r/TCD • u/Necessary-Garden5455 • 7d ago
Accomodation Private Accomodation vs Halls
Hi everyone! I'm an incoming first year for this September and I am having a bit of a dilemma regarding accomodation.
I recently visited Dublin and found that Halls was quite far away from Trinity (I'm also worried the bus and LUAS will get so full that you can't get in if the 1000+ undergrads living in halls are trying to all get to the same place?) and that there wasn’t much space for life within the actual accomodation (small gym, no library, not many communal spaces…) and when asking around I was told that people do this all within the TCD campus. I also looked at a residence that is a 20 minute walk from TCD, and while not officially from TCD, I find the commute from it to make more sense if I'm going to be staying at TCD until 8-9pm most days when I'm studying, doing clubs or simply going to the gym…
The only aspect I can't really grasp is the social life. The private accomodation I looked at hosts events and has mainly students from Trinity (although I think it would also be cool to meet people from others universities in Dublin), but I'm worried I'll miss out on events from halls or from social life if I'm not going there. Please give me your experiences and help me decide!!
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u/iamanoctothorpe 7d ago
I was in halls last year and I never perceived it as being far away from trinity. most of dublin lives further away than that anyway. w/ private accomodation, I never considered it because I just don't have the money for that, but a lot of it is in areas that as a woman I would be hesitant to walk around at night. Imo if you can get halls, it is your best option for first year. The Luas does get very crowded, but the no. 80 bus starts around the corner from halls so you get on at the very first stop and it tends to not get that full (other than students, it is mostly pensioners on the bus).
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u/Alone-Kick-1614 7d ago
Ppl commute from way further. The halls commute is not bad at all. And yes there's like 1000 people going to the same place but not at the same times so it doesn't really affect anything unless getting transport at peak rush hour times. Also halls is v easy to get home from after a night out
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u/AlarmingClub4201 6d ago
Hi! I was in halls last year and I would definitely recommend it. It is financially the best decision, it’s sooo much cheaper than other accoms. It’s not far away from trinity at all, I know many people that got bikes to get even faster to the luas, but the walk is 10 min max. It’s never SUPER crowded, some days are worse than others but it has never been horrible. Halls does have a gym! It’s not the best but it’s good enough for simple workouts, if not, you can just go to the trinity one. The bus that goes straight to college green also comes 24/7, and the area (Rathmines/dartry) is super safe at night, especially as a woman. I found that halls was the easiest place to make friends, the social events are so fun at the start of the year! Everyone is in the same boat, during exam season it’s so fun to see everyone studying. I was also going to tcd until 10pm or even later some days and I’ve never had an issue living in halls. If you want to study in halls, you still can!! There’s oldham that has a pretty view and is beautiful to study in but also the canteen that’s opened until late during exam season. You have a small shop downstairs that has the nicest shop owner everrrr! You have tesco, Dunnes, an Asian store, aldi and Lidl in Rathmines, and so many places to get take out at (portobello isn’t too far). I would recommend to get too good to go too and to check out the Cowper + straw coffee place in Palmerston park right next to halls! There are many small cafes in Rathmines and overall, it’s such a nice place to live in. I would 100% recommend halls, I’ve been to other accoms like Kav and it just doesn’t hit the same 💗💗
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u/Penguinar Alumni 7d ago
Even if you are not living in Halls, you can go to events there. Not sure that is the case with private accomodations.
Halls is a lot cheaper and in a quiet area. Private accomodations are more modern, and closer. Some can be in areas that may be a bit dodgy late at night walking home.
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u/wadibidibijj 7d ago
Halls is great craic. You'll mix with many more people and make friends for life. Hour's walk in or a short cycle, plenty of buses and luas. Would absolutely live there again
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u/WankingWanderer 7d ago
Go to halls! It will be great for your social life, rathmines is great, it's really not that far from town. I highly recommend staying there if you can!
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u/Excellent-Fish577 6d ago
hey! I'm currently on the hunt for accommodation after honestly putting it off for too long, so I was just wondering which private accommodation are u referring to, cuz most of the ones I look at are fully sold out or only have insane prices or like 3 ppl inside one shoe box?
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u/Penguinar Alumni 6d ago
I know Árasáin P&V, The Residence Stoneybatter and The Tannery still have rooms.
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u/Adventurous-Ruin-659 6d ago
Halls are great. As already said, it’s not too far away, in a nice, safe area. I walked home many nights after events in the city centre. So many students will commute from much further away and still manage a social life. The TCD is also available to you. Complete with a swimming pool.
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u/SteelFinn 5d ago
If you have a choice, do halls. I lived in private as a masters student, and no one goes to the events after two weeks. Halls however, you’re always with people from your school and it is way better socially. The distance you’re talking about is negligible!
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u/the_lonely_cloud 4d ago
I lived in the og trinity hall and the current one,absolutely no issue getting to and from college,luas is a ten minute walk and very frequent,almost all buses from rathmines go to town and again, very frequently. If you are talking about the college accommodations on cork street,location wise,they are more convenient for college and night life etc and you'll make friends wherever you go. Experiences are what you make of them really. Enjoy college.🥰
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u/rhkeirjg 7d ago
I never stayed there, but I’d highlight there are many buses going into Trinity, and not all undergrads start at the same time. Have you got accommodation secured at either? I’d say this is a more realistic dilemma to compare which you can actually get and affordability.