This apartment is absolutely lovely. It is very well kitted out with quality furniture, and is as comfortable as it is beautiful. Everything is of high quality, from the french-polished tables through to the bed linen. The host, Karin, is extremely helpful, responsive and very knowledgeable about the area. I particularly appreciated the fridge full of breakfast goodies and the banana bread which appeared outside my door on the first morning.

It is an easy 20 minute stroll to (for example) Trinity in the very centre of Dublin. On the way back at night I would probably recommend a taxi (under 10 Euros) for solo travellers. It is ridiculously easy to pick up a taxi in the city, so there's no concern there. The area seemed OK, but is probably best described as mixed, as much of Dublin apparently is.

There is some traffic noise from this apartment, but what else can one expect in a flat with such lovely large Georgian windows? It's not very intrusive, but a pair of ear plugs might be a sensible precaution.

I would not hesitate to stay here again on my next trip to Dublin; it beats hotels into a cocked hat in terms of comfort, amenities and style. This is my first experience of an air bnb rental, and it's going to be a tough act to follow.