Astra Hostel

You have to watch your email if you're staying more than one night, since the entry codes change every morning. Otherwise you could get locked out of the building and your pod room. There wasn't a secure place for our bags unless we rented a locker key, and even after doing that we left most of our stuff in the rental car rather than in the public room or our unlocked pod. We've stayed in loads of hostels and budget hotels, and this was one of our worst stays. The location in central Dublin is great, and it's just about adequate if all you need is a basic place to sleep. But even that was hard: our pod had no sheets or blanket, and the beds were loud and creaky, so any movement disturbed the others. There were four pods per room, meaning at least eight people in tight quarters. The pod outlets didn't work, so we couldn't charge devices. There was one towel for two people for two nights, and reception was empty whenever we went looking for another. The two bathrooms for all the rooms were often occupied, cramped, dirty, and both toilet seats were broken. Better basic amenities would make a big difference.

We really enjoyed our three nights here, and arriving was a pleasant surprise after I'd read the bad reviews and expected the worst. The location is right in the center, with most places walkable, plus public transport and groceries nearby. The pods were clean and gave you plenty of privacy while sleeping, though they don't block sound, so we heard people coming in at night and others snoring. We only got one towel between two people. There were three bathrooms, clean whenever we used them, but the toilets are very narrow. A small kitchen area lets you warm food, have free coffee or tea, or charge devices. It could use more equipment, but it was fine. There are little lockers in the room that require a deposit. Otherwise, you can leave your things by or inside your pod.

An hour before my flight, they cancelled a reservation I'd already paid for and booked five months earlier. They said I hadn't read their message asking me to send my ID beforehand, even though normally you show it when checking in on site. I find this policy abusive toward tourists and it should be stopped. They ask for ID days in advance, then at the last moment give the room to someone who shows theirs in person. It makes no sense. Any deposit or ID check should happen on site, as it does at normal hotels and hostels. Avoid this place if you don't want trouble.

Don't recommend it. We tried to check in before 7 PM, within the time stated in their email, but there was nobody there. The pod had no towels, although one was promised and we'd left ours at home. We texted and got an apology, plus a promise of one at 10 AM the next day. So what were we supposed to do about a shower after travelling for 14 hours? The outlets in the pod didn't work either. We could have charged our phone outside it overnight, but in a room with ten other people we weren't comfortable leaving it there. After we texted again, they promised a power bank for 10 AM. The promised locked luggage room wasn't available, so we had to keep carrying our things around. We put our complaints in a document and sent it to them, but they refused to refund us, so we had to go through our bank.