Avalon House

The bathroom was awful: one toilet, sink, and shower for a floor serving at least ten people, a toilet seat coming loose, poor ventilation with what looked like mold in the corners, and a shower that flooded the floor unless you stepped in and shut the door. The room beds were uncomfortable and crammed together, leaving hardly any room to move with luggage. We were sent to a separate building down the street, through a dodgy-looking door marked 600, and had to haul three cabin bags, three backpacks, and two checked bags up a narrow, steep, winding staircase. There's no lift there, despite the listing showing one as an amenity. We arrived about twenty minutes before 2pm and were told our room was ready, but had to wait for the keys. Scaffolding bars were taking up all the lobby lounge space, so they gave us a temporary card to sit in the kitchen. Then we learned our room wasn't in the main building at all. The bathroom was unbearably hot, too. Terrible experience and customer service. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who cares about dignity, privacy, health, or sanity.

I spent a weekend here in April and the hostel worked perfectly for what I needed. The room was good, and the staff were friendly and helpful. It's well placed for exploring Dublin. I didn't have breakfast either morning, so can't comment on it. The toilets and showers stayed immaculate whenever I used them, day or night.

There was loads to do in the hostel, and it was easy to meet people. Downstairs, there are movie, games, and reading rooms, plus a big kitchen for cooking or eating. Beds and sheets were really comfortable, and there's a bathroom in the dorm as well as larger ones in the hallways. Staff were kind, friendly, and happy to help book tours or taxis and share tips. Good value, close to the town center. I'd definitely return.

We weren't blown away, but weren't disappointed either. The hostel isn't especially cheap or expensive, and the other facilities were pretty decent. The breakfast was just sandwiches and instant coffee, meager but enough to take the edge off hunger and thirst. There were five toilets on our floor, and surprisingly, none were dirty over the weekend. The location was pretty good, a few minutes from a decent bar and no more than ten minutes from temple Street. Staff were friendly enough.