Hazelbrook House B&B

We picked this place because it was just about the cheapest option that didn't seem dodgy, so the modest room was what we expected. The furniture and beds were dated, and there were exposed wires in parts of the stairway walls. Even so, the bed was comfy and we slept well. The people at the desk were lovely, and a woman there helped us find my friend's earphones after we realized a couple of hours after leaving that she'd forgotten them. You have to leave your keys at the desk when you go out and pick them up when you return. That felt unusual, but caused us no trouble. The place is great for being central to Dublin, just down the road from Connolly station, and most places are an easy walk. I'd definitely stay here again.

The one thing we appreciated was how close the place is to everything in the city centre. At night, though, the area didn't feel very safe. We knew not to expect a high-end hotel, but the price felt far too high for what we got. Our room was much smaller than the photos made it look, with barely enough room for one medium suitcase. There wasn't a proper window, just a small opening in the ceiling that was out of reach. The room smelled damp and stuffy, and without ventilation it was hard to clear. It didn't feel clean or comfortable, and there was nothing cozy about it. One of the shower doors in the bathroom was missing, so there was no way to shower without getting everything wet. They also require guests to leave their keys at the 24-hour reception whenever they go out, which I just don't understand.

We were woken by cars and drunk people shouting, and the noise went on until 2:45AM before they quieted down and went away for a few hours. The walls are paper thin, so at night you hear people arguing, shouting, having sex, and walking around. We also found little bugs and cobwebs, and there were bed bugs. The shower was dirty, the water freezing, and it was impossible to sleep with all the noise. The room itself smelled strongly of smoke. Chewing gum was stuck all over, under and on top of the bed and in the bathroom. The beds were uncomfortable, and there was dust and black mold around the flaking paint by the window. It was on the ground floor. The light was extremely dim and kept flashing on and off during the night. The room door was so hard to open it nearly needed to be forced, and the lock was dodgy. The bathroom door was too big for the space, so it wouldn't shut properly or lock. The advert said breakfast was included, but then they charged ten euro per person. Parking in a cramped garage with room for only a few cars cost another fourteen euro per night. When we questioned the separate breakfast charge, customer service was atrocious, even though their website said it was included. I'd never willingly stay here again. This place doesn't deserve even one star.

It was comfortable, clean, well located, and very well priced. Some updates and small repairs are needed, but if you just want somewhere central to sleep while visiting Dublin, this works. Our family of five, including the kids, stayed comfortably in a family room.