Dublin is a fine spot for grown-up getaway.

But let’s be real, wrangling tiny humans for a trip is a whole other ball game. What you need is a plan, a suitcase of snacks and a gem of a hotel recommendation. We can help out with two of those.

If you’re thinking of hopping on the train to Dublin with the crew in tow this summer, “peaceful” and “convenient” usually don’t mix. But one spot, nestled just under the Aviva Stadium in Sandymount, Dublin, genuinely hits the nail on the head.

First off, the journey from Cork to Dublin on the train is an absolute doddle. Stick the kids on a screen, bribe them with a few snacks, and before you know it, you’re pulling into Heuston.

From there, it’s a quick hop across the city, and suddenly you’re in at The Sandymount Hotel, feeling like you’ve stumbled into a calm little village within the bustling capital… with ample parking for drivers and just two DART stops from the city centre.

The Sandymount Hotel is celebrating 70 years of continuous family ownership and hospitality this year, longer than any other hotel property in Dublin.

From the moment you walk in, it just feels … easy. Which, let’s be honest, is all you want when you’re pushing a buggy and trying to stop a toddler from licking the lobby floor. The staff were brilliant, genuinely welcoming, not just tolerating, which makes all the difference.

Our room was surprisingly spacious – enough space for a travel cot and a buggy without doing a complicated dance every time someone needed to get to the loo. The icing on the cake? A bath, which any toddler parent knows is key for the evening chill-out and general de-griming after a day of fun.

There were macarons and brownies waiting too on arrival, the ultimate thrill for a three-year-old guest.

Out the back you’ll find a lovely (fully-enclosed!) garden where smallies can run in the grass to their heart’s content while you enjoy a G&T in the sun.

The Sandymount Hotel offers a variety of family rooms to suit your needs, whether you need a room with a double and single bed, a double and two single beds, or interconnecting rooms. Extra beds are also available on request.

Now, for what to do with the munchkins? You’re close to some serious kid-pleasers:

Dream Point

Set in the heart of Dublin’s Docklands. Dream Point is Ireland’s first purpose-built, multi-room immersive ‘world of dreams’.

Spanning an impressive 21,000 square feet and brought to life with a €3 million investment, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience designed to spark creativity, joy and wonder in every guest – honestly it’s as much fun for grown-ups as it is for kiddos.

Following years of creative development by Dan and John Gleeson — the Irish brothers who previously brought The Van Gogh Experience, the FRIENDS™ Experience, the LEGO® Bricktionary Experience and more to Dublin — Dream Point is a must-visit destination this summer.

Wander at your own pace through the Balloon Room, The Projection Room, the Draw Alive Room, The Inflatable Forest and The Glow Corridor until you finally reach Ireland’s largest ball pit, overflowing with 250,000 pearl-toned balls beneath floating clouds.

Dream Point operates in timed 90-minute sessions, six days a week (closed Tuesdays), for a six-month run. Tickets are available at dreampointexperience.ie — Adult tickets start from €18.80, children’s tickets from €14.60, and children under the age of two can attend free of charge. Discounted rates are available for students, seniors and accessible guests and family bundles are also available, with prices for a family of four starting from €43.05.

Dublin Zoo

This is a non-negotiable, folks. It’s a proper full day out, and it’s easy to get to from the hotel. The kids will absolutely love it, and let’s be fair, so will you. It’s huge, well laid out, and by the time you’re done, they’ll be ready for a solid nap (and you’ll be ready for a cuppa!).

This summer, special guest Dino Don Lessem, world-renowned dinosaur expert and Jurassic Park science advisor, will host Dublin Zoo’s Zoorassic Trail Takeover from Thursday, June 26th – Sunday, June 29th.

More than 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are now in place throughout the park so you can look out for those as you ramble through and check out more than 400 incredible animals—all included in the standard entry price (from €20.20 per adults and from €14.90 per child over three, depending on when you go).

Note: Bring decent rain gear if the forecast isn’t great. While there are shelters to stand under when it rains, they are filled with puddles and it’s a bit of a stroll between enclosures. Luckily the staff at The Sandymount Hotel were ready with a huge golf umbrella to lend us as we left for the day.

Where to eat

Just down the road from Dream Point is The Mayson Hotel, where Elephant & Castle on the ground floor serves an all-day menu filled with comfort food including their world famous wings and cocktails indoors and outdoors on their gorgeous terrace. They have a lovely kids’ menu that includes drinks, ice cream and colouring too.

For dinner, we headed back to The Sandymount Hotel, where their Whitty’s Restaurant serves enormous portions of delicious curry and a fine Nduja & Salami Hot Honey Pizza as well as steaks and fish and chips.

Our little guy couldn’t finish his huge burger and the lovely staff brought down a takeaway container without being asked.

The bar team has also crafted a number of 70th Anniversary Cocktails inspired by the hotel’s history, which include Irish Maid, The Aristocrats Sand’E’mount Tea, Mount Herbert’s Comfort and The Temperance Turn – just the thing to toast an easy, breezy family stay in Dublin.

The City & Coast Explorer package includes a two-night bed and breakfast stay for two at The Sandymount Hotel, plus exclusive perks to help guests explore the capital in a fresh light, from €379 for two people sharing for two nights. Visitors can also avail of a 20% discount on bed and breakfast bookings made until the end of the summer for all stays until the end of December.

For bookings and more information, visit sandymounthotel.ie.