Hello from Ireland, I'm Johnboy 👋
Speaking from my own experience, travelling to a different country often means challenging your own preconceptions.
Different languages. Different currencies. Different cultures.
But isn't it funny how the little differences sometimes matter the most? With this in mind, I thought you might find my guide to hotel rooms in Ireland helpful.
I’ve covered the topics that are most frequently raised over on our Facebook community group; things like power sockets, hairdryers, coffee, wifi and aircon.
Big shout out to our expert past guest, Priscilla, who sparked the idea for this blog. Lots of the lovely photos and tips were provided by Priscilla and other friendly past guests.
So without further ado, here’s my list of what you will encounter in an Irish hotel room (that might be a just little bit different from back home).
Do Hotels In Ireland Have Hairdryers? 🦱
I haven't yet checked every single hotel in Ireland but, rest assured, if you take one of our small-group tours, all of our high quality accommodation providers supply hairdryers as standard in their hotel rooms.
If at first you can’t locate the hairdryer, check the drawers near your bed or the shelves near the clothes hanger.
Ask reception if it remains stubbornly elusive.
Do Hotels In Ireland Have WiFi? 🛜
99% of all hotels in Ireland offer wifi.
100% of the hotels on your Vagabond or Driftwood Tour will offer free internet access via wifi.
Sometimes the network will be completely open and not require a signup or a password to join.
However, you may be required to sign-in to the network using credentials on your welcome pack or your hotel room name and number.
Ask at your hotel reception if you run into trouble accessing the wifi.
Do Hotels In Ireland Have AirCon? 🧊
Most hotels in Ireland do not feature air conditioning or fans.
That’s because the climate in Ireland is mild and rarely reaches excessively hot temperatures.
If you are uncomfortable, request a fan from the hotel reception.
You could also consider opening the windows in your hotel room. This is normally possible in most Irish hotels.
While it is rarely the case in more remote hotels, some modern hotels in Dublin and other Irish cities do have air conditioning. Request an air-conditioned room before you arrive by contacting the front desk.
Another related difference between hotels in Ireland and those in the USA: it's extremely rare to find an ice machine in an Irish accommodation business. If you need ice, ask at reception or call room service.
💡 TOP TIP: If you are flying into Dublin early in the morning, you can often request an early check-in at your hotel for a small additional charge. This avoids having to wait to check-in later in the afternoon. 3pm and 4pm are common check-in times. With an early check-in, you can dump your bags, grab a quick shower and change before heading out to explore Ireland’s capital!
How Are Hotels In Ireland Heated? 🫠
While I'm on the topic of heating and temperatures, more traditional hotels in Ireland may not feature a thermostat to control the climate.
Instead, it’s more usual to have radiators in your room. These will be switched on during cold weather.
Ask the hotel receptionist for guidance about how to adjust the radiators in your room.
More Power To Ya! Electricity in Irish Hotels ⚡
Lighting 🔆
Many hotel rooms in Ireland require your room key to be inserted into a socket near the door to turn on the power sockets and lights.
Look for a socket, usually mounted on the wall just inside the door to your room.
When you leave the room, simply whip out your hotel key and everything in the room magically switches off.
Why do Irish hotels take this approach? To save on energy costs and as a sustainability initiative.
Power Adapters 🔄
The power adapter that you will need for Ireland is called a Type G.
Both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland use this plug type.
You can get a direct adapter to allow you to use non Type G plugs in Irish sockets. Note that there are also adapters available with handy USB-C iPad socket as well as a regular USB socket.
This type of adapter will handle digital consumer devices like your cellphone and tablet.
You will not need a power converter unless you are bringing devices like hairdryers or straighteners.
Power Sockets 🔌
Note that power sockets in Ireland typically have an on/off switch as well as the socket itself.
In the picture above, the pair of small switches in the top-centre are turned to the ON position, with red marks visible.
Direct USB charging sockets are less common in Irish hotels.
But they do exist. And they are becoming more and more prevalent.
Do Hotels In Ireland Have Coffee/Tea/Kettles? ☕
Are there any water kettles or coffee makers in Irish hotel rooms?
All hotel rooms on Vagabond & Driftwood Tours of Ireland have plug-in electric kettles and free black tea bags and instant coffee.
Coffee makers are in some hotel rooms but they are less common than in the USA and Canada. Some caffeine addicts have been known to bring along their preferred coffee beans and a French press cafetiere, but I would always recommend packing light.
There is great coffee and world class tea to be found everywhere in Ireland!
Speaking of which…
Do Irish Hotel Provide Breakfast? 🥓
Yes, indeed they do.
We include all breakfasts in the price of all Vagabond and Driftwood small-group tours.
Why? Mainly because Irish breakfasts are a cultural phenomenon in themselves!
Irish hotel breakfasts include cooked options, such as bacon and sausages, eggs benedict and pancakes.
But you will also typically find:
- Fresh fruit;
- Pastries;
- Various breads including toast and pancakes;
- Fruit Preserves — jelly/jam and marmalade;
- Yoghurt;
- Porridge (what you might call oatmeal);
- Granola and other breakfast cereals;
- Smoked salmon;
- Cold cuts of meat;
- Gluten-free options;
- All sorts of other lovely and delicious options!
Regarding beverages, an Irish hotel breakfast will include various types of tea and barista-made coffee.
💡 TOP TIP: When you order ‘tea’ in Ireland, you’ll receive black tea with milk and sugar on the side. In hotels, this will typically be served in a pot. The size of the pot depends on the number of drinkers., in cafes, you may be served a mug of tea with a teabag in it. If you prefer teas such as decaffeinated, green, herbal, rooibos or Earl Grey, feel free to ask your server what is available.
Bed Sizes in Ireland 🛌🏿
The standard double bed size in hotels in Ireland equate to a US Queen (60" x 80"). This may vary with hotel or room type.
All of our hotels offer a choice of room types:
- Doubles (one bed)
- Twins (two separate beds)
- Single (one bed) - single room supplement applies
Triple rooms in Irish hotels, where available, will usually have a double bed and single bed in the room.
Top Sheets 😴
Irish beds generally DON’T have top sheets.
They have duvets which are heavier, filled blankets.
💡 TOP TIP: If you’re more used to sleeping under a top sheet, try unzipping or unbuttoning your duvet, emptying out the filling and sleeping under the cover alone. This tip has been approved by multiple past guests.
Bathrooms in Hotels in Ireland 🚰
All hotel rooms on Vagabond and Driftwood Tours of Ireland are ensuite.
You'll find all of the same conveniences that you will at home. However, I thought it might be useful to know about the following subtle differences.
Bath/Shower 🛀
More modern hotels in Ireland feature dedicated shower units. Others have a shower unit located in the bathtub.
This image shows a typical tap setup in a shower/tub combination. Sometimes it takes a little while to figure out how to work each part.
The top part controls the flow of water and temperature in the shower only. The bottom part controls the tub only.
The sides of the tub can be up to 2.5 feet high. There is usually a non-slip mat provided in each tub. If there isn’t any in your bathroom, feel free to request one from reception.
💡 SUSTAINABILITY TIP: Consider taking showers instead of baths while staying in Irish hotels. Baths use up to 10x more water than a shower. Hotel laundry uses up lots of water too. On 2 night hotel stays, request to not have your towels or bed linen replaced; this small act stops needless washing of perfectly usable items.
Toilet Flush Mechanism 🚽
Modern toilets in Ireland often offer two different flush buttons.
You can choose to flush half the normal amount of water — normally represented by a smaller button — or the full amount — a larger button.
Do Hotels In Ireland Have Shampoo? 🧴
Yes!
Rest assured, all of the hotel bathrooms that I've experienced in Ireland provide toiletries such as shampoo, shower gel, conditioner and solid bars of soap.
Personal toiletries such as toothbrushes and toothpaste are less common.
My recommendation is to bring along a washbag with your favourite bits and bobs.
Washcloths/Facecloths 🫧
What Irish people call facecloths — you might call them washcloths — are sometimes NOT provided in the bathrooms of Irish hotels.
If a washcloth or facecloth is important to you, make sure you pack one for your trip to Ireland.
Power Socket/Outlet in Bathroom (Or Lack Thereof) ⚡
Various past guests have noted the absence of a power socket or outlet in hotel bathrooms in Ireland.
It's definitely not unheard of, particularly in more modern hotels.
Elevators in Hotels in Ireland 🛗
We prefer to stay at smaller, independent hotels with beautiful locations and personalised service.
As a result, elevators are not available at every single hotel that we visit around Ireland.
If climbing stairs is an issue, please let our Sales Team know and we will do everything we can to reserve a ground floor room when possible.
Floor & Room Numbers in Hotels in Ireland 🏨
What is called the first floor in the USA and Canada is referred to as the ‘ground’ floor in Ireland.
It’s at ground level — makes sense, doesn’t it?
Therefore, the next level up in Ireland is referred to as the first floor.
The list of floors in the elevator of a 4-storey hotel with a basement in Ireland would look something like this:
- 3
- 2
- 1
- G
- B
Windows in Hotels in Ireland 🪟
Unlike many hotels in hot climates, the windows in Irish hotels typically don’t have insect screens.
Generally Ireland doesn’t suffer from swarms of mosquitoes and other bugs.
You can normally open the windows too!
Laundry in Hotels in Ireland 🧺
Serviced laundry facilities are generally available on tours that stay in any location for 2 nights.
Currently, the 2 night stay locations with serviced laundry include:
- Dingle
- Clifden
- Waterford
- Kinsale
If you’re in any doubt about the availability of serviced laundry on your tour, ask at hotel reception during your stay or query the matter with your VagaGuide early in your tour.
Another option is to do your laundry at a local supermarket, mall or service station (gas station) during an overnight stop.
Coin and card-operated washers and dryers are available in many locations around Ireland. Revolution is a popular provider. You can check their locations here.
💡 TOP TIP: If you don’t have a 2 night stay on your tour — or you think you might be having too much fun to sit in a laundromat — pack a small amount of laundry detergent and wash your clothes in the hotel sink.
Left Luggage in Dublin Hotels 🧳
All of our tours are small-group tours and the vehicles you travel on are — as a result — compact.
Because of this, we have to insist on pretty stringent luggage restrictions.
Your single piece of luggage should measure no longer than 30” (75cm) along its longest side. This 30” (75cm) includes any wheels that may protrude from the luggage.
If you have excess baggage that you would like to leave behind while you tour, ask your Dublin hotel. Left luggage services are commonly available for free or a small charge.
Tipping in Hotels in Ireland 🪙
Tipping culture is a little different in Irish hotels.
Just like general tipping etiquette in Ireland, it’s not expected for you to tip Irish hotel staff.
Don't feel like you need to tip your server at breakfast or dinner unless you have received exceptional service.
Porterage of luggage is not available at most of our smaller, independent hotels. However, where you do encounter it, porters may expect a tip after bringing your luggage to or from your room.
Approximately €5 is a perfectly adequate tip for one or two pieces of luggage.
Hotel Options ✅
Our tour itineraries sometimes list alternative hotels on a single night.
Where there are two possible hotels listed for a night's accommodation, you may be staying in either one.
This is because a hotel may not be available for us to pre-book on the date concerned. In this case, we organise an alternative of equal or superior quality.
Tour-specific hotels are listed on your personalised itinerary. This will be sent to you in your confirmation email and again 21 days before your departure date.
Your personalised Vagabond or Driftwood itinerary is also available upon request from enquiries@vagabond.ie
Smoking in Hotels in Ireland 🚭
Smoking is not permitted in any indoor public space in Ireland. This includes hotels.
All hotels in Ireland provide outdoor smoking areas.
Happy travels!
