Kilronan Hostel

One of only a few budget options available on the fantastic Aran Islands, Kilronan Hostel makes a good base for exploring Inishmore (the big island). Close to everything you need (bike rental, restaurants and pubs, a supermarket), comfortable (though somewhat cold), and laid back, here you can relax and let yourself slow down and enjoy being on island time.

The Location

All of the ferries coming from Galway and anywhere else on mainland Ireland land at the same dock in Kilronan. The hostel is about a two-minute walk (including the length of the dock) from the landing, and you can see the docks from inside the hostel. It is the third or fourth building you see as you start walking toward the town. Kilronan is tiny, so although the hostel is located right next to the docks, it is basically also in the center of town, and everything is within a five-minute walk. Kilronan is basically "the town" on Inishmore and therefore the largest town on the Aran Islands. That said, you can walk from end to end in ten minutes or less.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The dorm rooms are comfortable, if a little cramped. Most have six to eight beds, the mattresses are somewhat better than is the standard in Irish hostels, and they provide clean sheets and a comforter for the beds, although when the heat turns off in the middle of the night it may not be enough to keep warm in an Irish winter. Most rooms have en-suite shower, sink, and toilet. Again, the spaces are very small and cramped, but the showers have hot water (though not a lot -- if several people in a row take showers you run the risk of getting a cold one), and the bathrooms have soap trays, hand soap, and hooks. Many rooms have a view of the harbour, and you can hear the waves from your bed.

Common Spaces

The kitchen is incredibly well stocked here, with lots of nice utensils and equipment -- just about everything you can imagine (including two working ovens), and everything is in great condition. A lot of the space however seems to be taken up with the staff's stuff. This is also true for most areas of the hostel -- the staff (most of whom are backpackers themselves there for a few months stay) tend to make themselves at home in all the common areas and spread their stuff out everywhere. Depending on the staff in question, this can be intimidating as you feel like you're invading on their space or going where you're not supposed to go. Though the overall impression is that the team of backpacker staff is only doing the minimum required in order to get paid, there are also usually some very welcoming types who try to make you feel at home.

The lounge/TV room is small but warm and cozy, with an extensive DVD collection and a fairly large book exchange shelf -- greatly appreciated on the cold rainy days that are so common here! There are comfy couches, chairs, and bean bags; a coffee table; nice atmospheric lighting; and lots of cushions. There is a computer with free internet but the wait is usually long, even in the off season. The lounge room, by far the warmest place in the hostel, is usually full of people. This makes it a great place to get to know your fellow guests (and the staff), but the room can only comfortably hold about six to eight people.

Summary

Overall, the Kilronan Hostel provides a more than adequate place to stay when exploring Inishmore and the Aran Islands. Breakfast is provided (cereal, toast, coffee, and tea) but don't put too much faith in the times they tell you -- everything here runs on an approximate time, meaning things will maybe happen within an hour or so of when they are scheduled to happen. Fortunately this extends to the guests, and although signs might have you believe differently, checkout times are more of a suggestion, and nobody gets too worked up if you're not out of your room by 10 a.m. Guests are also allowed to use the hostel facilities after checkout until their ferry leaves, which is very important given the unpredictable whether and the tininess of the town. Free coffee and tea are also available at all hours to warm you up.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2009