BEST WESTERN PLUS Academy Plaza Hotel

The first morning I woke up in the Best Western Academy Plaza Hotel, my ankle itched. I looked down to find a bedbug lying next to my ankle on the blood spotted sheet. I took a photo for evidence, collected it in a piece of tissue, and went downstairs to speak with the hotel manager. [...] listened, apologized dispassionately, and then immediately went into how this was the first time it had ever happened in their hotel. Perhaps this is true, but I'm baffled by her blasé and disinterested response in rectifying the situation. I felt reproached by her manner, which initially seemed to imply we had brought it in ourselves. This was not possible given it was our first night's stay on our vacation in Ireland, and we do not have bedbugs in our home. Next she suggested it had been brought in by the person who had occupied the room the previous night. This too is of course quite possible, but good management would not have sought to place blame for the situation, but would rather have worked to ensure that the customer felt as though the situation were being treated with the seriousness that it merits and would have looked for ways to ameliorate the situation. Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. I work with clients all day long, and know that the very least I can do to further my company's business is to provide tangible evidence that I am genuinely sorry for any discomfort or displeasure on their part. [...], and by extension Best Western, proffered nothing. When I asked her what she was going to do, she asked for the specimen, which I had brought to her, and said she would have it tested and the room fumigated. Fearing she intended to keep us in the same room, I immediately said I did not wish to stay in the same room another evening. She said they would move us. When I asked her what else she intended to do, her chilly response was, "What else would you like?" We very reasonably asked to be reimbursed for that first night's stay in the hotel. She said she would not be able to do that, but she might be able to give us some kind of reduction in price but would first have to check our rate. Feeling not happy with her indifferent response, I suggested that she could start with comping us breakfast that morning. She complied.[...] never followed up with us regarding a possible reimbursement. I had to call downstairs the following evening, and the manager [...] said because we had booked our room through Orbitz, Best Western Academy Plaza could not offer us either a refund or a rebate. He said that the best they could do would be to comp us breakfast for the rest of our stay. Our plans had us out of the hotel before breakfast was served, and when we requested a dinner instead, we were told no. So, management's response was to offer us breakfast that is set out buffet style, which literally costs them nothing. Finally, I suggested that they might wash our bedclothes and the few items we had placed on the bed, which they did accommodate. Finding a bedbug in your bed is a very legitimate and serious complaint. People have successfully litigated for thousands of dollars. All I asked for was a refund on an evening spent with a bedbug in my bed. I am utterly baffled as to how Best Western does not have a policy or its management does not have at least a few ideas of their own as to how to ameliorate a bedbug situation to keep their customer happy. BTW, when I spoke with [...] that following evening, he said that the room had been inspected, and no further evidence of bedbugs had been found and so the room had not been fumigated. Not being in hotel management, I don't know what the policy is for things of this nature, but I would have thought they would have immediately fumigated the room. Perhaps they waited two days after the incident. Perhaps they never bothered at all. STAY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Our room was very small but very clean and seem up to date. There was no bars of soap just liquid dispensers. There was no facial tissue but toilet paper. The TV had a warning that if you used it you would have to pay a fee of around 15 Euros. I asked for a receipt at check out to remind me what I paid but the desk clerk said I would have to go back to the booking agent. We are glad we only had one night here. It was just off O'Conner and in the middle of the busiest part of town.

Location is excellent, just off of upper oconnell street and within walking distance of most attractions and restaurants. Rooms are not very spacious but were very clean and well maintained. My only complaint is that some of the management and some of the hotel policies were quite ridiculous. They actually changed the room number of our hotel room one night and failed to inform us. Long story short we ended up walking in somebody elses room late at night after being provided our original room card at the front desk. Also I realize that exchanging money at a hotel will not usually get you the most favorable rate. But they refused to take $100 dollar bills and then wanted to give me 4 euros for a $20 dollar bill after there "fees".

I stayed at the Best Western Academy Plaza Hotel on two separate occassions in one week. For both nights, I booked standard accommodations with two twin beds. The first night the accommodations were comfortable. However, the second time I stayed, I did not check in until 9:00pm. It became evident that the hotel provides rooms on a first come, first-served basis. I was provided with room 001. BEWARE! Do not accept this room, find another hotel! The room is in the basement. The two twin beds make it nearly impossible to move about the room. There is no telephone or tea/coffeemaking amenities. If it's cold, there's no obvious source of heat, just a wall-mounted air-conditioner. Additionally, Room 001 is located just next to the staff rooms. Everytime someone enters or leaves that room, you can hear and feel the door slam. If there are people in the staff rooms, you can even overhear there conversations. I stayed on a Saturday night and there is a nightclub next door. My father and I had a terrible time sleeping with the loud reverberations of the bass from the nightclub. When we went up to the front desk to complain, the staff were rather unhelpful, did not seem to care. The hotel was booked except for one room which was, according to the reception, worse than Room 001. As a result, we were offered a free breakfast for the next morning. When we arrived, the greeter asked for our room number, shrugged, and commented that we must not have slept well. The entire staff knows how terrible Room 001 is, but generally do not care. I urge travelers to beware. Room 001 is the dungeon of the Best Wester Academy Plaza. Do not accept this room (or any other in the basement). But if you are lucky, you will stay in one of the upper floors.

I thought hotel location was great - could not be easier getting to/from hotel from airport. rooms were okay - nothing to write home about given this was a 4 star property. all staff were very nice/accommodating.

The hotel is in a great location. The rooms were a bit small but very clean. The towels were a bit scratchy. There was no pool available and the fitness center was just cardio machines. The staff were friendly and helpful.

The hotel was conveniently located for walking around Dublin. Our room, however, was above an outdoor bar that was very noisy until late at night. Otherwise, the hotel was a good experience for us.

The staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms were small, but clean and nice looking. They had free internet service, but it was not very consistent and my computer was only able to successfully connect a couple of times. Also, the two computers downstairs with free internet service only worked some of the time. The location was very good. We were able to walk to wherever we needed to go easily from that location.

I arrived around 5:30am and the gentleman at the front desk was very nice, and even checked me in even though check-in wasn't officially until much later. Two computers with free internet are in the lobby and allowed me to let friends and family know I had arrived safely. The hotel is in an incredibly convenient location. The hop on/hop off tours are right across the street and the drop off/pick up locations for the Air Coach to and from the airport are at the corner on O'Connell Street. I had one difficult conversation with a staff person. I think it was a bit of a language barrier. Sounds strange from an english speaker, I know. The staff person was giving me directions to the Dublin Bus Station and tried to clarify what she was telling me which only frustrated both of us more. The room was clean and comfortable. I had a handicapped room, which I'm guessing was a bit bigger than a regular single room.

Got us in early