Clayton Hotels
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Clayton Hotel Leopardstown
Clayton Hotel Leopardstown, Sandyford Business District, Central Park, Dublin 18, Ireland My company sent me to Sandyford, Dublin for a week’s training. My accommodation for was at the Clayton Hotel. I admit being one for local BnBs, or low budget hotels. My experience of the larger hotel variety, in my past has been too clinical, not bothered, with a care of indifference. Clayton’s, from what I saw of it, is not that. There is a choice of rooms that may come your way, but I was blessed with a two bed/three-person occupancy on the fourth floor. The room was ensuite, and for me, much too big. But I was not paying for it, so I made of it what I could. AS I said two beds, three generous, cloth covered individual chairs, a lounge table, a long piece of side table, mirrors, 40 something inch television, plenty of draws and hanging spaces, trouser press, kettle and tea/coffee essentials, hairdryer, and laundry bag, also a Holy Bible. More than enough floor space, full length windows with nets and ceiling to floor heavy weight curtains. Access to the rooms is by way of three lifts from the reception area. On the Ground level enter the lift area through a set of heavy double doors opposite Reception. You will need your Keycard, from Reception, to get access to the lifts to your rooms. Getting there from Dublin Airport The Clayton is about an hour, maybe 45 minutes south of the airport. There is ample parking at the hotel if you are hiring a car during your stay, alternatively you can take a taxi or the Aircoach. I would recommend that Aircoach because the end of the route is, right outside the Clayton Hotel itself before returning to Dublin airport. At the time of writing, a single ticket sets you back six euros, a return is ten euros. From the airport the route will take you through the centre of Dublin City with plenty of set down or pick up points. If your destination is Bill gates’ Irish HQ then there is also a stop right outside his front door. Just tell the driver where you want to go. and he will drop you off as close as possible. Ticketwise you can purchase a ticket from the booth outside Dublin Airport Arrivals. On your return simply pay the driver. My advice here is to have the right money with you when you board, as they do not carry much change. Arrival When you arrive by Aircoach or taxi you will be under a glass roof, so no getting wet if it is raining. Taxis set down closest to the hotel, the coach furthest away, by maybe five metres. You will be met with shallow steps or a ramp, the choice is yours. Please bear in mind that smokers do congregate here. Entrance to the hotel is through two sets of manually operated, glass, doors or an automatic, circular set, of glass doors. Reception is to you left behind a glass wall. Simply queue and approach a member of staff when he/she is free. Listen to the advice, take your Keycard, and cross the floor area to the middle set of doors on the opposite side of the reception area. Unless opened for you, you will need to insert your Keycard to access the lift area. Lifts Once inside you will find three lifts and two vending machines. The lifts will tale you to your accommodation floors. The vending machines will not. Inside the lifts you will see there are two sets of doors. Unless told otherwise always enter and exit the lift through the same set of doors. Occasionally the other doors will open to convey members of staff from their work areas to the rest of the hotel. Bedrooms Unless opened for you, you will need to insert your Keycard to access the rooms. Insert the Keycard face up, in the direction of the arrow. You should see a green light and hear the click of the lock. If you see a red light, no light, and no click, then there is a problem with your card. This happened a couple of times with me. The problem as it turned out was mine. I kept my Keycard close to my mobile phone. The answer is to keep the Keycard in your wallet. The strip on the reverse side of the Keycard can be affected by the proximity of the mobile phone. If it is the Keycard information can be stripped from it. Dining Finally, there is the dining experience. This I cannot tell you anything about as I never dined there, however if you arrive in time to get a meal in the evening then take advantage of the discounts offered to you at reception. This will save you a bob or two and settle you in nicely. On my first day I hade been up since four am in the morning, done a full shift of budgets flights and training. I was in no fit state for dinner, and only just made it to my bed to sleep the night away. Breakfast is another ball game entirely, and if this experience is anything to go by, then evening meals and bar meals must really be worth experiencing. Breakfast is taken to the right of the exit from the lifts, past the open stairwell to the floor below. Turn up with luggage (if this is your last day) or not (if it isn’t). Where you breakfast is either alone or with company. Please wait for a member of staff to greet you and/or your party and escort you to a table. Those who are on their own will be seated behind the dining reception, those others in company will be seated closer to the outside walls. You will be offered tea and coffee as you arrive. Breakfast is an all you can eat affair. Make your choices from cereals, fresh fruits, fresh yoghurts, eggs, bacon, sausages, white and black puddings, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, and mushrooms. Fruit, fresh juices, bread, toast, and pastries are all on offer. Favourite member of staff. That is easy. Ana She is one of the catering staff who greeted every morning for breakfast. Calm efficient, always had a smile, and always greeted me warmly. They are all great, easy to speak to and all approachable. You should never have a problem while you are there. Summary of advice. From Dublin, always take the Aircoach. It is comfortable, quick and efficient. It will collect you outside Arrivals, take you to the Clayton Hotel and take you back to your terminal with the minimum of fuss. My advice is to have the right money with you if you board from city centre of out of the way stops, as the drivers do not carry much change. At the Clayton, always keep your Keycard separate from your mobile phone. Four floors is a long way from the Reception if it does not work. Always have breakfast. There is no excuse. There are seven floors. Is there a good view or not? My vantage point was a building site. Two other sides look out over busy roads, one side is opposite high office blocks. If you are looking for green spaces forget it. Central Park is an urban jungle with a tramway behind it, not a tranquil forest, grassy knolls and fields.