Ashling Hotel Dublin

Although a little outside of the central Dublin area, the Ashlington is a great choice if quietness is craved while in the city. What it has going for it is its proximity to the Heuston main train station and the Guinness Storehouse.

The Ashling Hotel ticks all the boxes—it’s reasonably priced, has just the right level of luxury, and is in a great location. It’s not in the city centre proper, but the tram runs within a few metres of the front door so that you’re never more than ten minutes at a maximum from O’Connell Street and its environs. You’re unlikely to find a bigger or more comfortable couch than what they’ve got in their lounge, which is perfect for Sunday paper-reading or trying to plan out how to best take in the sights. The rooms are decorated in muted colours and are quite calming. It may be of interest to some that, according to a plaque outside the hotel, the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein lived in that building from 1948-49. I’m not sure that it was the same hotel, but the cheery atmosphere inside bears no mark of his heavy influence.

The lobby sparkles - the large floor tiles and the main desk are made of a dark stone that is studded through with flecks of a silvery metal. Each one seems to reflect light directly at you, and the effect can be dizzying, especially if you’ve just been out on a dull, overcast day. You get used to it quickly, though. The furnishings and décor throughout the lobby areas are modern, comfortable, heavy – despite the high-spec feel, you wouldn’t feel out of place if you happened to fall asleep on a couch while reading the paper. The rooms are great, and the location is about as good as it gets, at least in terms of transportation. It’s a perfect choice for runners, who will no doubt enjoy chasing members of the resident deer population in the nearby Phoenix Park.

We stayed here a few years ago, and found it competitively priced, of a decent standard and a convenient location just 10/12 mins walk from the centre, although there is a tram stop outside the hotel if you don't fancy the stroll.