I stayed in the Guardwell Lodge in Kinsale for 2 nights. It is very centrally located and handy for bars and restaurants. The rooms are ok and the staff were helpful and friendly. It is very reasonably priced if you are looking for somewhere to put your head down at the end of the night.

This has got to be one of the worst hostels I've stayed at - difficult parking, small dirty rooms and so unlike the pictures on their website. Saturday night in particular was extremely noisy and I was woken by returning revellers and passers by in the early hours of the morning.

Staff were friendly but I am still trying to get my deposit returned since I had an early morning start before reception was open. The manager says he has credited my credit card but I have still seen no sign of it - make sure you get your key deposit back before you leave.

I would not stay here again!

Firstly I must stress that I have no major complaints about this place given the incredibly low price we paid to stay here. I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for so my expectations weren't high.

However, our room could have done with a good sweep as there were quite a lot of cobwebs. The shower was temperamental. The water would stop and start at will. We did report this to reception staff (who were all very helpful and friendly) on departure in case they weren't aware of it.

All in all it is fine as a place to crash. I'd recommend it to backpackers but to anyone hoping for luxury I'd say stay somewhere else. The photos on the website look as though they may have been airbrushed!

Other reviewers have either loved or hated this place. I don't understand either response. Other than its location, which is splendid, there is little to recommend the place. It wasn't filthy, but was simply too tired and worn to appear polished and fresh, particularly given the water damage to the floors and walls. Certain issues were more comical than truly disturbing -- for example, we had to turn on the faucets in the sink in order to get the water in the tub to run.
In short, this is a wholly unambitious place, with wholly unambitious management. They could have informed us when we arrived how to turn on the hot water. They could have asked if we needed towels, which require a deposit. They could occasionally water the rather sad looking plants. Given all this, it's probably overpriced, but what in Kinsale isn't?