Was in Dublin for a course in one of the hospitals, the course finished at 8pm Fri night and 9-5pm Saturday. Arrived on Friday afternoon, shown to bedroom and requested breakfast for 8am. Asked Maria did she want me to pay wen i arrived and she said no i could pay on check out. Arrived back at 9.30pm and went to bed. Got up next morn at 7.15am and had shower and went down for breakfast at 7.45am. The B&B was in darkness. I left my bag out to the car and thought if Maria was up she would hear the door. Came back in and waited until 8am and nobody appeared. At this stage I was going to have to go as I needed to get breakfast in town before the course started. I left a note saying there was nobody up and I would call back in the evening with payment, my car was parked at the B&B.

I got an email at lunch time asking me to contact them immediately. I phoned Alan. He was so rude. I had left that morning with the key in my pocket as I was returning in the evening with payment. He said i had stolen the key and was going to have to pay for 2 nights as I had taken the key. Apart from the fact that I did not get breakfast he said that Marie was preparing breakfast and I should count myself lucky that in a lot of B&B's the owners do not live on site. He asked me when I would be back and I said the course finished at 5pm. He said "I didnt ask you what time the course finishes at what time will you be back?" I said I had to get the bus so probably about 5.30 or 6pm he said "so is that 5.30 or 6pm then???" He said there are ample signs around the B&B that if I needed assistance I only had to ring. I said that I thought Maria may have slept in and I didnt want to waken her. He said that I had made an awful lot of assumptions that morning that were all incorrect. He was so rude. I was so upset. I rang Marie to try and explain as he would not even let me speak on the phone but by this stage I was so upset that I could hardly even speak to her. She was nice on the phone, but I heard nothing from them since in way of an apology for his total bad manners. I called to pay him and he asked me in, all nice then, which I declined the invitation but not a word to excuse his down right rudeness.

I got no breakfast, had to pay full price - but i should "count myself lucky I didn't have to pay for two nights" - and then I didn't get lunch as he spent my half hour break shouting down the phone at me.

The absolute height of rudeness and bad manners. I was only being nice not wanting to disturb Maria and thats all the thanks I got.
Absolutely disgusted!

Was there for one night. Was asked to email my booking. I stated I needed breakfast at 7am as I was leaving on the ferry. Booking was accepted. Turned up, I was given a very thorough briefing of local amenities, normally, nice, but said I have my plans, dinner with a friend already, am tired. Response was "oh you just want to crash". Answer "yes". Then the local talk started again.

Worst part for me, opportune time to hand over money after arrival, I am happy to facilitate, then shortly after, when I asked about breakfast as was expecting to be told about it, I was told that was not possible because breakfast starts at 7:30am. Same guy I called on phone, emailed as per requested, and met me, so I felt rather cheated. Then the overly welcome when I just wanted to crash and said such, for it to then continue, just annoyed me.

After traveling to help family members having problems, this was just the icing on the cake to annoy me. I just did not have the energy to argue with Alan due to the nature of my trip to Ireland.

See below.

Hi <CUT>,
Nice talking to you earlier.
We have reserved a double standard room for you for the 15th October 8pm -
8.30pm.
Kind Regards,
Alan Fanning.
http://www.almarabb.com (please print map and bring it with you)
http://www.dublinbandb.webs.com

Hi Alan,
>
> If you have availability, please book me in, standard room, 37 euro.
>
> I'm in Dundrum for dinner around 18:00 / 18:30, so should be with you
> 20:00.
>
> Breakfast I'd need if possible 07:00, my ferry leaves 08:20.
>
> My phone is <CUT>
>
> Cheers,
> <CUT>.

Maria and Alan were fabulous and friendly hosts! They stayed up late for my arrival, helped tremendously with bus schedules to and from Dublin, and had a filling breakfast spread in the morning-- all for the best price I paid for a B&B on my whole trip! They are easy to get to from the airport on the 16A and a few blocks walk. And the 20B stops right out front of the house every 10 minutes or so and it takes a short 10 minutes to Eden Quay downtown.

I had a great stay at Almara, Alan was very accommodating and helpful. Breakfasts were hearty and kept me going through the day. The room was kept nice and warm and overall I found the location handy to the city, while being out of the noise and bustle of the centre of Dublin. Would highly recommend for a peaceful stay in Dublin.