If you are from North America, you will likely be disappointed when you first open the door to this apartment. It is extremely small by USA or Canadian standards. The structure is a renovated garden shed whose inside dimensions, excluding the bathroom, are about 9' X 18'. That's around the size of a small "Fifth Wheel" that North Americans would haul to a campsite behind a pickup truck. It's certainly smaller than any Best Western or Motel 6 room. In addition, some appliances are not up to North American standards: TV reception is through a ”rabbit’s ears” antenna which brings in 7 local channels. There is frequent pixelation and loss of audio. Moreover, the tiny room dehumidifier cannot compensate for the lack of proper ventilation: Things dry slowly. If it were in North America, this apartment would receive a one or two-star, budget accommodation rating, and would be euphemistically advertised as a "Cozy Studio Apartment". Calling it an "Amazing Studio Apartment" is an exaggeration.
Why? The room contains only a bed and a kitchenette area. The sides of the bed are less than 2' from the walls. There is no sitting area, merely 2 metal/plastic chairs that are stacked in a corner under the TV. There is no eating area, merely a 3' X 3' table that folds against a wall. When the table is in use, you have to climb over the bed to get to the shelving beside it, and then you’re walking on the drapes which drag on the floor. There is no closet; merely 3 metal loops for hangers on each side of the bed. The bathroom sink’s inside dimensions are about 7" X 15". The tiny refrigerator can’t hold any large drink containers and you’re only provided with 2 of each type of cutlery or china. The room size would be fairly comfortable for a single traveller but two people are continually banging into the bed, and each other, as they try to move around.
Looking beyond the room size, however, there are lots of positives:
** Claudia and Dany are friendly, personable, and helpful hosts. Communication with guests is excellent. Claudia will pick you up from the airport for about the same price as taxi fare.
** The apartment is in a quiet residential neighbourhood. Within 2 blocks you can find a Dunne’s grocery store, a pizza take-out place, and a shop where you can purchase a LEAP (transit) card.
** A 5 minute walk gets you to a bus stop where the #40 bus will take you to the Trinity College/Temple Bar area in 45 minutes.
** The apartment is reasonably clean and bright. All utilities are in working order.
** There is lots of hot water and the shower stall is fairly large.
** The bathroom and kitchenette are modern in design.
** The apartment has a private entrance which is through a gated backyard.
The bottom line is that you get what you pay for. Staying in downtown Dublin in a North American type hotel may cost you hundreds of dollars per night. We paid about $70 USD per night in May because of the size of this apartment and its location north-west of the downtown area in Finglas. So this review is not written in an attempt to complain, but rather to help future guests understand exactly what they are getting.
Our recommendation: If you are a couple who will be spending all day doing the tourism thing, mostly eating out, and can live with a cruise-ship-sized room to sleep in for 2 or 3 nights, then rent this place.