Shuttle schedule - November-December 2023Two stays.

Attached is the shuttle schedule (although a bit late for the last poster.)

Stay one as a Diamond

The property’s website has no shuttle information on it. I used the chat function on the Hilton app upon arrival at DUB to avoid a phone call. The agent did not respond in a timely manner, so I had to call. Had the agent responded in a timely manner (within 10 minutes), I would have known where to go, not missed the shuttle, and not having to wait 40 minutes for the next shuttle. The shuttle can be picked up at stop #16, across the road from the terminals. It’s just a pet peeve of mine when a feature is offered, to apparently save staff and guests time, vs. a phone call, and then ignored. This has been an issue with other properties too. (end rant) The shuttle ride, by the way, is 15 minutes.

A day before, I did request early check-in via the app. Got a message back acknowledging the request, but no guarantee. (Nor do I expect an early check-in.) At check-in (around 1 PM on a Sunday), there was some back and forth between the two desk agents, pointing at the screen, but no verbal communication until one said ‘that would be OK’. I was thinking my agent was relatively new and needed advice as to how to handle the early check-in. I had booked the cheapest twin room (all I needed for a solo short stay). I was upgraded to a king deluxe. More than enough room for me. No mention of status (not important to me). Two bottles of water in the room (not sure if that is the standard or status-based). I was also given the breakfast hours at check-in.

As an aside, I spoke with the shuttle bus driver on the way in re: the recent incident in Dublin City Centre. He said that it was cleared up. He also recommended that if I wanted something close by to do, and could the take public bus, take the short ride to Malahide. I did. While it was damp and cool, my kind of weather, the town and waterfront was quite nice to walkaround. While I didn’t eat there, there was certainly a selection of restaurants, that all appeared to be busy on an early Sunday evening. The bus ride (#42) was 2.5 Euros each way – exact change only. Note that the front desk agent told me that I could take the #42 or #43 bus, but only the #42 bus actually goes into Malahide.

(With regards to Uber and Dublin and its surrounding locales, you get a taxi cab booked by Uber. The fare is automatically increased by 2 Euros for the booking fee. And fares are more expensive on Sunday due to a light public bus schedule. FYI…)

(With regards to getting to Dublin city center on public bus, there is a stop about a 5 minute walk from the property. Far less expensive than Uber/taxi and not a much longer trip as the buses have designated traffic lanes. FYI...)

I did eat a light dinner in the hotel’s restaurant. Very reasonable prices and good service. The breakfast buffet had good variety. I was told at the host stand that cooked to order eggs and pancakes were available from the server and that I should sit in the section reserved for Gold/Diamond members. I only saw one server and didn’t want to wait for something cooked to order as the buffet was sufficient.

All in all, a good stay, and I’ll be back for another stay in 10 days.

Stay 2

Evening arrival at DUB. Walked to shuttle bus stop. The last week's shuttle bus was a full size motor coach, well sized placard behind the windshield for Hilton, and parked in the designated space. This shuttle bus was more of a traditional airport shuttle bus (think Ford Transit), only had a small LED scrolling sign behind the windshield, ‘Dublin Hilton’, and did not park in the designated space. Thanks to another eagle-eyed guest, I saw it. I have the sense that the property contracts with a transportation company that provides whatever bus is available.

Evening check in. A bunch of grouchy people on the bus. Apparently there was a flight to BOS, where they were on the tarmac for several hours, and then the flight was cancelled. So, I was first to the front desk and last to leave. When the agent was upgrading the room (to a king deluxe again), the terminal ‘froze’, and it took 2 restarts to fix. Pleasant and apologetic agent. Again, she noted the breakfast and shuttle hours.

Breakfast was the same as last time. No mention of cooked to order eggs or the designated seating area for Golds/Diamonds (and the area seemed to be closed). I guess this is important to some people, but the dining area is huge and I don’t think anyone actually cares who I am because of where I am sitting.

No business center here. I had a one page document to print and the front desk was glad to do so for me.

UPDATE - re: airport shuttle. This morning's shuttle was back to the motor coach, for just me. I guess YMMV. The driver asked me what terminal I was departing from. I thought maybe since it was just me, he'd drop me off at departures, but he went to stop 16.

Does anyone have any idea what this is? Water flows from both sides and the bottom during a flush. I'd think some sort of toilet cleaner, although the outcoming water seems to be clear.