Hotels met Pools in County Dublin, Ireland

I decided to ditch staying in the city centre based on my below par experiences there on my last trip. When looking on Trip.com, Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Dalkey was the same price as several dorm rooms in the city centre when I looked. Getting there from Dublin Airport was relatively straightforward. I took and Aircoach from the airport to Dalkey/Ulverton Road and then walked for about 15 minutes. Up to the hotel entrance. The hotel is fairly old fashioned but personally I found it very charming. The staff were well-trained in the art of hospitality, the rooms were clean, locals were in and out of the bar, restaurant and leisure centre. Furthermore, the room was spacious with tea and coffee making facilities. The tv had a nice range of channels and the bathroom had a working shower and an abundance of towels. One thing missing was a toothbrush, toothpaste and shaving kit. I was told that you can get slippers on request as well. Get the breakfast. It’s €16 and it’s a buffet style with a delicious selection of hot and cold food. There’s rashers, sausages, hash browns, pancakes, the works. I wish I could’ve eaten more! I loved that they had a wide range of ages working there as well. One of the staff tripped when she went to ask if everything was ok and she said ‘I’m fine, I’m falling for you!’ It was then that I knew that I was home. The leisure centre is one of the best I’ve come across in a while. I’ve stayed in so many places where it’s literally an empty room with a few bits of old equipment but they had loads of weights, treadmills, bikes, etc. They do classes and physiotherapy as well. The pool and jacuzzi were also excellent. Plenty of ages in both as well but it wasnt overcrowded so you’ll get a few lengths in if you want. Lastly, make sure to go for a walk about Dalkey and the surrounding areas. I spent the morning walking down to the Vico Baths, the Forty Foot (both swimming locations) and passed through Dalkey Village. Plenty of people will be out with their family and friends whether it be for a walk, bike ride, swim or a coffee and a chat. Ditch Dublin City and say yes to Dalkey!

The Bonnington is usually my go to hotel in dublin, however the stay before this and now this stay has made me look for somewhere else in future. The staff as always were exceptional, however our room was incorrectly rang my reception at 5am, (and on a previous stay we were awoken in the middle of the night by a false fire alarm, so a full nights sleep is not a guarantee). What was the most frustrating is the general disrepair of the hotel. The rooms are fairly small so for the higher price point you are really paying for the facilities. The smaller issues like furniture being old and leather chairs peeling and flaking were not a big problem, just a mild annoyance. However the bath/shower leaking everywhere when used from the base of the tub and leaving the floor soaking wet, the steam room being out of order and us not being informed of this when or even after booking, and the crowdedness and of the pool and other facilities because of non hotel users with memberships to the leisure clubs taking up the whole hot tub and sauna at once in personal groups was frustrating. The room was also extremely hot, and the AC very very loud while not actually doing much to cool the room. There was nothing particularly stay ruining about it however if you’re paying over 200 euro for one night somewhere you would expect things to be at least average. The main redemption was the friendliness and kindness of the staff.

My husband and I had been planning this trip to Dublin for quite some time. And when we found this beautiful boutique hotel online, we were so excited. As soon as we arrived And checked in, there was a lot going on in the lobby area, so it was a little overwhelming. We saw a lady at the desk, but we weren’t sure that she actually worked there because she didn’t greet us. Didn’t even look our way. It seemed like she had a general disinterest or disdain for us being there. I asked, “Is this the front desk to the hotel?” To which she responded in a monotone voice, “Yes.” I was shocked that this was the first impression of the hotel that we were getting. What made it worse was that my husband was told that we needed to put a card on hold and he proceeded to tap his card thinking that it was like all the other places we had been to in Ireland. But it didn’t work. Several times he tapped it and it showed nothing. He asked the lady, “does your tap work? Do you have tap?” To which she replied a curt, “no.” Mind you, she was standing there the entire time and could see the entire situation. This interaction was such a bummer, and this made our short trip to Dublin feel a little sour.  To be honest, not all of the stuff was like that morning. We woke up to get a coffee downstairs, and the gentleman that works at the coffee bar was very warm. A young Spanish speaking man. He was absolutely amazing; patient and willing to answer any questions About the items on the menu And the different pastries available.  Overall, the hotel was a mixed bag. It had a very chic vibe but outside of that lovely gentleman, their customer service can definitely improve!

We arrived early at 1pm and our room was ready which was a lovely surprise, the room was spacious, spotless and very comfy. The breakfast was excellent with a great choice of hot and cold food. We used the leisure facilities which were nice and relaxing. The hotel is in a great location with great transport links and in a vibrant neighbourhood. Would 💯 stay there again.

The location was great for my purpose, I had some business to attend to in Fonthill and the hotel was a stone's throw away. Still needed to drive but it was a 5min drive. It is also walking distance from Liffey Valley shopping mall. Its a typical large mall with decent restaurants and a cinema. The hotel is connected to a fitness centre (like a health club) and it offers a gym and swimming pool. Entry is free for hotel guests. Go early, the pool gets crowded after 8.30am. There is ample parking and it's available at a concessionary rate. My only grouse was the lack of toiletries provided. Thankfully I had brought my own set. The toilet only has hand soap and shampoo (but the dispenser was almost empty). Other than that, the room was spacious, clean and the bed was quite comfortable. Worth staying at if you need to be in that area.

The room has everything you need for a comfortable stay. The hotel is great for many reasons. The proximity to the train station is a major plus as it is only a 25min train ride into Dublin City. The amenities and service of the hotel is also a plus, there is free luggage storage which is handy. The hotel also has a spa, sauna, steam room and pool for guests to use which makes the stay extra relaxing!

It was a well located hotel. Breakfast was great. Surprised at no air-conditioning, Staff were brilliant and very helpful.

There is no commercial facilities around the hotel, but there is a golf course nearby. There is a park about 500 meters away. The environment is beautiful, comfortable, pleasant and very quiet. The hotel breakfast is very rich and the coffee tastes good. The gym is well-equipped and the swimming pool is clean. The room is clean and tidy, with bottled water. The front desk service attitude is good, and the restaurant service is warm, thoughtful and meticulous. I will definitely stay here next time.

Good location on the south side near St Steven’s green. Nice breakfast in top floor restaurant. Small room with view of a building site next door. We stayed in the town house because it’s supposed to be quieter, further away from the disco next to the main hotel. Funny damp smell in the bathroom as there is no outside window or fan. Overall quite average for the price. 

The most comfortable hotel we stayed at during our entire trip in Ireland. Very spacious, bright, and modern. We had a room with an ocean view and truly enjoyed watching the tides come and go. Great breakfast, a nice pub, and a wonderful terrace overlooking the sea. We loved everything :) The only minor downside was that it was a bit too warm in the room.