A tiny capital with a huge reputation, Dublin is as popular with students and business travellers as it is with tourists, many of whom choose to rent a short-term property during their stay.
(Photo: Sean MacEntee via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
If you’re staying in Dublin for any length of time and want to avoid the cost of a hotel, there are a number of short-term accommodation platforms that list properties in the Irish capital. As is the case around the world, Airbnb dominates the local short-lets scene; however, there are some alternatives, especially in the monthly rentals market. We’ve picked out three of the best.
Booking.com
One of the leading platforms for hotel accommodation, Booking.com also has a broad selection of short-term apartments for rent around the world – and Dublin is no exception, with a huge choice for anything from one-night to weekly rentals. During our searches, we found several stunning properties on their books, including a beautifully decorated studio right in the centre of the city at €189 per night. Rates get considerably cheaper the further out of the centre you stay, with prices dropping to as low as €134 per night for a two-bedroom apartment 17km away. As well as numerous filters to expedite the booking process, Booking.com has a 24-hour support service available via a guest app once you’ve checked in.
The Homelike
Founded in 2015 by two German entrepreneurs, Homelike is principally aimed at business travellers and remote workers looking for accommodation of a month or more. The platform is a thriving hub of home rentals and in Dublin has more than 60 apartments on its books. Homelike keeps it simple, displaying apartments with state-of-the-art photography and easy-to-understand icons showing available amenities and whether they are furnished rentals. Moreover, the platform is upfront about its costs, with no hidden expenses and a rental price that includes all utility bills. As is the case with Airbnb, The Homelike offers as much feedback on the landlord as it does about renters, so both sides can proceed with confidence.
Spotahome
With almost 900 properties on its books, Spotahome has quite possibly the largest selection of apartments for rent in Dublin. It’s extremely simple to use: just pick your dates of travel and you’ll immediately see available apartments scattered all over their interactive map, many of which are located in the popular area around the docklands. Monthly rates range from as little as €500 for a large room in a shared apartment in North Central Dublin to €6,900 for a luxury two-bedroom cottage in the affluent neighbourhood of Ballsbridge. Like most short-term rental companies, Spotahome adds administration fees to the advertised price, so it’s worth making sure you understand all the extra costs before booking. Finally, if the chosen accommodation doesn’t meet expected standards, Spotahome allows 24 hours for the issue to be reported to be eligible for a full refund.