There is a moment every traveller knows. You open the door of your Dublin hotel room, wheel the case in, and realise that if you want to get past the bed you will have to turn sideways. The kettle is on top of the mini fridge. The window looks onto a wall. And you have paid handsomely for the privilege.
Summer in Dublin does not have to be like that.
On the Belfield campus, just south of the city, UCD Summer Accommodation offers something the city centre rarely can. Space to spread out, a price that leaves money in your pocket for the things you actually came for, and a location that puts the whole of Dublin within easy reach.
More space
UCD's summer residences sit in the middle of a 133 hectare parkland campus. That is not a figure of speech. There are lakes, walking routes, mature trees and open lawns, and it is all yours to wander through before breakfast or after a long day on your feet.
The accommodation itself is built for real life rather than a single night's sleep. Guests can book a single ensuite bedroom on its own, or take a full apartment with anywhere from three to fourteen bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom and a shared lounge area in the middle. Every bedroom comes with a comfortable bed, a proper desk and chair, and plenty of storage, and bed linen and towels are waiting for you when you arrive.
For families, that means the children have their own rooms and their own bathrooms. For groups travelling together, it means everyone stays under one roof instead of being scattered across three different hotels. And for anyone travelling on their own, it means a room you can actually work in, not a laptop balanced on your knees at the end of a bed.
More value
Dublin in high summer is not a cheap city to sleep in. UCD's summer rates come in well below what you would expect to pay for a comparable stay in the centre, and the savings compound quickly once there is more than one of you.
There are practical savings too. The apartments are self catered, so you are free to make your own breakfast, put a bottle of wine in the fridge, and skip the twenty euro hotel breakfast entirely. There is a 24 hour reception and security team on site, so you are not paying a premium for peace of mind. And on-campus facilities are there when you want them, including cafés, restaurants, shops and sports facilities, with some subject to their own charges.
If you are still deciding on dates, the Late Summer Special is worth a look. Book a single ensuite bedroom for two nights or more between now and 23 August, prepaid, and you will get an additional 10% off. It applies to new reservations only, is subject to availability, cannot be combined with other offers, and is fully prepaid and non-refundable, so have your dates settled before you book. It is a straightforward way to take the sting out of a late summer trip to the capital.
Booking direct on ucdsummer.ie is always the best value going. No third party fees, no surprises, and the offer applied at the point of booking.
More Dublin
Belfield is about fifteen minutes from the city centre, with a steady run of buses along the N11 taking you straight into town. You are close enough to be in Grafton Street or Temple Bar in no time, and far enough out that you sleep through the night.
The location earns its keep for anyone coming to Dublin for something in particular. The RDS is minutes away, which makes it a sensible base for the Dublin Horse Show and the run of concerts and events that fill the arena through the summer. The Aviva Stadium, the 3Arena and Croke Park are all straightforward journeys. Dún Laoghaire and the coast road south are close by, and if you fancy a day out of the city, the Wicklow Mountains are a short drive.
Then there is the campus itself, which is a genuinely nice place to come back to. Somewhere to park the car, somewhere to walk in the evening, and no queue at the lift.
Ready when you are
Late summer is a lovely time to see Dublin. The evenings are still long, the crowds have started to thin, and the city has that easy, unhurried feel about it.
If you want more room, better value and a base that puts the whole city within reach, have a look at what is available for your dates.
Book direct at ucdsummer.ie and see the difference space makes.