Destiny Student - New Mill

It’s about 20 minutes to the city centre, and the room itself was decent, with a comfortable bed and plenty of storage. The bigger problem was the noise. There’s no soundproofing, so we heard people talking and doors banging throughout the night. The shower control was jammed, meaning the water was always scalding, and the Wi-Fi barely worked, so it wasn’t suitable for any real work.

The rooms were reasonably spacious, but the beds were much too small for two people. The staff were friendly and helpful, and we got a fair amount of compensation because the late check-in cost us our first day in Dublin. They seemed used to these problems, since they weren’t very surprised when we complained, and we weren’t the only ones dealing with them. The main issue was the condition of the room when we arrived. Check-in was about three hours later than planned, and the previous guest’s things, including dirty socks and shampoo, were still there. Nothing had been cleaned: the same dirty sheets were on the beds, and the bathroom was hairy with a filthy toilet. We complained at reception, then the manager came with the team to clean again. After that it was okay, but no more than that. It was also easy for the room to reach 30 degrees, even though Dublin wasn’t hot and the heater was off. They offered a fan for rent for a small fee. The one good thing is that it’s only a 15-minute walk to Dublin City Centre. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The location is fairly close to the city centre, but I can’t recommend this place if you want somewhere nice to stay. We booked an apartment that might have been good if it hadn’t been so dirty. There were crumbs all over the floor, dust on every surface, and dirt marks on the doors, windows and walls. The dishes had oil and other mystery stains. There was no dish detergent or coffee maker, and the basic cooking gear was just one pan and two pots, all dirty. We had to buy cleaning products ourselves. The bed linen was clean, at least, but the bed was barely wide enough for two people. Towels had to be collected at reception, where they were handed over on the same counter everyone leaned on to check in. Leaving luggage at reception cost €5 per bag, even on check-in day, and early check-in wasn’t possible. I might have accepted that if I’d waited until 3 p.m. for a fresh, clean apartment, but it wasn’t ready like that. The price was far too high.

The common areas were cozy and usually empty, so they were easy places to relax. My friends’ rooms were spacious and had new furniture, and the location was handy, close to the centre but peaceful. The cleanliness wasn’t quite at a five-star level, though. Still, it’s a good place.