Amazing travellers- looking for advice your favourite "thrifty" hotel and BnB suggestions...by "thrifty" I mean low budget/no frills but still hotels or Bnbs where you have a private room - not looking for hostel style suggestions.
Looking to stay a few nights in Dublin but would gladly accept suggestions in other cities as well as we are planning to tour about.
Many thanks!!! :)
I booked Celtic Lodge in Dublin city center for next week. It was very reasonable and a good location.
We recently stayed at the Premier Inn in Belfast for 5 nights in their Cathedral Quarter property. They are a very basic chain across Europe. It was clean, no frills, shower only. There were tea supplies in the room and a restaurant downstairs with an affordable breakfast that got us on our way each day. A friend of mine stayed in a Premier Inn in London and reports the same. The staff were friendly and helpful. It allowed us to have a basic comfortable room for a low cost (even lower if you make your reservations unchangeable - see their website for details) thereby freeing up some money to spend elsewhere.
If traveling during summer months, I've stayed at Trinity College right in the center of Dublin for a very reasonable budget. They offer student dorm rooms to travelers when school is not in session. I had a very large private room with a sink, but did have to share a bathroom with a few other rooms - but there was no wait as there were lots of toilets and showers available. The rate included free continental breakfast but you had an option to pay a few Euro more if you wanted a full hot breakfast. Great location - right on their very historic campus and the Book of Kells just steps away.
Did similar in Belfast and stayed at the dorms of Queens University. However, Queens had lots of private rooms in their dorms which had ensuite bathrooms contained within the room, so you could have your own toilet, sink and shower. They also included a full hot breakfast buffet daily in the rate. Dorms were within walking distance to Belfast Botanical Gardens, a few museums. There was plenty of taxis in the area or you could also just jump on a city bus at a stop that was just a few blocks from the dorms.
Rooms at both Queens and Trinity were very basic, but spacious and comfortable. And you get some additional benefits like free WiFi, access to basic kitchen facilities if you wanted to make a lunch or simple dinner for yourself, plus coin-op laundry.
Travelodge has a good presence across both the Republic and Northern Ireland, and usually has a restaurant attached. Often very 'American' with Rockin' Joes or Eddie Rockets.
Sometimes I do want to take an American to something we view as 'American'. Like Scottish or Irish stuff in America, a mix of fear, amusement and horror!
