Yugo Explore - Lee Point

The location was nice, staff were polite, and it felt like good value. We could leave our luggage before check-in and after check-out, and there was a private bathroom with a shared kitchen and living room. Nights were pretty noisy from outside. The bed was short, and because it was tucked into a corner beside the wardrobe, the person against the wall couldn't stretch out. In my opinion the towels had marks and didn't smell very nice. We stayed four nights, and nobody came to clean or change them.

Tesco Express right outside was handy for groceries, and there was plenty of storage. The staff were lovely and helpful, and the place was clean. A fabulous spot for students at several colleges in Cork.

The staff were really lovely, but the rest didn't meet the standard. During my year here, the fume hood, oven and dishwasher were broken in the first week after I moved in. Appliances kept breaking one after another, the lift was out of order for weeks, and a system error kept the fire alarm going for a whole morning. In winter, the shower water also goes cold quickly. The advertised facilities feel poorly done: the common areas are small, the gym is tiny, and the cinema room always seems to be under construction. Laundry costs extra, and there are only two vacuum cleaners to rent from reception for all four buildings. You're basically paying for a bed, and for what it costs, I don't think this place is worth booking.

The 24-hour reception was friendly and helpful, and the place was very clean and well kept. I had a secure room in an apartment of five, with private secure doors to both my room and the entrance. The shared kitchen has a kettle and microwave, so bring your own things. The room felt like a 4-star hotel room, just a little smaller and unfussy, with a lovely modern tiled shower room and great towels. It's very central in Cork, near the English market. You can walk to the Church of Ireland Cathedral in about five minutes, the bus station in 10-15, and the rail station in 20-25. Central Cork can be noisy, so you might want earplugs, though I didn't need mine.