Janie D.
Yelp
I encountered a few really lovely staff during my 3 night stay at the Clayton, so I hate to generalize, but the customer service here is laughably bad. Located about 30 minutes walking from the city center, the location is not ideal for tourists. There is no public transportation in this area, so unless you enjoy a lot of walking, be prepared to spend €€€ on taxis.
My initial impression of the hotel was good. The lobby is a bit noisy and there is really only seating in the upstairs lounge area, but it is comfortable and the WiFi works well. Lots of outlets. Our room was nothing special, but certainly a step above average. Premium linens, comfortable mattress, spacious additional seating area, large bathtub. No temperature control in the room, which is always kept very hot (I guess that's better than too cold?) Clean, minimalist decor. Complimentary newspapers and little boxes of chocolate outside the door each day were a nice touch.
On my first day at the hotel, I asked one of the receptionists if I was able to exchange money there. She said yes, and asked me to wait 10 minutes while she verified the rates. 10 minutes later, she said their system is down and they cannot change money today. I asked again the next day, and was told they do not change money here at all and that I should try a place in the city center. Okay.
On my final evening at the Clayton, I had to depart at 3am to catch an early flight home to Los Angeles. The internet told me that there are local buses running every 30 minutes from a bus stop right outside the hotel. So, I waited, and waited (about 30 mins), in 30 degree weather, and no bus came. I went back into the hotel and asked the young man working for some help. "You can take a taxi which will be €30, or you can wait more. The buses run 24 hours, one will come." The Dublin airport is only a 15 minute drive away, so spending €30 when I could spend €5 seemed foolish. I asked him to please help me figure out a reliable bus option that would depart within the next hour and he rudely replied that he could print me out a timetable, but otherwise didn't know what to tell me. "The busses don't run on time. Maybe cross the bridge and wait over at that bus stop. Or just pay for a taxi." Yeah, I would pay for a taxi if you guys would exchange my cash. The complete lack of concern or interest in actually helping a woman with an upcoming international flight was appalling. Shoutout to the old lady in the lobby who watched the whole thing go down and called him a dickhead.
Avoid.