More Traveler Reviews of The Principal Hotel Dublin
Er ... folks ...
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-10-04
It is obvious to this resident of Dublin that you were not, in fact, all in the same hotel. The Bewleys chain comprehends a number of hotels in Dublin, ranging from an above-average outfit on the Merrion Road through a functional unit out on the Naas Road to a ... well, I'm not sure ... on Fleet Street, Temple Bar. It seems to me that the Temple Bore location is getting some credit properly due to the other locations, which in turn are taking flak due to the Fleet Street operation. Just to mark your cards - anybody who wants to avoid noise, dirt, smoke, vomit and general unpleasantness should avoid staying anywhere in Temple Bar. No doubt, there are cheap deals to be had. However, whatever the guidebooks may say, Temple Bar at night is no fun, especially around weekends. I could go into further detail - but never mind. Better stay somewhere else.
Was I in the same hotel???
from oxforduser on 2004-07-28
Having read some of the reviews for this hotel just before my trip, I wasn't sure what to expect. What we found was a very comfortable, extremely well placed hotel where the staff were pleasant and the facilities good. We asked for a quiet room and got one. The room was on the small side but it was clean, the bed was comfortable, and the ensuite shower room of good quality. The hotel was full but we heard very little noise from other rooms or the corridor. Breakfast is good - once you've figured out how it works - and is taken in Bewleys Coffee Shop downstairs. I wouldn't recommend the hotel's Bridge Bar but the pub just next door, the Palace, has a great atmosphere and good live music every night in the upstairs bar.
Avoid if you can
from Elainef68 on 2004-06-29
Having stayed here about four years ago and with an excellent location, I gave it another go it was okay then but it has went down hill drastically! Everyone should expect some noise staying in Temple Bar but to be woken at 6.30am with a bar delivery downstairs (that apparently happens every Monday much to the reception staffs amusment) along with some staff member constantly opening and closing a cupboard beside our room was a bit hard to take after a night out. The decor is worn and tatty, the mattresses are done, the room was really smoky and the window was broken. Maybe if the staff had been slightly more helpful it wouldnt be so bad (we did get 10 euro deducted due to us complaining about the noise!! huge amount of money) I have a feeling the staff have heard the complaints before on many occasions, so unless Dublin is booked out and this is a last resort dont stay here!
A Pleasant 6 night Stay at the Principal Hotel
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-06-28
I too had already booked the room when I read some of the awful reviews. And frankly, because it was the center of Dublin, and I got a very good rate, I wasn't expecting much in the first place...just hoping it would be safe and clean.
Needless to say, I was very pleasantly surprised! The room was more than comfortable. I had a top floor room in the back which was very quiet. the room was a decent size for a single, and well appointed. The room and bathroom were very clean. The walls weren't too thin so you didn't hear everything going on the neighbor's room. And the location of the hotel couldn't be more central.
The desk staff was helpful and courteous. Though the hotel is in an older building, it is fitted with lifts so you don't have to negotiate the stairs with your bags.
I'm not sure it would be worth the posted maximum rates for the rooms, but if you can get a good rate it's certainly a great place to stay in a very central location.
Decent place, great location
from patsyfay on 2004-06-08
I booked here before the negative reviews in May, so when I saw those right before departing I was a bit apprehensive. Fortunately, my experience was fine. The staff was efficient and courteous (though not gushingly so) during my 3-day stay. I asked for and received a room off the street (the hotel is very near the raucous Temple Bar area) and while the view was lousy, at least it was quiet. The room was larger than I expected. One negative was the bed, which I found pretty uncomfortable (my spouse thought it was OK). The breakfast vouchers provided a nice meal from Bewley's Oriental Cafe. The location is terrific, easy walking distance to all of the city center sights. All in all, a good deal for the comparatively inexpensive room rate.
I never say terrible, but
from mcgrathster on 2004-05-05
... I asked for a non-smoking room, and I got an ashtray. The room was so dry we got bloody noses. The shower sprayed all over the bathroom. I asked for an inside room to avoid noise, I got an outside room. Breakfast was not included and no one even bothered to tell us where the cafe was. Last, Bewley's charged me for two rooms for an extra night, the equivalent of $340. There was a rugby match that night, so the prices were high. Now I'm disputing that. And disappointed.
Awful Room
from maeby1 on 2004-05-03
We were very disappointed in our stay at The Principal Hotel in the Temple Bar area. The location was good, but that's it. The beds were filthy with hairs on the sheets, the springs sticking through gave two 25-year-olds back and neck problems, the bathrooms had mold growing in the shower, outside our window, about 2 feet of pidgeon droppings had accumulated. The room was stuffy and dark. All in all, an awful experience.
Average hotel, GREAT location
from Lovebeingretired on 2004-04-09
Location is GREAT, at the east end of Temple Bar. Easy to walk to many things. We were there during the week so the noise from the bars/happy drinkers was not as bad, but I hear weekends are worse. I would ask for an inside room. We had two rooms (one inside, one outside) and the noise was definitely greater in the outside-facing room. The rooms were average but very comfortable. Our bathroom was on the small side and only had a shower; don't know if they have tubs too. Wonderful breakfast every morning. Staff was VERY helpful and polite.
Don't make any phone call
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-04-08
I would like to inform you of a bad experience I had in the hotel were I staid in Dublin, the Principal Hotel (19/20 Fleet Street, Dublin 2): I made a free number phone call from my room and I was charged for it nearly 3 Â / min... I had to pay the hotel 29 Â for something that did not cost anything to the hotel... And noone had told me anything about this before I got to the reception to check out... Then, the answer to my surprise was that the number dialed does not matter (national, international or free numbers are considered equally), customers always have to pay around 3 Â / min when they use the telephone... I believe this is a real robbery.I hope my bad experience could serve other customers...
Excellent stay at Bewley's Hotel
from A TripAdvisor User on 2003-03-09
I had an eventful stay during my first stay in Bewley's Hotel Before getting to the hotel, i only had the address given by my collaegue and the advertisement in CARA ( The Air Lingus Air Magazine). The hotel is set in a vistorian style and has a big lawn. The building is imposing for a traveller around the Merrion Road after moving around the Ballsbridge area. The Hotel is a Environment friendly place and has implemented a lot of new ideas in reducing unnecessary waste. You have a small kitchen in the room and rooms are well done. You may not see the Bed cover in flowery designs as advertised in the Magazine, but they are very comfortable to be around. The restaurtent in the basement offers a cold breakfast for 6.99 Euros and a hot breakfast for 9.99 Euros. And you have an express check out which i find very useful, the bill is made ready and delivered to your room so you need not wait at the reception for long before you move out.
