The Dawson Hostel

For around €150 a night, this didn’t meet our expectations. We knew it was a hostel and only expected a basic, clean room with simple comforts, but the cleanliness, comfort, and service didn’t feel worth the price. We can’t recommend it at this price level. The room for three felt poorly maintained and unclean. There was a strong damp, musty smell, like a basement, covered by an overpowering air freshener. The bathtub looked dirty, the carpet was dusty and stained, and the mattresses were very hard. Outside, loud nightclub noise continued until around 3 AM and made it difficult to sleep. The experience also didn’t match the information and photos online.

The kitchen and downstairs bathroom had no hand-wash, and there was hardly any working kitchen equipment. Even the microwave and gas oven didn’t work properly. People in the room didn’t respect one another. One person urinated in the room early in the morning; we complained about his behaviour, but management knew and took no action. At check-in, after the process was finished, a man at reception tried to charge me again even though I’d paid online. I offered to show the receipt in my email, and then the receptionist said it was okay. It felt like an attempt to take my money. Reception staff were rude and unprofessional, and hygiene wasn’t maintained. One of the worst hostels in Dublin. Avoid this place. Rooms: 1/5 | Service: 1/5 | Location: 1/5 Rooms: 1/5 | Service: 1/5 | Location: 1/5

The pillow was honestly so flat and thin, and the carpet throughout the hostel was very worn. Those were my only real complaints. People mention the nightlife and noise around the area, and that’s true, but I didn’t have a problem with it. You can expect that in this part of Dublin. For a first-ever solo trip, I had a pleasant stay. Check-in was easy, and it was handy to have free locker storage during the day. The hostel is in a great spot in Dublin 2, with lots of popular places within walking distance. You get what you pay for with hostels, and I’d recommend it if you’re on a budget and want somewhere central in a nice part of Dublin. :)

It’s extremely central, and I’d never even realized the hostel was there despite having planned loads of work events on that street. My room and bathroom were clean, and I didn’t hear any noise, though I guess I wasn’t on the noisy side. The girl at reception, Croatian I think, was a gem, always helpful and lovely to talk to. My only gripe is the stairs, but there’s no room for an elevator, so what can you do. One bunker got angry at me out of nowhere, but I was able to switch rooms easily. You can’t control everyone. Honestly, I thought it was a nice place.