This hotel is so close to the sea you can smell the freshness of the salty water in the air. Just 3km from the centre, but on the DART line, it really isn’t too far out. The rooms at the front of the hotel overlook the sea, and the bathrooms are awash with power showers, fluffy robes and polished marble. Close enough to the seaside village of Blackrock - whose former residents include James Joyce and Eamon de Valera - the location is positively begging you to enjoy a leisurely stroll along the beach or reboot at one of the many cute cafes.