Based on price, ratings, reviews, and location I have narrowed down my choice of hotels to the following:
Dublin - The Gate Hotel, Harding Hotel, or Paramount Hotel
Galway - Forester Court Hotel, Eyre Square Hotel, or Victoria Hotel
Which would be your recommendation??
I'm not familiar with any of these hotels, but I would recommend avoiding hotels in the Temple Bar area in Dublin (Paramount) or directly on Eyre Square in Galway (the Eyre Square Hotel). These are fun/safe places to visit, but they will be very loud at night.
I recently stayed at The Harding and found it enoyable and comfortable and just far enough from the Temple Bar area to avoid the tourist crowds, but close enough to the sites that they were easily walkable. The Harding also has a great pub on the ground floor with really good trad music.
There's no better combination of location, price and quality than the Ariel House. That's why it's rated among the top five hotels in Dublin. The breakfasts are legendary.
If you absolutely must be downtown, then it seems like the Harding or the Gate would be your best choice.
I recommend not staying in Temple are, too. Unless you're someone who's up and out all night long!. I had 1 night in this area and it was my first night in Dublin. I didn't get a wink of sleep due to the street noises, etc.
Jurys Inn had BB breakfast, free wifi and free internet, near shoppping areas and restaurants, night clerk, room safe, and most importantly a bus stop out front that made public transportation easy, especially the day I went to the airport.
