4+ star rated Marlin Hotel Stephens Green is located in a prime location in the center of Dublin, Ireland just steps from the Dublin Castle, St. Stephen’s Green, and popular Grafton Street.
Dream Trip to Reenact a Movie Scene in Ireland
You would think that my first dose of European travel would be to Italy, the home of my maternal and paternal grandparents. But instead, it was to visit the Emerald Isle. For some of you, that destination wouldn’t be so surprising when I tell you my favorite movie is “Leap Year,” set in Ireland. It’s the Rom-Com, the one where Amy Adams travels to Dublin to propose marriage to her boyfriend based on a Leap Year Irish custom.
It was while watching that movie (dozens of times) that I first fell in love with Ireland’s rolling green landscapes and the dramatic, famous Cliffs of Moher (pronounced “more”) that overlook the Atlantic Ocean.
Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher, a popular tourist destination (also known as “Aillte an Mhóthair” in Irish language (Gaeilge), are located on the western coast of Ireland, in the Burren region of County Clare.
The cliffs, with pathways that stretch 8.7 miles, were formed 320+ million years ago as waves crashing against the soft limestone rocks slowly eroded them into their current shape. They reach a height of 700+ feet at their highest point.
During our Ireland adventure, we planned to devote an entire day to visit and explore the cliffs with a 4-night stay in the heart of Dublin.
Hotel Location: Dublin at Your Doorstep
When we searched for just the right accommodations to serve as home base for our Ireland adventure, this highly rated and affordable (for Dublin) hotel was our top choice. Rooms generally range from $268 to $469 per night, offering a great value in Dublin compared to so many extravagant accommodations.
It’s a newer, modern hotel with 300+ rooms, close by to the Dublin Castle and around the corner from St. Stephen’s Green. The Dublin Castle was another bucket list attraction for a Hallmark enthusiast like me to visit.
The hotel is also a short stroll (literally minutes) to the must-see Grafton Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience.
As for transportation, the Stephens Green tram stop is steps away, the Dublin Pearse railway station is less than a half mile from the hotel, and the Dublin airport is an easy, 25-minute drive to the hotel.
Cool Vibe Inside the Hotel
I would describe this hotel as contemporary designed, fitting in well with the Dublin city life. The stylish atmosphere with quirky touches and a vibrant lobby definitely got our attention. The unique decor and quirky furnishings in the lobby are eye-catching.
Special amenities like the self-check-in kiosks allowed us a speedy check in. When we checked out of the hotel very early in the morning, the self-check-out took barely one minute.
When we took some time to catch up reading emails from our jobs, the lobby’s Indoor Garden with open, shared workstations made working fun. (I’ll explain later but the guest rooms are small so we brought our laptops down to the lobby.)
And while the atmosphere was welcoming, the welcome we received from the front desk staff was equally warm no matter how many times we walked through the lobby. I must also mention that the Irish accents were as sweet as you can imagine. We may have instigated extra conversations and asked extra questions just to hear them talk.
One more comment about the location. We felt safe. No one took advantage of us being typical American tourists. Of course, during our travels, it was comforting to meet many fellow tourists from America.
Hotel Amenities
I didn’t know what to expect when it came to amenities outside the United States. While we considered the streets of Dublin as our entertainment, the hotel was the kind of spot where you could find a corner to read a book, enjoy a meal, or grab a beverage in the cozy bar.
The hotel’s Marlin Grill restaurant offers a decent lunch and dinner menu, and a full English breakfast is available in the morning. I won’t lie. I was concerned about the food in Ireland. Would I like the food at the restaurant? Would I even know what food to order? Ironically, there was a Subway restaurant just steps from the property, but the Irish food grew on us and I was pleasantly surprised to love Cottage Pie, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Irish Soda bread!
In the lobby, there’s a coffee corner where we picked up a quick breakfast a couple of early sightseeing mornings. There is also a lounge bar onsite, great for stopping to get a drink.
And the Indoor Garden space on the ground floor level provides open workstations, booths, a library space, and a meeting room great for business travelers.
Small But Perfect Hotel Rooms
Excuse my bluntness. The guest rooms in this hotel are pretty much the size of the bed … but that’s perfectly suitable for a visit to Dublin! The room was cozy, comfortable, beautiful, and as stated, affordable. We couldn’t have chosen a better hotel.
And regardless of the room’s dimensions, it was cleverly designed with a sleek, urban feel and bright lights.
Yeah, typical amenities included a TV, climate control, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, separate toilet, toiletries, and a hair dryer. The only time we went back to our room after leaving the property early in the morning, was very late at night to go to sleep.
Sleeping was ideal in our Cozy King room, as the soundproof windows and blackout blinds kept the Dublin city noise outside. The King bed was especially plush with colorful furnishings, and the room was spotless.
Getting in and out of the bed was a bit tight but we learned to maneuver the space limitations as the days went on. (I did stub my toe on our luggage pieces a few times.)
As I said, it was a small room but offered everything necessary. The real showstopper was the Ireland attractions outside the hotel.
Day Trip to See Cliffs Of Moher
You may be wondering why we didn’t choose to stay in a city closer to Cliffs of Moher. Yes, we could have stayed in Galway, but we wanted an authentic Dublin experience, with just a full day trip to visit the cliffs.
We researched tour options … asked friends and relatives who had already traveled to Ireland … but the best tour advice that we got was by calling our hotel way in advance to ask the locals what tour they recommended. We heeded the suggestion that it’s good to see the cliffs from above and also get a view from the water.
Our Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin with Boat Cruise started at 10am in the morning and it cost a little over $100 per person.
We stopped at the tiny village of Liscannor for a soup and sandwich lunch. Food was not included in the tour price, but we didn’t care.
The next stop was in Doolin, where we boarded a boat to see the cliffs from the water. After the one-hour cruise, we boarded the bus and were dropped off at Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center.
Here we walked and took hundreds of photos, mesmerized and overcome by the picture-perfect sights. One of my favorite spots on the cliff was when we wandered over to O’Brien’s Tower. In addition to the gorgeous view, we were brave and climbed to the top of the tower. I’d say we were at the cliffs for about two hours, plenty of time to capture it all and make lasting memories.
Note: It was WINDY, even windier than we could imagine. There was a brief rain shower but even if we had brought an umbrella, it would have certainly been ripped from our grip and catapulted into the Atlantic Ocean. Dress in layers and wear comfort grip shoes as there are rocks to maneuver at different viewing points on the cliffs.
As for the bus, it was crowded but we were comfortable in our seats, perhaps there were 50 guests (of all ages) enjoying the tour with us. We had a good driver, and he took an interesting scenic route along the coast so the three-hour drive didn’t seem so bad.
The tour, roundtrip from Dublin, was just shy of TEN hours. It was a long, exhausting day of sightseeing but simply the best.
Other Dublin Attractions
Ireland is full of history, so we took a guided tour to see the top Dublin attractions. It may not have been the most cost-effective way to see Dublin, but it was the only way we would ensure that we didn’t miss anything as we would have on a self-guided tour.
The St Patrick’s Cathedral, Book of Kells (found in the Old Library at Trinity College) and the 13th Century Dublin Castle Tour cost us $139.00 per person. The 3+ hours guided tour allowed us to skip the lines at the attractions – a huge and convenient timesaver.
We also took a guided walking food tour of Dublin for $32.00 per person. Our guide took us to restaurants, bakeries, and cafés for food tasting (delicious samples!) and a few authentic Irish pubs. We learned so much about the history of Irish food that it helped me with my meal selections for the entire trip. If you plan to go on a food tour, be very hungry and wear comfortable shoes! Be sure to try the Irish Stew and the Dublin Coddle which is chunks of pork sausage with thick-cut bacon, sliced potatoes, and onions.
Takeaways: Do I Recommend the Hotel?
The Marlin Hotel Stephens Green offered us the ideal central Dublin location with current conveniences like easy self-check-in/check-out processes. If we ever travel to Dublin again, we will stay at the same hotel without hesitation.
- Excellent staff offering hospitable, helpful service
- Onsite gym and convenient coffee bar
- Small but clean, cleverly designed guest rooms
- Comfortable beds and soundproof windows
- Great lobby workspaces for business travelers
Author Bio: Originally from Long Island, New York, Donna Wright now calls Deland, Florida her home. An avid traveler, she has journeyed by air, land, and sea, to many cities in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to exciting destinations like California, Arizona, Las Vegas, San Diego, Myrtle Beach, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and more.
This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered travel or consumer advice. Inn amenities, prices, policies, and availability may change. Readers should verify all details independently and use their own judgment when planning travel.