Certificate of Excellence 2013, 2012 & 2010 by Trip Advisor. Voted Best Hostel in Ireland in 2011,2010 & 2009 by IHH customers, Number 1 Hostel in Ireland in 2008 & 2nd place in 2009/10 by Hostelworld customers and winner of the best atmosphere in Europe 2011 by HostelBookers.
Aille River hostel is recommended by the Lonely Planet travel guides as "The best of the bunch" and has been given the Thumbs Up by Let's Go travel guides. We are Failte Ireland nominated and approved, IHH members and members of Hostels of Europe. Here are some of the endorsements we've received from customers, guidebooks and other press:
Reviewed 9 September 2013Travelled to Doolin for a night away with the Girls! met on arrival by Pete, who looked after our booking, showed us around the hostel and to our room. He answered any questions that we had about the locality and made himself available if we needed anything! Clean ben linen and spotless shower and bathroom. It was perfect for what we needed! We were explained to about the local amenities and found it most helpful We arrived home from our night out to be greeted by other guests and were even offered a cup of tea! where in the world would you get that!! Will definately recommend Aille River Hostel to friends and will be returning!!
"Best Hostel in Ireland"
"From the peat fire in the main room, to the excellent location, there really wasn't any nicer place that I stayed in during my month-long trek through Ireland. I'll definitely be making Doolin a destination in the future, all because of this place. Liked - everything. Disliked - leaving" - Nee, Oregon, January 2011.
"Wonderful, one of my favorites!"
"I intended to stay here for three nights and ended up staying a week. the location is perfect for exploring doolin, which has great local music, or hiking up to the cliffs or taking a ferry out to the islands, but the hostel itself is what's so wonderful, with a small river flowing out front where you can sit in the mornings before exploring, then spend the evenings inside by the fire. The amenities are basic but the internet is free and the their newly renovated kitchen is huge. the staff was so helpful and so friendly, and the area is so beautiful I didn't want to leave and can't wait to go back." - Beth, Florida, July 2010
"Loved it here - so clean and real comfy beds!"
"Stayed with my husband and 2 daughters (9,8) during the summer. It was quite drizzly the day we arrived so we hopped into bed for a snooze that was around 3 in the afternoon and even with it being busy downstairs we didn't hear a peep ! Really cosy room , new quilts and pillows and immaculate ensuite. Looking forward to going back" - Bernice, Cork, October 2011.
"Fantastic!!"
"I loved this hostel. little safes in the room you could use to lock up valubles if you wanted! kitchen was excellent peat fire at nite was so lovely to sit around and the abcence of a tv meant people actually sat down to chat to you!! GREAT!!! pleanty of games and books to read and great background radio too! - Ailis, Australia, November 2010
Absolutely fabulous hostel
. Karl is so great, fun and helpful! You will for sure enjoy your stay here! The fire in the fireplace is absolutely wonderful. The hostel has a really cozy atmosphere and vibe. Everyone I met there was fantastic. The cliffs are very walkable from the hostel...just about 6k or so to get there. Ask Karl for a map and he'll tell you the best way to go! Stay here! I wish I could have spent more time there. Be sure to go out and check out the music too!
runtotravel, USA | Female 18-24 | 26th September 2010
Excellent
no words can express the awesomeness...
amberrosefrancis5272, USA | Female 18-24 | 25th September 2009
Great location
good rooms/beds/facilities, great staff. Karl drew me a map which allowed me to see the cliffs closely and away from the usual tourist route. Enjoyed being able to use the free internet. Atmosphere was great. For those wanting to leave valuables in their rooms there are lockers.
mrutten, Netherlands | Male 18-24 | 19th September 2009
I Love This Hostel!!
The hostel was an experience in itself. Everyone congregates downstairs, so it's a great place to meet people. Close to the bus stop, and Karl was extremely helpful. Highly recommend.
britd09, USA | | 19th August 2009
The best hostel that we stayed in while in Ireland and Scotland.
Has a ton of character, great setting with the creek in the front. Great location, walking distance to all pubs, Doolin is small. Staff was the BEST. The guy watching over the place goes above and beyond anyone else and really makes you feel at home. I can't say enough about this place. Also, rooms are very, very nice and very comfortable beds. Free internet and laundry! If you don't stay here, you are an idiot!
ryancash9671, USA | Couple 25-30 | 08th August 2009
It was simply the best hostel I ever stayed at!
We loved it and after the first night we decided to stay three insted of two night. Still it was really sad to leave.
kerstinlorenz6817, Germany | Couple 25-30 | 04th July 2009
great spot
We stayed at 6 different hostels on our recent vacation, and this was by far our favorite! Karl was great, giving us lots of helpful tips about how to get the most of our time in Doolin. The setting was perfect and the old house is beautiful - lots of character and great location. We wish we'd stayed longer!
pegjsmith2403, USA | Group 25-30 | 28th June 2009
A real gem of a hostel.
Brett, Australia | Male 25-30 | 24th June 2009
My family loved staying at the Aille River hostel.
We would love to return to Doolin in the future and would stay at the Aille River hostel again. We were a mixed age group, 19-54 years old, and we all had a great time.
mcguirep9154, USA | Group | 08th June 2009
One of the best hostels in Ireland.
Old house near a river with a more than 1000 year old bridge. Rooms are good, landscape beautyful, good kitchen with good equipment. Pubs with music a few 100 meters away. Very friendly owner.
Andreas, Germany | Male 41+ | 29th May 2009
This was the best hostel I stayed at an Ireland and is how hostels should be.
Its a very cosy and comfortable hostel in the centre of a village. The layout of the hostel encourages you to meet and talk to over travellers over the fire in the loungeroom and in the kitchen. The suggested walks by the manager are interesting but not for the faint hearted.
Allison, Australia | Female 31-40 | 16th May 2009
Carl was amazing.
He went beyond the expectations of any hostel owner. A friend I was travelling with lost everything in the trip and Carl provided her with clothes and a backpack to continue her trip! Thanks so much Carl.
jessicamaurino4041, Canada | Female 18-24 | 14th May 2009
