Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport

The Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport has a thoroughly contemporary feel, with splashes of color in its public spaces and rooms, which are decorated according to the mid-range budget chain's standards. The hotel doesn't have a lot of individuality but it does have a pleasant and lively atmosphere, with clean-lined modern decor, pops of red in furnishings and paint, and a busy vibe. The airport location draws flight crews and travelers just passing through, and its meeting rooms attract business guests. Leisure guests and families also appreciate its affordable rooms and free breakfast. Guests gather in the lobby bar, with its big, flat-screen TV and low red leather chairs, or in the adjacent Crowne Plaza's restaurant and bar.

The Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport is located a five-minute drive south of the main terminals at Dublin Airport, and offers free
airport shuttle service. The hotel is in a residential area at the north end of the 85-acre Santry Park, which includes a woodland walk, lake, and children's playground. Just to the east, the M1 highway intersects with the ED1 highway, putting city-center Dublin within easy reach by either car or public transportation. The Omni Shopping Centre is a five-minute drive south, and Butler's Chocolate Experience is an eight-minute drive east of the hotel. The center of Dublin -- home to sights like the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and Dublin Castle -- is a 15-minute drive or 30-minute bus ride south, and a bus stops just a couple minutes away, on Swords Road. The National Botanic Garden is a 10-minute drive south and Dublin Zoo is a 20-minute drive southwest of the hotel.

Spread across three floors, the 114 all non-smoking rooms come in queen and twin configurations. Most rooms are fairly spacious, but not all. The simple, minimalist aesthetic -- standard for the mid range budget chain -- borders on spare, with little artwork on the walls apart from a piece above the beds. All have air-conditioning, desks, coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Beds offer a choice of soft or hard pillows, and some rooms have sofa beds, which are convenient for families. Bathrooms are clean and well-lit, if a bit dated in style, and have hairdryers and adequate counter space; some have a shower/tub combination, while others only have a shower. Despite the location near the airport, rooms are quiet.

The Holiday Inn Express's top amenity is its free breakfast buffet, with a range of hot and cold items that include eggs, sausages,
breads, scones, and cereal. Those in a hurry can take a grab 'n' go
breakfast with muffin, banana, and yogurt. The lobby bar offers a range of wines, beers, soft drinks, and snacks. Guests also have access to the adjacent Crowne Plaza's restaurant, which serves decent Asian cuisine with Western influences alongside views of the
neighboring lake and park; room service is unfortunately not available from the Crowne Plaza's restaurant or bar, which serves a wide range of wines by the glass, international beers, cocktails, and casual Californian-Asian bites. The Holiday Inn Express also has meeting rooms, a lobby business corner, coin-operated laundry machines, and parking (free for first two hours only, fee thereafter). The hotel has no leisure facilities, nor does it offer discount access to any nearby fitness center. The free round-trip airport shuttle -- shared with the Crowne Plaza -- operates from about 5 a.m. to midnight.