Ireland Travel Guide
Hotel Openings / Hotel News / Dublin Hotels / Ireland Hotels / Leading Hotels of the World / → All Tags
Dublin's Dockland Area Debuts The Marker Hotel
It's about that time when folks start preparing for their European vacation. The quandary is always the same though--where to stay that won't break the bank, especially when airfares to cross the pond can get outrageous this time of year.
Luckily we've found a happy medium and it's called The Marker Hotel Dublin. Opened on April 2nd, the city's Dockland area has received its first five-star property. But despite the ritzy status (it's become part of the Leading Hotels of the World), the 187-room hotel appears to be quite down-to-earth, yet trendy with a fun cocktail bar, the biggest roof bar in Dublin, and of course, walls dotted with whimsical Irish art.
Reality TV Hotels / The Layover / Celebrity Chefs / Anthony Bourdain / Four Seasons Hotels / Dublin Hotels / Ireland Hotels / → All Tags
Anthony Bourdain Does Deluxe For "The Layover" Dublin Hotel
Anthony Bourdain is back for another season of “The Layover”, and we like it because he names the hotels in the cities where he'll be spending his precious time. We figure, he won't be laying his salt-and-pepper head just anywhere, after all, he's big time now. So, for entertainment and a dose of travel value, we’ll give you some details on the properties he picks, just in case you find yourself looking for a place to stay in a city that’s sanctioned by this travel personality/chef.
Layover Hotel Episode 5: Honorable Mention 1: The Davenport Hotel This traditional hotel right near Merrion Square is what Bourdain says, is in "a good location and great for the less than 150 euro ($196) a night rates." We agree.
Honorable Mention 2: Kinlay House Cheaper still is this budget spot in the Temple Bar section. The comment? “It's a hostel. But, who doesn't love sharing a room with strangers?” The upside? "It’s within walking distance of many of the typically touristy spots in town and lots of bars." And at 12 euro ($16) a night starting rates that includes free light brekkie, we can't be mad in a city where many people crash and burn in their beds after heavy nights out.
But where does Tony choose to slumber? Take a guess. We've been here before.
Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel Renovations / Dublin Hotels / Ireland Hotels / Hilton Hotels / DoubleTree Hotels / → All Tags
Dublin's The Morrison Reopening Feb. 1st As A DoubleTree
Shuttered since November while undergoing a 12 week flash makeover, progress is on schedule for Dublin's Morrison Hotel, with a grand reveal set for February 1st.
The Morrison first made headlines last February when it was scooped up by billionairess Elena Baturina (who's just…you know…the richest woman in Russia and the wife of Moscow's former mayor). Apparently she liked the River Liffey views of her new little Irish investment, but felt the interiors left something to be desired. Hence the $9.3 million "splash" of improvements.
The hotel is joining forces with the Hilton franchise and will re-open as Dublin's first DoubleTree.
Hotel Amenities / Hotel Toiletries / Holiday Inn Express Hotels / Dublin Hotels / Airport Hotels / → All Tags
At Holiday Inn Express, There's Free WiFi, Free Breakfast and Free Toiletries
Normally when we think of the toiletry offerings at Holiday Inn Hotels, we think of soap, shampoo, lotion and if we're lucky conditioner. But at the Holiday Inn Express at the Dublin Airport, the hotel offers guests additional amenities like shaving cream, disposable razor, toothpaste, comb, toothbrush, cotton wool and even special stuff for the ladies.
This "Forgot Something" was snapped by HotelChatter Flickr contributor (UggBoy♥UggGirl) and we've found out that all Holiday Inn Express hotels now have the "Forgot Something" extra amenities program (and have been for a few years now.)
Country House Hotels / Ireland Hotels / Donegal Hotels / Hotel Awards / Solis Hotels / → All Tags
Comfy Beds But No Marmalade At 'The Best Country House Hotel In The World'
It was when news popped into our inbox of Lough Eske Castle winning the title Best Luxury Countryside Hotel In The World at the Luxury Hotel Awards that we had two burning questions. What is Lough Eske Castle? And what are the Luxury Hotel Awards?
According to the website:
The World Luxury Hotel Awards are accepted as the pinnacle of achievement for Luxury Hotels worldwide. This Award was established as a celebration of ultimate achievement in hoteliering. It is about congratulating hotels that have taken the extra step & such differentiated themselves from "good hotels" to "exceptional hotels".
The list of this year’s winners is here, if you want to take a look. But in the meantime, what’s more interesting to us is a peek at Lough Eske Castle – especially as, apparently, it’s won the same award for the past three years.
St Patrick's Day Hotels / Hotel Amenities / Ireland Hotels / → All Tags
The Lodge at Doonbeg Will Find Your Long-Lost Irish Relatives for St. Patrick's Day
In honor of the upcoming holiday, we'll highlight a few wacky St. Patrick's Day packages that must have been thought up by a leprechaun.
Do you get a little green with envy when you see people sporting "Kiss Me I'm Irish" buttons and shirts on St. Patrick's Day? Find out if you have any Irish in you at the Lodge at Doonbeg in Ireland.
If you need help learning more about your family tree, the County Clare hotel recently added on-site genealogists to help you research your Irish heritage, coordinate visits to villages where your ancestors once lived and even connect you with a long-lost relative.
International Hotel WiFi / Hotel WiFi / WiFi Heaven / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Ireland Hotels / → All Tags
The Ritz-Carlton in Ireland is Giving It Up for Free (The WiFi, That Is)
If you've been reading our Annual WiFi Reports, then you know how we feel about International Hotel WiFi (If you need a refresher, go see about our recent WiFi Hell at the Sheraton Frankfurt.)
You also know that the more you pay for your hotel room, the less likely your internet connection is to be free. And the repeat offenders who make our naughty list year after year are the luxury brands like the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carltons. But there might be an exception to that crappy rule.
Check out this amenity listing at the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt near Dublin, Ireland:
St Patrick's Day Hotels / Dublin Hotels / Luxury Hotels / Hotel Deals / → All Tags
St Patrick's Day in Dublin Is Way More Affordable Than You'd Think
The Dylan: nice beds, no dubious rockers. We could deal with that
Well oi’ll be damned (say that in an Irish accent, it might make more sense). It’s St Paddy’s Day coming up (17 March) and if you want to go ultra-authentico and spend it in Dublin, you’d better get your planning skates on.
But here’s the good news – pricewise, places seem to be less than extortionate, considering Dublin is an extortionate city, even on the off season. We just checked out two of Dublin’s poshest hotels: the Clarence, which is owned by Bono and his greasy chums, and the Dylan, which is so sleek it has no need of dodge celeb booking.
The Clarence has double rooms starting at €189 ($256/£168), and the Dylan’s even cheaper at €179 ($243/£159). If you don’t want to travel on a hangover, it even has a stay two nights, get one free package going down at the moment. Who’da thunk it? That leaves plenty of euros left to spend down Temple Bar.
Anti-View / Dublin Hotels / Business Hotels / → All Tags
Dublin Strikes Again with a Hotel Anti-View
You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing, it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.
This rather grim view was what greeted hotel fan uggboy during a stay at The Crowne Plaza Hotel Dublin-Northwood. We know—when you think of Ireland, you think of rolling green hills, or lovely seaside cliffs. Not, um, bland brick walls.
Halloween Hotels / Harry Potter Hotels / Hotel Packages / Budget Hotels / Ireland Hotels / Oxford Hotels / → All Tags
Get Your Harry Potter Fix for Halloween at These Hotels
While dressing up in costume and checking into the Hilton San Francisco might win you a free hotel stay, it doesn't include treasure hunts, Harry Potter screenings and an afternoon of witchcraft. Nope, for that you will have to head to the rather luscious-looking Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland.
The castle is having a Harry Potter-inspired Halloween. This might surprise you, given that the place has nothing to do with Harry Potter whatsoever – in fact, the tenuous link they make is that the castle was built in 1228: “a time when magic in Europe was the norm.” Hmm.
Castle Hotels / Hotel Packages / Country Hotels / Ireland Hotels / Booze / → All Tags
Celebrate 250 Years of Guinness In Style At Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle – an actual, 13th-century castle in County Mayo, Ireland, that doubles as as five star hotel – is celebrating its 70th birthday next month. So far, so worthy. Forgive us being slightly more excited about the fact that Guinness is turning 250. Now that’s worth celebrating.
Luckily, the folks at the castle agree with us (it was once the country retreat of the Guinness family, which probably has something to do with it). So they’ve designated October as Guinness Month and 15 October as the date for a five course "Black and White dinner", where the head Brewer will talk about the black stuff.
Themed Hotels / Thanatourism Hotels / Odd Hotels / Titanic Hotels / Belfast Hotels / Hotel Hype / → All Tags
A Titanic-Themed Hotel Might Be Coming to Belfast
Hmm...you definitely can't say it's "too soon" for a Titanic-themed hotel to open in Belfast but we're not so sure if we're loving the idea of a hotel that's built around a tragedy. But thanatourists will love this place.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, a five-star 90-room hotel with a swimming pool, a gymnasium and a Titanic theme has been announced for the old Harland and Wolff Headquarters building at Queen's Island in Belfast, near where the doomed ship was constructed.
The hotel, if plans are approved, will be part of a larger revitalization project called the Titanic Signature Project, which seeks to restore the Thompson Dock and the slipways where the Titanic and her sister ship, The Olympic, were built. This Titanic Quarter, as the area is called, will also have apartments, an entertainment district and an amusement park, Titanic-themed of course.
