thanks to gillian for helping me cancel flight. rebook on irish ferries and move my room to one of the best in the hotel away from al the stranded teenagers. also to all the breakfast staff and the night porter from Mauritus, jim the bartender you all went the extra mile. i will be back Tom

Very convenient for O'Connell Street,lovely Garden of Remembrance across the road, very clean, bathroom nice,lovely Georgian Hotel reception staff not over-friendly, they seemed bored an disinterested. Had bought my netbook with me and was very disappointed that I couldnt get onto facebook as it was barred. Such a shame as I like to keep in touch with friends and family. Breakfast nice and very quick service, staff were polite and friendly. Unusual to have to pay as you book in. I would stay there again, maybe next time the reception staff will have changed or had some customer care training.

Hotel is situated 5minuets walking distance from the heart of Dublin, the walk into the city is full of things to see and do.Hotel is clean and friendly,rooms cleaned every day. The staff go out of their way to make you feel at home and will help to direct you to where you want to go.

Summary: The Castle Hotel proved to be fairly good value for money, and while neither the most extravagant, luxurious nor most centrally located hotel, it provided us with a great base for our daytrips to the city centre. Enjoy the bar, restaurant and service, but expect minor hiccups – remember, you’re not staying at the Ritz.

Room: The rooms were clean and comfortable, but a little worn. Do not expect the sterility and modernity of luxury branded hotels; instead enjoy the Irish charm of the furniture, décor and working fireplaces. Amenities provided were simple but practical, but a huge put-off was that the electric kettle provided was filthy.

Bar / Restaurant: This was the most enjoyable part of the hotel – an in-house bar and restaurant that provided affordable food and drinks late into the night. Be warned: this is not a ‘resident’s bar’ and if you visit during a game-day, it will be packed with rabid sports fans. For us, this was not a problem at all, and we visited this bar everyday. Food was fairly good, and drinks were always alcoholic – for those needing to kick a hangover or illness, ask the bartender (Jim) for a Hot Toddy (hint: it’s alcoholic).

Breakfast: Although it is ‘cooked to serve’, out of all the breakfasts we had in the UK, the food served here was the weakest. While it will definitely fill you up with all the trappings of a traditional Irish breakfast, it is relatively mediocre

Service: The receptionists at the lobby were generally friendly, with some better than others, but all were accommodating to our queries and requests. We met the owner and he is a charming gentlemen. However, a giant complaint by my friend was the stoppage of internet access during our final night’s stay, and the staff’s nonchalant response towards guests.

Location: The hotel sits opposite the Writer’s Museum, which lies at the end of O’Connell Street. Although it advertises itself as city center, expect at least a ten minute walk to tourist destinations such as Trinity College and Temple Bar.