ibis budget Belfast City Centre

The worst part was finding my brand new Apple iPhone 16 charger, bought at the Apple Store just days earlier, altered. I’d left it in the room with a brown bear accessory. The hotel sent me a photo showing the accessory ripped off my cable and put onto a cheap, random black one. To me, that’s clear evidence of tampering and theft by housekeeping staff. The corridors smelled bad and the atmosphere felt sketchy, too. They charge for everything, including water, toothbrushes, adapters, and luggage storage. The hotel felt unprofessional, and I didn’t feel my belongings were safe. Don’t trust them or stay here.

The shower was hot and powerful, but paying extra for a shower cap was another first. The window only opens a tiny crack for guest safety, I assume to stop people jumping out. We also had a great view of a noisy construction site and what looked like a swamp after heavy rain. At least we weren’t on the Filthy McNastys side. We stayed for three nights, and the room was about the size of a large cupboard. There was only one pillow per person, and when we asked for more, we were told the hotel was full and had none. The place felt like run-down student halls, with marked walls and skirting boards badly needing paint. Even the bins had no liners. Pulling up outside, you know what to expect. It’s a hostel. The location is decent, though Belfast city centre is compact and walkable, so that doesn’t count for much. There are many better hotels nearer City Hall at similar prices. This was a last-minute trip, so we booked where there was availability. It wasn’t cheap, and I don’t think it was value for money. Fine for cheap and nasty stag dos, and nothing else.

The staff were helpful and really pleasant, and the location was convenient. The bed was very comfortable too. The room was small but generally clean, though there was a toenail and what looked like a pink fake nail on the duvet. The toilet door didn’t lock and had a gap underneath instead of reaching the floor. Its light ran on a motion sensor that switched off after five seconds, so I had to keep waving my arms to get it back on. Fine for one night.

Late-night shouting and banging in the hallways made it hard to sleep, and staff didn’t seem able to get the noise under control. The room itself was in noticeably poor condition. Its window wouldn’t close properly, so street noise came straight in and light poured in all night. Other parts of the room also seemed neglected, as if basic maintenance wasn’t a priority. The price may look tempting, but it wasn’t worth it for me. Between the noise, poor upkeep and atmosphere, it was one of my most uncomfortable stays. I wouldn’t recommend it.