Melissa

I had messaged you my recommendation.

http://www.avvio.com/hotels/Maldron_Hotel_Smithfield/bookings/client.php?formname=searchspecials&mode=group&group=Midweek+Breaks+from+%8075

We have used the Smithfield Maldron for early ferry crossings. Handy for the Brazen and just across from the old Jamesons. Lucas fom the end of the road into the centre or not too long a walk.

I can sleep through anything but Chris regularly uses her earplugs which is an easy fix option.  The Maldron is a business user hotel and as such doesn't get noisy coridors, at least not on the few occasions we have used it over recent years.

Hi Melissa,

We stayed in the best western premier  on Findlater st. off of upper O'Connell st.  in Dublin. It was not noisey at all. Maybe we just got lucky. The location was great the hop on hop off bus starts right across the street. We walked from the hotel to Grafton st. & temple bar. We also went to the Abbey Theatre for a show and it was great. But book your tickets as soon as possible they are usually sold out.

 http://www.hotelscombined.com/Hotel/Best_Western_Premier_Academy_Plaza_Hotel_Dublin.htm

Frank

Michele: Thanks for your ideas for relatively quiet rooms in Dublin. I'm going to check out the places that you all have recommended. Sometimes reading tripadvisor reviews by more experienced travellers can help...some reviews have details about the noisier or quieter rooms.

Fortunately, we won't be in Dublin on Friday or Saturday. Yay! When I'm planning trips, I do try to avoid big cities on weekends, especially if they are party cities. 

This is a generalizaion, but the cheaper hotels tend to be noisier. It seems that partying people don't want to spend too much. Also, in a really nice hotel, if you go out in the hall and quietly get the room number of the noisy room without letting them see you, and report it to the front desk in a series of phone calls, they do actually send security to quiet the people in the room. If the people don't cooperate and the noise is obvious (such as partying people)...the hotel does ask them to leave. I have to resort to this when the noise is really bad. But if someone just has their TV too loud, or is going in and out of their room and letting the door slam, nothing can be done about this. Calling the front desk only helps when the noise is really outrageous and really obvious.

I used to use earplugs as well, but now I find that bringing a sound machine with white noise works better for me. It gives you something to focus on...otherwise I get hyper-vigilant at night, and I focus on the sounds...door slams, loud conversations... Air conditioning or a fan can help, but only if its a steady sound. a/c going on and off can actually wake me up if its loud.

Wishing all us light sleepers a good night's rest on vacation!

 

 

Melissa,

I hear you! I am a light sleeper too. I agree that a/c going on and off wakes me up. I would much rather have a steady hum of something. In fact I sleep with a fan on at home to give myself "white noise". I think one of the best sleeps in a hotel was in Hawaii. Our room overlooked the ocean and was located right over a waterfall. We heard the rushing waterfall and waves all night long. Now that was nice white noise!

Michele

Michele: Ah, I'd love to sleep to a waterfall lullaby!

Have you had a chance to check out the Old Schoolhouse hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, Michele? It seems like they might have some quiet rooms. They do have air conditioning. I think its basically like a guesthouse, although its called a hotel.

I've been reading a lot of tripadvisor reviews for all the accommodations everyone is suggesting. I generally ignore any reviews from people who have only posted 1 or 2 reviews. I read the reviews by experienced travellers. It's not a fool-proof method, but it does give you more info, if you read a lot of them.

The Merrion may have some quiet rooms overlooking a garden I think...but the last time I checked they were booked...although they could get cancellations for september...also they are quite expensive...we don't usually stay in any 5-star hotels!

Melissa:

Take a look at the Pembroke Townhouse in Ballsbridge. I stayed there a while back and the entire neighborhood is quiet. It's a neat old building next to the American Embasy. The aircoach dropped as about 1.5 blocks from the hotel. It worked out very well though the ride back to the airport on aircoach was much longer.

I stayed at the best western academy and though I like it, the rooms are not always quiet. One of the sections looks out to and area that has what appears to be the beer gardens for a number of late night clubs. The location is very convenient though.

Hope this helps.

wojazz3: Thanks very much for all your advice about where to sleep in Dublin. By now I"ve checked out every hotel in Dublin! Ballsbridge did look very enticing and I gave serious consideration to booking the Pembroke Townhouse or the Old Schoolhouse Hotel. But the Old Schoolhouse Hotel didn't answer my email, so I crossed them off the list. I was about to write to the Pembroke Townhouse but didn't do so.

Meanwhile I have also kept an eye on the Merrion Hotel's web-site. They have a Summer Special where they take 10 euros off the price and they throw in free breakfast and free parking. Those specials are on the lower priced rooms in the Garden Wing. (Lower priced is still expensive.) At first the nights I wanted were blocked out, but I kept looking and suddenly availability came up. I decided to splurge on the Merrion, Garden Wing! I'm looking forward to our first 5-star hotel experience.

I have a good memory for hotels, and I'm sure we will return to Dublin again someday in the future...we may stay in Ballsbridge someday.