The Burren Hostel - Sleepzone

We found a room here at the last minute after watching sunset at the Cliffs of Moher. Booking.com showed a private room and bath, so we drove over to check, and yes, the bathroom was inside the room, not down the hall. There were three sturdy bunks that didn't wobble or squeak, and the beds were really comfortable. We paid about €80 for the night, while nearby places were going for €300-500, so we were very happy with the stay. It was quiet and the staff were great. The room could have slept six, which would work well for a family or group. They provided towels, sheets and pillows, but bring your own shampoo.

The location is good and the facilities were fine, but I felt uneasy enough that I left after the first night of a two-night booking. Men were often hanging around outside and watching people come and go, which made the place feel unsafe to me. I later learned the hostel is being used as a direct provision centre housing refugees. A recent Clare Echo article reported that a man staying there had been charged with assault. That gave me context for the atmosphere, but I wish I'd known about the centre before booking. I wasn't comfortable there and moved elsewhere. I wouldn't recommend it for solo travel.

The family room worked perfectly for us, and the hostel was right in the middle of the village. It was clean, had good facilities and a lovely garden. The atmosphere was great, and the staff were so friendly, especially Paola. We had a great time and would definitely stay again :)

The social spaces had cool decor, there were lots of them, and the kitchen was big, which was nice. Our clean, fresh six-bed room was close to the village, and parking was available. My only gripes were that nobody was at reception when we arrived, even though staff were sitting in the kitchen when we asked around, and the WiFi didn't reach the rooms.