Far from the bustling city life of Dublin and Cork is Sleepzone Connemara, tucked into the beautiful scenic mountains of County Galway, Ireland. The newly remodeled interior and helpful, friendly staff of this hostel make a great first impression. The dorm rooms are remodeled too (and quite roomy), each with an en-suite bathroom.
In order to get to the hostel, one has limited options. It appears that most guests use cars, although many take advantage of the relatively inexpensive shuttle that runs from Sleepzone Galway (their sister hostel) to Sleepzone Connemara. This shuttle only runs once a day and sometimes at inconvenient times. The actual Bus Eireann stop (in Leenane "town center") is quite a long walk from the Sleepzone Connemara hostel, but apparently sometimes the Sleepzone staff can arrange for the bus to stop closer to their hostel.
The bathrooms and bedrooms are cleaned often. The kitchen and dining facilities are very clean as well. Free breakfast includes coffee/tea, toast, and cereal. Breakfast is usually a lively time, where people meet each other (if there are a lot of people staying). There is also one computer with free internet (if someone isn't hogging it already!).
Sleepzone Connemara is basically secluded in the wilderness, which could be a nice thing if you like nature. But if you're looking for things to do, you have some options. Killary Adventure Company is Sleepzone's neighbor, but classes fill up quickly, especially during the summer, so a reservation is the best bet if you want to go kayaking or rock climbing (or any of its wide variety of activities). If you don't have a car, your options are more limited. Walking around the nearby Killary Fjord is a scenic hike. Also, Sleepzone rents bicycles for the day, and many things (Kylemore Abbey and Connemara Park) are within cycling distance.
The fact that Sleepzone Connemara is secluded also brings about a friendly atmosphere between guests. At night, most people stay inside (Connemara nightlife is nonexistent) so the Sleepzone is where it's at! There is a TV room, where people gather to watch sports games or television programs, there is a nice dining room to socialize in, and there is also a bar/lounge room with a jukebox and pool table.
The friendly staff and lovely accommodations make this hostel worth staying at. Just make sure you know that you are not going into a city. If you don't have a car, be prepared to get moving (either on a bike or foot) to see the beauty of Connemara!
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
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