Gateway Student Village

We felt safe with the police station right next door, and it was definitely quiet. For just one night, the place worked for us. There were four bedrooms, each with a twin bed. But it was extremely damp and moldy, with such a strong mushroom smell. Moisture had left a large wrinkle in the bathroom floor. Dehumidifiers might help some. I could see a longer stay potentially causing breathing problems.

We were stuck there for all three nights because a huge event meant there was nowhere else available. I would have left after the first night. It was a horrible introduction to Ireland, and the location wasn't great either. The place smelled awful, the carpet had mystery stains, the stove burners were broken and so was a chair. I've stayed in plenty of hostels and student dorms over the years, and this was one of the worst. My friend stayed at Trinity College student housing, which was spectacular by comparison. Go there instead if you can.

It's affordable, but I felt like the cost came at the expense of health. I feel for the students who have to rent here during the academic year. The moment I walked into the apartment, I could smell damp. It didn't seem to have been properly cleaned, and the linen smelled bad too. It may have been washed recently, but it had been sitting in a damp room. The air quality was very poor, and I spotted mould in my room. I was surprised to see such a high rating on Google.

We only needed somewhere to sleep for two nights, and it did serve that purpose. For what we paid, though, I expected at least basic cleanliness. I feel sorry for students who stay here for any length of time. I'd recommend avoiding it at all costs. The smell hit as soon as we came in, so we had the balcony doors open morning, noon and night. I was afraid to touch the carpet, which looked like it hadn't been cleaned in ages, if ever. The bathroom was disgusting, and after showering I felt dirtier. There was water left in the kettle, crumbs on the toaster and used tissues in the bedroom. It also felt unsecure. Once inside, we couldn't lock the apartment's external door, so in the evenings we barricaded ourselves in the bedrooms with our valuables.