We are ending our quick trip to Ireland from May 2 to 7 in Dublin on the day/night of the 6th, flying out late afternoon of May 7. This trip is as much for my elderly in-laws as for the wife and me. So we are focusing on the countryside, starting in Killarney to enjoy the national park etc., and then Galway to see the cliffs and islands etc., before driving to Dublin for ~24 hours. I was looking at hotels near the city center considering the mobility limitations of my father-in-law, but the prices are a little steep. I was wondering if there might be some other nice/cool areas outside the city that would be cheaper or if we should just bite the bullet considering our short stay. FYI- we will have a car.
You could look at Malahide, nice seaside town to the north of Dublin, close to the airport. It has a castle and nice restaurants and you could get the dart (local train) to Dublin city centre if you wanted to see it. I wouldn't recommend driving in Dublin city centre unless you really have to. Parking is expensive and traffic can be painful.
Try Malahide or Donabate. Both hotels are pretty coastal, both towns are flat and both near the airport.
Malahide
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Bite ze bullet. Just for one night. Find somewhere in your budget
Ballsbridge, lovely leafy area with quite a few upscale hotels and close to town (city centre). Prices might also be high, partly luck and timing, but nice location if you find a reasonable price.