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Clifden Guesthouse Review

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Clifden Guesthouse

$, Northside

User Rating: * 1.0

Fodor's Review:

The Gardiner Street area deservedly gets some bad press, as it's home to a host of cheap, poor-quality guesthouses. But there are a few diamonds in the rough, and the Clifden, although still certainly a bargain, is a cut above the rest. The Georgian building has been stylishly refurbished, and the rooms are huge, with simple furnishings and wonderfully tall, period windows. O'Connell Street is a five-minute walk away. As an added bonus, you can park here free even after you have checked out.

Member Reviews & Ratings:

What a Horrible Place

Posted by jam5ee from Dallas, Texas on 9/4/07

Just got back from Ireland this week. We stayed at Clifden based soley on Fodor's review. What a dump! My wife just went to the doctor for the bed bug bites that she got from this place. We called to book the room, and they wanted the security code off the back of my credit card, and they charged my credit card a week before I got there. I can see why. When we got there, we couldn't find the parking. You have to go through a tenament building and park basically in the back yard of the building. Inside the owner showed me the most depressing room. Dimly lit, beds that were very old. All for 140 Euros! The lights didn't work, the TV didn't work, and they only gave us 2 towels for 3 adults and 1 child. The last place I stayed in that was this bad was Honduras, but I think I paid $5 dollars for that, and I didn't get bed bugs. Shame on Fodor's for recommending this place. Whoever wrote the review needs to be fired (or better yet, made to stay at this sorry dump for a couple of weeks). Don't skip Dublin, skip Fodor's!

ROOM: 1.0

ATMOSPHERE: 1.0

SERVICE: 1.0

VALUE: 1.0

RATING: 1.0

If you've booked a room here, cancel NOW!!!!!

Posted by Marilyn from Washington, DC on 8/4/06

As a journalist, I'm appalled that Fodor's could print such a glowing review of the Clifden Guesthouse. Based on their review, I booked my new husband and I, as well as my brother (who is developmentally disabled) into rooms there a few days ago. The place incredibly dingy and disgusting (the bathroom was so moldy I couldn't bear to shower in it, the sheets and pillow cases were ripped, the carpeting was filthy, the paint was peeling, and the mattress sagged nearly to the floor). I was so disappointed in the place, I sat and wept. The next morning, I checked us out and we took a train to Killarney, where we stayed at Foley's Hotel -- which was spectacular. My advice: skip Dublin (it's a pit), and head straight to Killarney. You will thank me!

ROOM: 1.0

ATMOSPHERE: 1.0

SERVICE: 1.0

VALUE: 1.0

RATING: 1.0