Dublin is a city I had wanted to visit for ages, so when a late weekend became available at short notice during the end of the summer that was filled with no plans it seemed the perfect opportunity to tick off another of my bucket list destinations.
Just a short flight from London, Dublin was the perfect place for a short break and just over one hour after take-off, we were safely back on terra firma and ready to explore the capital of the Emerald Isle! We had been able to book the hotel whilst booking our flights so we couldn’t wait to arrive and dump the bags to get on with the exploring!
The hotel, called The Ashling, was superbly linked to the airport by bus which took us directly to Heuston station, literally minutes from the hotel itself. All we had to do was cross the Sean Heuston Bridge and the main road before we were warmly welcomed into the hotel lobby by the front of house staff.
Although our time spent within the hotel was limited as there was lots of exploring to do, our experience would definitely lead me to recommend a short break at the Ashling to you. For my full review, keep reading!
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Location
The Ashling is conveniently located on the edge of town on the banks of the River Liffey, just two minutes’ walk from Heuston station. As I mentioned above, it is really easy to get to the hotel from the airport and travel only costs €10 for a 3 month return. The station also offers hotel guests a tram link which will take you straight into town. However if you prefer to walk, Temple Bar is reachable in under twenty minutes and, even better, the Guinness Storehouse is an even shorter walk away- perfect for us explorers then! For some fresh air and a leisurely stroll, the huge Pheonix Park is very close by – a great place to relax on a warm summer’s day and take a picnic!
Accommodation
The rooms at the Ashling are very spacious and clean. We actually chose to upgrade to a Superior Room for just £12 extra over the 2 nights which when we saw the room, even though I hadn’t seen the standard room, I thought was money well spent!
The room was kitted out with tea and coffee facilities (including biscuits), a TV, hairdryer and of course the obligatory toiletries. Most importantly though, the bed was very comfortable & spacious and for all you fellow ladies out there, a large desk and mirror is at your disposal. Not only that, but there was a wet room style shower within the very reasonable spaced out en suite room. There was also a free (and good, quick) WiFi connection in all rooms at no extra charge.
Communal Areas
All the Hotel’s communal areas were tastefully decorated and seemed very clean and well kept. There was a good, effective security system in operation as your room card was needed for accessing the corridors of rooms. Additionally, water and ice dispensers were available for use on every floor, alternating respectively in the central areas next to the stairs and lifts.
On the ground floor, guests had access to a lounge as well as a restaurant which although we did not spend any time in, seemed constantly busy every time we passed through the central lobby.
Staff
The front of house staff, who worked at reception, were extremely friendly and helpful, offering advice and recommendations on places to eat and drink in the city. There was also an abundance of information scattered around the lobby – from leaflets on the city’s attractions, as well as those further afield, and practical maps to help with orientation.
Other
As check out time on your final day tends to be around midday, and with our flight not being until later in the evening, it was great to have a left luggage facility free of cost which was manned 24 hours a day where items were safely locked away.
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All in all we had a fab time in Dublin and really enjoyed our short stay at the The Ashling. I would highly recommend going back and upgrading, even more so if I was staying longer. Who knows, next time I might be able to check out the restaurant and report back on that as well.
Have you been to Dublin? Where did you stay and would you recommend your hotel? Do let me know in the comments below!
