“Service was wonderful!”
We stayed at the Hilton near the Dublin Airport on our last night before flying home. We were very pleased with the hotel. It was clean and comfortable, although the fan from the AC, while not loud, was noticeable throughout the night. Overall, I would definitely stay again. We were able to check in at noon and leave our suitcases in our room before returning our rental car to city centre, where we rented it the previous week to tour northern Ireland. We shopped in Dublin and had dinner at O'Neill's before catching the number 42 bus back to the hotel. We were driven to the airport the next morning in the courtesy shuttle. After arriving at the airport, I realized we had misplaced our VAT rebate envelope; I called the hotel and a wonderful young lady found the envelope in our hotel room and sent it to our home here in the States. We were very pleased with our stay and would recommend it! If we fly into Dublin again, we will stay at the Hilton.
Area recommendations
I would recommend going to City Centre with shopping on Grafton Street, and the Temple Bar area. I would also recommend St. Stephan's Green, Trinity College, and of course, the Guiness Storehouse. We walked everywhere we went, with exception of the bus to the hotel. We had wonderful meals, and found the residents of Ireland to be helpful, outgoing, and very genuine. We enjoyed O'Neill's for dinner; find a table, then walk through the cafeteria-style service line to select your food. The staff LOADS your dish with your selection. The beef stew with Guiness was excellent, as was the turkey with cranberry sauce and smoked cod. And, the Guiness was cold and tasty! We felt very safe walking around the city and would not hesitate to go back again.
What to pack
Pack light! We didn't wear half of what we took with us. Save the extra space in your suitcase for what you find in the shops! I would recommend a good (small, folding) umbrella and a light coat for summer. Pack a warm sweater or fleece as well. A comfortable pair of walking shoes will get you where you want to go.
