My Place Dublin Hotel

A hostel/hotel hybrid, My Place Dublin Hotel attracts both young and middle-aged travelers, primarily from Europe, touring Dublin on a budget. The property is housed inside a brown brick building with striped awnings that could use a good scrubbing. Interiors are homey and inviting, with vibrant crimson walls in the lobby coupled with wood floors and a large oak reception desk, while burgundy-hued tufted leather sofas provide seating. The space leads to a dining room with a cathedral ceiling, atrium windows, and wooden beams. There are black-lacquer top tables and sturdy oak chairs, lending the place a pub-like atmosphere. Overall, it's a decent budget option, providing practical services at affordable rates.

My Place Dublin Hotel is surrounded by other guest houses, hostels, budget hotels, residential apartments, and offices on the busy and highly trafficked Lower Gardiner Street. There are some bars, cafes, and markets nearby, and it's within walking distance of several tourist attractions. Busaras, the main bus station, is a four-minute walk from here. O'Connell Street, Dublin's main thoroughfare, is seven minutes on foot, as is the Abbey Theatre. Both Trinity College and Connolly Railway Station are 12 minutes on foot, while Croke Park Stadium is a 14-minute walk. The Temple Bar area can be reached in 15 minutes on foot, while the National Library of Dublin (with first editions by its native sons Joyce, Yeats, and Beckett) is about a 20-minute walk. The Guinness Storehouse is a 15-minute drive or a 28-minute bus ride. Dublin Airport is a 15- to 30-minute drive or about a half-hour by public transportation.

The hotel offers both private rooms with en-suite bathrooms as well as hostel-style shared dorms with bunk beds that sleep from four to 20 people. Most of the rooms have good natural light either from skylights or mullioned windows that overlook the street. The exception is the basement room, which guests have described as dark and in need of refurbishing. Private rooms feature pleasant decor, with colorful walls or pretty wallpaper as well as accent fabrics in contemporary patterns and colors such as lavender and green. The furniture is inexpensive and serviceable, such as plastic armchairs and wooden desks with some scuff marks. Private rooms have electronic safes, small flat-screen TVs, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and telephones. Some rooms have shiny wood floors while others are carpeted in thin, synthetic material. There are no air conditioners and windows open to a noisy street. Cribs are available upon request. Bathrooms are small and basic with white or beige tile and sliding glass door showers with wall-mounted soap dispensers. Hairdryers are available on request. The shared dorms are air-conditioned and have bright blue iron bunk beds with mattresses encased in black plastic. Linens are supplied free of charge. The walls are crisp white and floors are glossy wood. Bathrooms here are basic and have stall showers, though some guests report (in both shared and private rooms) that the water temperature and pressure is poor. Guests also complain of noise issues due to thin walls. 

My Place Dublin Hotel offers an all-you-can-eat buffet for breakfast for a fee. It is served in a pleasant, high-ceilinged room with beams and atrium windows. Adjoining the dining room is a lounge with a pool table, burgundy leather sofas, and a book swap area. A communal kitchen is available for guests' use. The front desk is staffed 24/7 and there is a buzzer to push after midnight to be let in (guests leave their keys at the reception desk). The hotel provides tourism information and bookings as well as a free walking tour every morning. Wi-Fi is free, but can be spotty in rooms. There are additional safety deposit boxes at the front desk and free luggage storage is available. Be aware that there is no elevator in the building, and the stairs are narrow. The hotel offers discounts for parking at a nearby unaffiliated lot.