The Hostelz.com Review
HI - Dublin International Hostel (An Oige) is a fair walking distance from City Center, with several regular bus stops nearby. The hostel is large with free, secured, on-site parking. With good nightly rates, a friendly staff, and complimentary Continental Breakfast the hostel is comfortable for the budget minded. It is however meager in the amenities department. That said, it is a nice jumping off point to exploring Dublin and surrounding areas. And while this isn't so much a chill-out hostel as it is a place for hot showers and clean beds, it is a great place to meet other travelers and glean a few ideas.
The Location
Dublin isn't the easiest place to navigate, but finding this hostel seems simple enough on paper. The reality is that signage in the city can be downright confusing, so take your time, bring a compass, and orient yourself. The neighborhood is a quiet and clean semi-residential block. There are no proper supermarkets within easy walking distance, but a few liquor stores nearby. Access by bus is achievable with proper maps and schedule, though taxi will be simpler. Driving is a cinch once you have an idea of where the hostel should be, though be warned, double one-way streets may be disorienting. Street parking is available, but a commodity, and on a busy night the hostel's free on-site parking can be a squeeze.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Single-sex dorm rooms, though dimly lit, are spacious, clean, and comfortable with large sized lockers to secure belongings. The beds are double bunks, so if you have disabilities inform the staff ahead of time to secure a lower bunk. This is assuming you are capable of walking several flights of stairs as there is no elevator. Some rooms are equipped with in-room sinks while the bathrooms are shared. The shared bathrooms are clean, well equipped, and brightly lit with several showers, toilets, and sinks. Shower stalls are large, providing changing space for the more modest traveler, and while water temperature and pressure are good, hooks and shelves are at a premium.
Common Spaces
The biggest downfall of the hostel are the amenities. The kitchen is tiny for such a large hostel, but usable. Proper cookware is locked up behind reception and is allocated with a small deposit, refunded upon return of undamaged pots and pans. The stoves are almost manageable with some experience, while one sink is not enough for proper washing up nor food preparation. The TV/game room is a dungeon in the basement, only receives a couple of snowy channels, is rather inhospitable for hanging out, and lacks any sense of coziness. On the flipside, the reception area is comfortable, with a bright atmosphere and cushy couches. Breakfast is provided in an old adjoining church structure and is the best time and place to meet other travelers.
Summary
Got a budget? Need parking? This is the best choice in Dublin for no-nonsense accommodation. Sure, you might need to walk several flights of stairs to get to your room, but the showers are hot, the beds are clean, the breakfast is ok, and the staff are friendly.
The Location
Dublin isn't the easiest place to navigate, but finding this hostel seems simple enough on paper. The reality is that signage in the city can be downright confusing, so take your time, bring a compass, and orient yourself. The neighborhood is a quiet and clean semi-residential block. There are no proper supermarkets within easy walking distance, but a few liquor stores nearby. Access by bus is achievable with proper maps and schedule, though taxi will be simpler. Driving is a cinch once you have an idea of where the hostel should be, though be warned, double one-way streets may be disorienting. Street parking is available, but a commodity, and on a busy night the hostel's free on-site parking can be a squeeze.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Single-sex dorm rooms, though dimly lit, are spacious, clean, and comfortable with large sized lockers to secure belongings. The beds are double bunks, so if you have disabilities inform the staff ahead of time to secure a lower bunk. This is assuming you are capable of walking several flights of stairs as there is no elevator. Some rooms are equipped with in-room sinks while the bathrooms are shared. The shared bathrooms are clean, well equipped, and brightly lit with several showers, toilets, and sinks. Shower stalls are large, providing changing space for the more modest traveler, and while water temperature and pressure are good, hooks and shelves are at a premium.
Common Spaces
The biggest downfall of the hostel are the amenities. The kitchen is tiny for such a large hostel, but usable. Proper cookware is locked up behind reception and is allocated with a small deposit, refunded upon return of undamaged pots and pans. The stoves are almost manageable with some experience, while one sink is not enough for proper washing up nor food preparation. The TV/game room is a dungeon in the basement, only receives a couple of snowy channels, is rather inhospitable for hanging out, and lacks any sense of coziness. On the flipside, the reception area is comfortable, with a bright atmosphere and cushy couches. Breakfast is provided in an old adjoining church structure and is the best time and place to meet other travelers.
Summary
Got a budget? Need parking? This is the best choice in Dublin for no-nonsense accommodation. Sure, you might need to walk several flights of stairs to get to your room, but the showers are hot, the beds are clean, the breakfast is ok, and the staff are friendly.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
August 2009
Their Description
HI - Dublin International Hostel (An Oige) Details
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HI - Dublin International Hostel (An Oige) Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Great location -- walking distance to downtown Good rate. Good Breakfast in dining area ( toast, scones, cereal, juice, coffee, tea). Staff helpful -- got us discount tickets to Hop on Hop off bus for 2 days -- this is a good bus to have to get to all major tourist sites. (13 E each for 2 days). There IS free Wifi. The only downside is there is not a ladies shower on all floors and the showers are a bit awkward. No elevators, so pack light. — Celia , Merritt island Florida US (2011-09-18) Not bad! This hostel is a very good hostel. The only downside is, in terms of walking distance, it is far away from temple bar and the center of town. Also, the beds are pretty hard. I used an empty bed's comforter and put it under my sheets. But everything else was good -- breakfast, reception, security, bathrooms. — MG , USA (2009-06-13) It was nice because you can park your car for free and the breakfast was the best -- especially the coffee, it was very good. The dining room is in an old church, that is very beautiful. And the other visitors were very friendly. — Meike , Germany (2008-08-24) Too strict! Don't stay at this hostel if you're young and looking for any bit of a fun weekend or night away! It's actually a nice place for the price and only a few minutes' walk from o'connell street but the staff were too strict and so unfair to us it was unreal! i went with five other girls on a saturday night and they threw us out onto the streets of dublin in the lashing rain with nowhere to stay (because everywhere else was booked out) at 4 in the morning!! we weren't even causing trouble just talking and laughing! we promised we'd be quiet but they didn't care!! Stay away from the place! — Jean , Ireland (2007-07-09) Need Maintenance When you enter the hostel everything looks ok, the common rooms are nice and practical. The staff was friendly and helpful. But the rooms are not too clean, just three lockers worked in a eight-bedroom dorm and the curtains where broken so you have sunlight at 4:30 a.m. Just four toilets (with one of them out of order) for a whole corridor full of eight-bedroom dorms, the big bathrooms are two floors downstairs. The breakfast was good and is a nice dinning room. The area seems not very secure especially at night and it's far enough from Temple bar. I would recommend to search for another hostel. — Istahil , UK (2007-06-29) Wow! What a fantastic hostel. We stayed here for St. Patrick's weekend. The parade started pretty much outside the door of the hostel. Centrally located, great breakfast, clean and overall brilliant trip. Recommend to anyone! — Donna (2006-03-30) My stay here was great. You can even iron your clothes in the laundry room. I have to thank Sam and Marcelo for their help!!! — Lourdes from Spain (2005-06-11) I stayed Sunday, May 29, to Tuesday, May 31, 2005.
Just wanted to express my opinion on how much of a great experience we had at the Dublin International hostel. The location was superb, the staff friendly and knowledgeable, the free breakfast a bonus and the security was peace-of-mind safe.
I would highly recommend a stay in this hostel. The only thing missing is the lack of electrical plugs in each room or in the bathrooms, so you have to blow dry/straighten your hair in the corridor, but apart from that an excellent stay and thanks to the staff for making my long weekend an enjoyable experience. — Katherine (2005-06-01) I usually don't expect much from a HI hostel, although the male toilets and showers were pretty dirty. Understandably it's not a nice job to keep them clean but the hostel should have made more of an effort. — Christian C. (2005-04-25) Staff are great and it's warm in the winter. It's a nice place. I would recommend it. — Anonymous (2005-04-04) This hostel was okay. The staff are friendly and helpful and the breakfast is decent if all you want is cereal and toast. It is on the north side of Dublin, which in parts looked a bit dodgy. But you can get the number 10 bus from the city center and it drops you right outside. The only big issue I had with this hostel was the lack of electrical sockets in the dorms. So girls, if you want to dry your hair you've got to do it in the corridor!! — Louise (2005-01-25) We cannot describe the infinite ecstasy that we enjoyed during our stay at the Dublin International Hostel. We found it quite unnecessary to seek amusement in the streets or surrounds of the city for the mere sight of Mr. Sanchez working at the desk every night was sufficient to keep us in raptures during our visit to Ireland. We highly recommend the scenery at the front desk from 12 to 8 every night. Although Charles is very efficient in his service (ladies watch out!), Isaako is a ride!!! — Misses Gatas (2004-12-30) This is a good hostel in a decent area, in a suburb next to the city center, with affordable Internet and meals. I met some great people here, and the beds were clean and well maintained. I wouldn't have minded an elevator for the 4th floor, though! But overall, I had no problems. The night staff gave me precise, useful information, and alternatives for getting to the airport. — Andy (2004-09-24) I enjoyed my stay, and found that it accommodated for all of my needs. Overall a good experience - cheap and comfortable. — Anonymous (2004-02-03) This was a good hostel. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The rooms were clean and had a sink. There were only a couple of showers but they were pretty clean and had hot water. The bathrooms were cleaned daily and in good shape. The breakfast was scrawny but free. The common room had big, comfy couches. And it is very close to the center of town, just about a 10 minute walk. Overall a good experience. — Kendra (2003-11-17)