Dublin: Ariel House (4 Star B&B)

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Address: 50-54 lansdowne road, ballsbridge , Dublin , Ireland

Lonely Planet review

With 37 en suite rooms, this is hardly your average B&B, but not many B&Bs are listed Victorian homes that have been given top rating by Fáilte Ireland either. Every room is individually decorated with period furniture, which lends the place an air of genuine luxury.

It's all about a bit of posh, which is hardly surprising as this is the poshest neighbourhood in town, but there other properties on these leafy streets that just can't hold a candle to Ariel House's touch of class, evident throughout the house. The owners may have recently taken their hands off the daily management of the place, but so far the service remains impeccable, as does the overall look: the welcoming and warm public rooms, the elegant bedrooms, the furnishings and fittings are all very beautiful. The best rooms in the house have fabulous mahogany four-poster beds, while others have to make do with a lovely half-tester - we're not complaining. The only real downside is the lack of a lift, which makes the top rooms that bit trickier to get to with heavy bags. Still, Ariel House beats most hotels for class, comfort and service.