I stayed at Avalon House this weekend gone and I have to say I was pretty disappointed in the place. I read good reviews which is why I feel the need to set the record straight, and their website makes it look fab...it's NOT!

Rooms are fine - basic and cramped, but fine. I stayed on Level 2 and there is only ONE toilet/shower for the whole level. I went to Level 3 for a shower but there was nowhere to put your clothes and the toilets were dirty, so I went back down and waited for the ONE on our level!!

Breakfast is one of the worst I have ever had - Bread for toast, jam and nutella, bruised mandarins, and OJ and coffee.

We paid a high price for this accommodation and I don't think it was worth it (I don't know if it was higher because it was a rugby weekend - I hope so) and the staff were not very friendly or helfpul at all.

It also didn't seem like a very social hostel, but I suppose that always depends on who is staying there at the time.

So, I would definitely look around for other places in Dublin if you have the time, but if you're after basic accommodation in a good location, with free Internet and can hold for the toilet...book now! :o)

This hostel was central to all of Dublin and had a great vibe to it. I imagine it would be the perfect place to meet people from all over the globe if you were young and had time to do so (which I did not). As far as hostels go, this place is as good as any.

I have stayed here 3 times first time was with a Hen party and was the first time I had ever stayed at a hostel. The experience was brilliant and changed my idea of what hostel were all about. I always expected dorms sharing rooms / bathrooms with strangers.

Each time I stayed here I shared a room with three friends - we booked our room with an ensuite... each time we have had bunk beds but they were fine.

One time we did have a very small room... the size of a cupboard with two bunk beds in it.. no room to squeeze inbetween them and hardly any ceiling height!!! But overall we all really enjoyed our stay - we only slept in the room and got ready (very quickly!!) for our nights out.

The location of the hostel is fine not too far from Grafton Street ... where there was (hope its still there) a great bagel shop brill for a mid day snack.

Breakfast was great too - not sure whether they still do the same but we had toast, muffins, yogurt, fruit, coffee or tea couldn't complain about anything.

I don't see the attraction to this place. Even the price was nothing to love.

We waited at the desk to get checked in by a woman who remained on the phone for 10 minutes. She was curt and cold, and she talked to us like children (Yes, I've stayed in a hotel before. I know how key cards work!).

We stayed in a private double room, which was clean enough. Timed showers. Tiny sink. The heater did not work at all.

This is not "in the heart of the city" as the ads make you think. There are many better places better situated. The hostel is off the beaten path. Our taxi driver even made a comment about that.

Despite all of the signs to keep noise down, hooligans were yelling in the common areas at 4 am.

The free "breakfast" was surprisingly poor. It was bread, butter, coffee, juice, and commodity cheese.

The free luggage hold is only open once an hour on the hour. If you want to get your stuff out and it's a few minutes after, you'll have to wait until the clock strikes twelve once again.

This place works, but for a bit more than a double room, we could have stayed elsewhere with a better breakfast and better atmosphere.

The nearby Radisson called to us...