to whether or not she should leave corn flakes in the kitchen for me.
Amenities: 2 out of 5
The actual name of this side of the guest house is "McElroy Budget Accommodation" and perhaps as some advice, here is what you should be prepared for. The single room comes with one set of towels (bath and hand towel) with a towel for stepping out of the shower. There were no toiletries in my bathroom (but I was prepared for this), and there is no daily turndown service. Instead, if you require new towels, you just let the staff know. The single room as seen in my photos was adequate with a small tv, dresser, a place to hang clothes, and a desk space. The furniture is old and has seen better days, and the shower even for me required some fancy maneuvering (I'm 5' 3" and of athletic/slender build). At night, it could get chilly with the single radiator, so be prepared to sleep in long sleeves in the colder months. The free continental breakfast in the morning is nothing fancy, but adequate: 2 pieces of toast, jam and marmalade, butter, corn flakes, milk, juice, coffee/tea.
Value: 4 out of 5
For 6 evenings, I paid ~340 USD inclusive of all taxes and fees, which comes out to 56$ an evening. For the location and what I got, I felt like this was a nice value given the fact that well, I was in Europe.
Overall: 3 out of 5
Very strong 3 star experience. Perfect for my needs leading up to the Dublin Marathon. If I had come with my wife, I probably would have splurged for something a bit nicer, but as a solo traveler looking to do things on the cheap, this place did not disappoint.
