Handily located off the Cork road (N25), with easy parking and the friendly Shake Dog diner on-site, plus SETU, the IDA Business Park and attractions like Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre and the Viking Quarter within walking distance, this budget destination has plenty going for it - even before you meet the welcoming staff, who give a lot more than might be expected in a price range where a high level of service would not be expected to be part of the package.
Rooms, while basic, are reasonably spacious, well planned and comfortable and, although the en-suite bathrooms may feel a bit frugal, they have everything you need and are more practical than many design-led examples in higher price ranges.
More generous duvets and a better choice of pillows would be welcome, but comfortable beds are a big plus and the lighting options are fine.
No dining in the building (just a snack and drinks dispenser at reception) but there's a roadside café, Shake Dog Diner, adjacent to the car park (accessed via covered walkway) where guests cam book breakfast (weekdays from 7.30am, weekends from 8am) and takeaway is available. As in the hotel, staff are very friendly and helpful and this is a more attractive option than it may sound.
Best of all, for dog owners, this is a very relaxing place to stay with your 4-legged VBF. There’s no fuss, you can book your small/medium dog in online, you bring your own bedding, bowls etc and there’s a clean well maintained grassed area at the back of the hotel for an early morning stretch.
A few small changes would elevate the experience above the basic budget' level - more generous towels and bedding and more effective blackout curtains, for example - but this is a very useful place to know about and makes a good pocket-friendly base for visiting the city (about 20 minutes walk to the centre) and its many nearby attractions, including the wonderful Mount Congreve Estate and West Waterford highlights like Lismore Castle. Overall it's a very satisfactory experience and it should be no surprise to hear that the return visit rate is high.
