The Loom - Aparto

The hotel was very clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful the whole time. The beds were far too small for two people, though, and each person only got one towel, with no hand towels. The messages before arrival were annoying. I kept getting reminders to check in or risk having the whole reservation cancelled, even though I’d already completed the online check-in.

Renata at reception was especially kind, friendly, and helpful, though I think she’s moved to another aparto location. Most of the other on-site staff were easy to talk to and helpful too. The area felt fairly safe to me as a woman walking around at night, as long as it wasn’t very late. The Loom is next to several bus routes and close to Thomas St, with its pubs, cafes, and shops. It’s about a 20-25 minute walk to Dublin city centre. Construction nearby can get loud, though it didn’t bother me much. The rooms are small for the price. Unless you choose a studio, there isn’t much space, and it’s hard to move around if two people are staying in a room. A couple of friends stayed with me and it was cramped. Other student accommodation can be bigger for the same or less money. Dust also builds up very quickly, with little piles and odd crumbs all over. I thought it was just my room, but flatmates and other tenants said it happened in theirs too. I suspect poor airflow is behind it. If you’re very particular about cleanliness, it could be frustrating. Privacy was a big problem. The walls are so thin you can hear a neighbor shift in bed, which made me feel like everything I did could be heard. I’ve experienced thin walls in other student housing, but this was the worst. The fire alarm also goes off constantly, probably once or twice a week. One time it rang for about an hour and twenty minutes before someone shut it off. Management says the system works properly, but I’ve never lived anywhere with this many alarms. They remind tenants not to smoke, burn incense, or cook improperly, but it isn’t clear whether they follow up with whoever sets it off. There’s no 24/7 reception. Usually that’s fine, but weekday hours are around 9-5, maybe Saturdays too, which is awkward if you work and makes late package pickup difficult. When the alarm goes off, nobody may be on site. Aparto has a resident fire warden, but she can be out, and then tenants are told to call Keyguard, the contract security company, which can take a long time to arrive. You can find many of the Loom’s good points at other student places in the Liberties, and quite a few cost less. If you need somewhere short term or are stuck for accommodation, it’s not the worst option, but it has a lot of issues and isn’t worth the price to me. I won’t stay again.

I’ve been staying here for more than two months, and it’s been a great experience so far. The accommodation is well looked after and has a lovely atmosphere. Staff are friendly and always willing to help. Renata and Craig are especially nice to chat with. Highly recommend!

Everything is new and clean here, and it’s one of Dublin’s newest student accommodations. When something comes up, the team will help with whatever they can. They make it feel a bit like having an extended family, and staying here has been a great experience as a student.