Do not be fooled by the web site

I am submitting this review simply as a warning to anyone who might be considering accommodations in the Ivy Exchange complex through stayDublin. Our experience only confirms substandard service provided by this organization as identified by the previous reviews.

Despite the protestations of Ms Deirdre Treacy, General Manager, it was obvious to us that no one from stayDublin administration could possible have personally reviewed the deplorable state of the building, let alone the level of service, let alone have actually stayed at one of the properties. This is a completely hands-off operation that makes its money from investing as little as possible in service while counting on a stream of unsuspecting who respond positively to their seemingly professional web image.

The following is just a partial list of the issues we encountered.

1. stayDublin bus for transfer from airport was not at the described location despite reservation
- The map provided was confusing and inaccurate and no one at the airport could provide information as to stayDublin pick-up
- statements in material offering the airport transfer as to cost of taxi were completely misleading. (The offer indicated a taxi fare of 40 Euros to downtown. We paid 20 in rush hour.
2. It took us over an hour to obtain access to apartment
- Instructions for access to apartments were incorrect
- Keys in lock box were missing
- Multiple other parties with similar access problems at the same time
3. Absolutely no reception or service staff on site
- Everything is intended to be self serve
- No answer from telephone assistance
4. Unacceptable cleanliness standards in common areas of building
- Stench in elevator and hallways
- Filthy hallway carpets
- Dust, Paint, Vomit
5. Missing features
- Hairdryers
- Toilet roll holders
- Toilet paper
- Cleaning supplies
6. Unacceptable state of repair
- Only one working lamp in 3 rooms
- Peeling paint in kitchen and bath
- No sink stoppers
- Wobbly chairs, torn cover on sofa
7. No hot water
- Requires manual intervention 30 minutes prior to need
- Complicated instructions
- Threats as to excess usage!
8. False fire alarm
- Required evacuation of suite for 1.5 hrs
- No response from assistance phone
- No response from fire/emergency services
- Finally resolved by a private individual from neighbouring building

We stayed for 3 nights in July (2 adults and 2 children). The carpeting in the common areas is filthy and gives a terrible first impression. Don't expect the apartment to look like the ones on the website.
We had no trouble finding the apartment but the directions that we received about how to access the apartment were incorrect. Luckily we ran into the cleaning staff and they gave us the correct information.
We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment which had 2 double beds and was roomy. Some renovations had been done- new kitchen appliances and flooring but much remained unfinished. Prints were hung on the wall but they had not been repainted so holes were evident. Some furniture appeared relatively new but some was stained and had cigarette burns. The television remote was broken and held together with a band-aid (hopefully unused).
The apartment was generally clean except for the exhaust vents in the bathrooms. There was a washer and dryer in the apartment. The bedrooms are on the street side of the apartment so there is some early morning noise but it was otherwise quiet.

The location is good- lots of shops, restaurants, markets, movie theater and bus transportation are close by. It's an easy walk to Trinity College and other sight on the south side of the river.
The apartments have potential but need better managerial oversight and attention to detail.

We recently stayed there in a 3 bedroom apartment. I have never been so motivated to write a letter of complaint to the management of the facility. That was more than 2 weeks ago, I have had no reply; despite me following it up. I have never posted on Trip advisor before, and we have vacationed all over the world, I've never been more disappointed with my choice of 'hotels/serviced apartments'.

The obtaining access and lack of nearby parking was problematic by you can overcome these difficulties.

The entry to the apartments was disgusting. The things I have read here (in hindsight) are absolutely true and reflect our experience. Appalling dirty carpet with cigarette butts everywhere, filthy! I'm amazed that anyone in the hospitality industry would present such squaller as acceptable accommodation without warning.

Their website describes the apartments as "Finished to an impressive standard the Ivy Exchange Apartments in Dublin City Centre provide the visitor with a home from home". Well maybe in 1985 they were... Now they are extremely grotty and effectively dilapidated with no furnishings presented to an acceptable standard.

There were urine stained (and smelling) bedding (particularly bedroom two), cigarette butts on the floor in a non smoking facility (living area and bed 1), broken/cracked TV, ripped and stained "luxury leather" couches, broken fridge and oven fixtures, non working lightbulbs, empty beer bottles from previous tenants on all three balconies, barely clean cutlery crockery and glassware, a filthy bathroom (does anyone ever look up?), delaminated internal doors, broken dining chair, dirty dining table, flakey paint in almost every room, inadequate blinds particularly bedroom two where there were none, bedding so inadequate that I would defy anyone to actually achieve more than 20% sleep during a night (rock hard mattresses and 'skinny' pillows), the front door rattled (it either isn't hung or fitted correctly or both) and even woke children every ten or so minutes until at least 3 am in the morning, coinciding with entry to or exit from the building by other occupants, why is there so much foot traffic?

To imply that I wasn't impressed is a severe understatement. The only positive was that this was our first real visit to Dublin and as such we minimised our time in the apartment.

As stated above I originally complained directly in writing to management, and still have received no reply.

After reading some concerning reviews we arrived at these apartments a little nervously! They are situated down a small side street off a busy road about 5 mins walk from O'connell street. Security was good. We booked 2 apartments. Sadly they were not on the same floor but this was not too much of a problem. The apartments were clean & spacious with enough equipment to cope easily. Iron, well equipped kitchen, washing machine etc if you needed them were all there. The only negative things to say were that some of the carpets in the communal areas were quite grubby, but the apartments were spotless. We had a problem in our apartment with the hot water boiler but following a phone call this was attended to very quickly. So overall a smart decent place to spend our long week end.