Jurys Montrose Hotel, Dublin

When I first moved to Dublin almost 30 years ago the Montrose Hotel was one of the premier hotels in the city. Since then it has changed hands innumerable times, became dowdy and down at heel, then was refurbished and reinvented itself as a 3 star budget hotel equally popular with business clients and tourists.
(Lots of tour buses!)

The Montrose is located about 2 miles from the city centre, and is on the other side of a dual ...
...city. It's handy enough to get to it from the airport, as it's serviced by the Aircoach, a private bus service that will cost you about Euro8 per person. (One way) Alternatively, a taxi from the airport will cost you around Euro30 to Euro40; a good (and quicker) alternative for a party of four or more. It's handy enough to get a bus to town and the shops and tourist attractions. Cross the dual carriageway and queue with all the students from the ... more

When I first moved to Dublin almost 30 years ago the Montrose Hotel was one of the premier hotels in the city. Since then it has changed hands innumerable times, became dowdy and down at heel, then was refurbished and reinvented itself as a 3 star budget hotel equally popular with business clients and tourists.
(Lots of tour buses!)

The Montrose is located about 2 miles from the city centre, and is on the other side of a dual carriageway from the UCD campus, the largest University in the city. It's handy enough to get to it from the airport, as it's serviced by the Aircoach, a private bus service that will cost you about Euro8 per person. (One way) Alternatively, a taxi from the airport will cost you around Euro30 to Euro40; a good (and quicker) alternative for a party of four or more. It's handy enough to get a bus to town and the shops and tourist attractions. Cross the dual carriageway and queue with all the students from the University, or else get a taxi at a cost of around Euro12 to Euro15. No hotel rank, so you'll have to get the hotel to order a taxi for you at a cost of Euro2.

Business guests who are visiting the nearby (couple of miles) Sandyford Industrial Estate, where all the major players in the world IT market are located (Microsoft's European HQ) can avail of a courtesy bus laid on by the hotel. They really had to do this as it's awkward to get to using public transport.

The hotel itself is comfortable without being luxurious, with 140 double and single rooms, and 35 executive rooms. These come with all the usual extras you'd expect in a 3 star hotel; en-suite bathroom, multi-channel TV, trouser press, phone, hairdryer, complimentary tea and coffee, etc. The executive rooms have their own internet access.

The Montrose is a popular spot with local people as well as guests. There's a very comfortable and large reception area with couches and easy chairs, and a golf society of which I used to be the Captain often used this for their monthly committee meetings. Waiter service is quick, and you can get anything you fancy from a wee cuppa (or a beverage from the bar) to a tasty bar meal or sandwiches. This is a grand spot to locate yourself if you're into "people watching", and over the space of an hour or so you'll see all sorts passing through or using the reception area in the Montrose.

Two bars, one "public" and the other the lounge bar of the hotel. The public bar is called Lonnegans, and again is popular with the locals as well as hotel guests. The Belfield Lounge Bar serves an excellent carvery and bar lunch (Monday to Friday) at between Euro10 to Euro20 a head. I've eaten here often and would recommend it. There's also a restaurant called the Belfield, which is open for dinner for the guests and has a full a la carte menu.

Oh, one last thing. The Montrose is no longer owned by the Jury's Group of hotels. They've been selling off their Dublin hotels over the last year or two, and the Montrose is now part of the Mercer Accommodation Group.

Prices, as in all hotels, vary considerably, and there are always various offers available online. But you can reckon at somewhere around Euro80 to Euro120 per night. Some "room offers" are available (they charge for the room and not per person) and are good value.

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Address: Stillorgan Road, DUBLIN 4.
Tel: 00353 1 269 3311
Fax: 00353 1 269 3376
eMail: modwyer@montrose.ie

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© KenJ February 2008

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