147 The Residence

Our first day of what should have been a relaxing three-day trip was completely ruined. We paid in full and had written confirmation, but the access code didn’t work, leaving us outside the villa in the cold for over three hours. We tried the emergency numbers, WhatsApp, and every other contact we had, with no reply. Booking.com couldn’t reach the owner either. In the end, we had to find somewhere else late at night, which meant extra costs and more stress. The owner was unhelpful, and there was no support when we needed it. The lack of accountability and professionalism was unacceptable. If you want a smooth trip and peace of mind, don’t book this property.

We spent two nights at The Residence with nine friends, visiting Belfast for music and local culture. The hosts and staff put in a lot of effort for us, and even though booking and access rely heavily on technology, there was always someone around to answer questions. It felt like home, and was great value. I’d first heard about The Residence during a previous stay at the nearby sister guest house, Titanic Guest. It’s set up for larger groups, maybe up to a dozen people. What a find!

I’d recommend it without hesitation.