2011 Student accommodation in Athlone

Southlane

Hello I went through posts of accommodation in Athlone and most of them were posted about a year ago.

So what are your recent experiences with student accommodation? Any self-catering aptments to recommend? I'm looking for a single room with my own bathroom and kitchen. If not, just a single bedroom and my own bathroom.

And does anyone have any reviews on Glen abhainn Student Accomodation and Rockbrook Court? How far are these two apartments from Willow Park (I read bad things ) ?

Pebbles82

There is not allot of choice this year in Athlone. if you go to the www.aitsu.ie
ait's student union site they have a list of all registered accommodations of all types, which is helpful to compare.
The main thing is to be aware of anything with Willow in the address. it can be a dodgy spot around night time and some houses can be very damp and cold. Also Kilma?..Lane can be another dodgy spot for girls.
Any of the student apartments accommodation are across the road from the college but are over priced for what you get, they work out at €80 a week. They make you pay up front for bills and say if you've money left of they give it back but anyone I knew in there at the end of the year they ask them for more money and you could end up paying 300 or 400+ for esb alone. I would be very cautious. Glen abhainn would be the place to go if you didn't like sleep and liked to party a lot even in exam week...for new apartments they are very damp. it seems like the people that go for the apartments are very young and first time away from home and go mad! Not all but the loud ones anyway! I would advise that you travel to Athlone and drive around the estates around the college. have a print out of the student union list and ring if you like a place. most landlords are local or have keys left out. Look at Cypress Gardens/Valley court/ Cartontroy Heights/ Crystal Village - nice estate of students and family homes. Houses around the college are old so bring extra bedding!!
I don't mean to sound so negative about the place but don't go in with your eyes shut. there are some nice houses but try to go before the main leaving results are out. This is only my opinion and not gospel. for the record I am hitting 30 so wanted somewhere a little quieter and cheap but still be able to have a few drinks without being given out to!! If I was 18 would I have a different attitude ... probably but those days are over, cant keep up anymore!
It is a great college and very friendly. Fellow students are approachable even when asking for directions to next lecture. Good luck.

BlueNemo

I stayed in Croi Oige last year, and will probably be going back again this year, seems to be one of the quieter/safer places.

Just to add, I'm also looking for a housemate, so if anyone's interested, PM me

carolforde

Hi everyone,
I have digs available, i am about a mile an a half from the college, i have two en suite rooms,with tv, if any one interested you can give me a shout!
May suit someone sensible who likes likes a bit of peace and quiet, home from home!

Reilly88

I have lived in Valley Court for two years, Glenn Abhainn for two years and Willow park for 1 year. Pebbles 82 has really said it all above. I am just finished 5 years in College so will know abit about the accommadation. Willow Park houses can be very cold and damp. During the hard winter last year many houses were left damaged due to burst pipes. you would be expecting to pay in the region 0f 40 euro to 60 euro for a room in willow park. Most landlord in Willow make you pay ESB and Bin charges. And the ESb can be very expensive if you have your own heaters. Glenn Abhainn Apartments were built in early 2000 and for their age they are not very well kept. around the Windoes can be very damp and the carpets are filthy(This is expected with student). Ihave found the rent to be expensive at 80 euro for a single room and 55 for sharing. There are some large apartments that can hold 6 or 7 but most hold 3 to 4. The caretaker/Landlord is very lazy when it comes to collecting rent/Cleaning up. Rent can be left un collected but it is really up to the student to deliver it and not spend it on other items. I have noticed rats in the last month of college around the apartments and have expierience a few break ins aswell during the Exam period. My advice would be to get aq top floor apartment if staying here. I do not know much abou Craoi oige but on all accounts i hear it is good. Valley court is very nice and pleasent with several familys living here.

kwestfan08

Just in case the OP hasn't already found anywhere thought I'd give my two cents. Going into fourth year so hopefully my advice is recent enough.

I've stayed in Rockbrook Court, Croi Oige and then Willow last year.

Rockbrook Court is fine but can very cold at times. The only way of heating the place is an electric heater in your room and then one in the living/kitchen area. Can be a real burden on your ESB bill if you leave them on too long so I'd watch out. (Though you do pay the bill every two months so I guess you can monitor it). Single Rooms are €65 for the 2011/12 year (Was €90 when i was there!). Where fine but there wasn't much life about them if thats what your looking for.

Croi Oige then are nice apartments. They are if I remember correctly €85 a week for a single room. That price includes internet, bins and ESB up to a point (they'll want extra for whatever you spend over the deposit at the end of the year). I loved the place. Very friendly vibe and met a tonne of new best friends while there. The place isn't to hard to heat either. My advice is try and get one of the rooms up the stairs unless you want everyone walking past to be able to see into your room.

Got a house then in Willow last year. Was paying €55 a week for my single room. Had to pay ESB, bins, and oil after that ourselves. As people have said the houses can be cold so bring extra hoodies. We also had damage to the house because of burst pipes over christmas (all cosmetic, was sorted when we got back). Having said all that I really liked it. Willow is fine once you stick to the top row (Willow Cresent) and go no deeper. I wouldn't recommend a house to a first year however. Very few first years take up houses on their own so you are unlikely to meet anybody your own age. Most first years take apts

The nicest apts for students would be Heatherview Court. They are the dearest however but you do get what you pay for.

http://www.heatherviewcourt.com

Hope that was of some help to you OP. Good luck wherever you decide to live. As everone else has said Athlone is a great college and everyone is really friendly. You'll have a ball

conor86

inish house in town, great place if you are going to stay up week end. i stay their last year and move in again this year 'i'm finishing my last year'. Flats can be in good or bad condition depend were you check in. But warm and quite within reason , good rate.

Uberbeamerman

Heatherview have lovely apartments. Such a shame that the compound is often noisy and a good nights sleep is usually confined to weekends. On a rare night where people actually stay quiet, Genesis nightclub (very little soundproofing) will be in full swing so you'll be trying to get to sleep listening to thump, thump, thump, thump thump thump, thump, thump until about 0230 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. More often than not you will be sharing near or with first years or apprentices on training so good luck trying to study as well.

Landlord ignores requests like wanting a quiet apartment or a non smoking one. Landlord is very slow to get things done. My apartment there last year had 2 chairs (out of 6) in the kitchen and a permanently sticky table, the landlord didn't care. I complained in Sept hat the extractor fan in my bathroom didn't work, it was replaced the following March. Not worth anywhere near 90 a week, avoid....

cherryghost

Its student apartments, you'll always be in for some loud music no matter where you are. Landlords won't pay any concerns to such requests. As for replacing faulty items and such, again they won't pay heed as they see this kind of thing every year from misbehaving students

My personal opinion is if you want to study anywhere, the library is the best place to go. Its open til 10pm and the librarians are often strict regarding noise, of course.

I recommend that no matter how objective your landlord is, get a rent book and a contact number for him, you're entitled to both of course. If in the event that something is damaged and can confirm/prove that it wasn't damaged by misdemeanor, you're entitled to a repair asap. Any repairs you do yourself can also lead to reimbursement from your landlord, but I recommend you contact the PRTB before you go and do something that drastic.

Also +1 on Croi Oige. Its quiet enough and the place itself is quite warm during the winter. My friend had no issues with the landlord that owned quite a few there, after the heating broke a few winters ago. Was repaired a few days later

Irish J

I stayed in heatherview last year good apartment but you are living right beside a nightclub which can be very annoying if your not goin out loud music till 2-3 am. in Glenabhainne now for the last week and have notice that the landlord really doesn't care about anything and is lazy but i suppose he could just be busy this week because every1 is moving up.

Trishie09

HEY!! literally just recieved an offer for Athlone, I might as well be a mature student and left it until 2 weeks ago to actually apply for college!!! I have no idea where to start looking for accomodation!! It's so last minute, that i'm kind of afraid I'll end up living somewhere really dodgy!!

Scan111

Try heatherview, Im not sure if its booked yet but give it a go!

homeless student

valley court is very close to the college and is a pretty safe area, houses vary in the estate so make sure u check b4 u commit to anything.a lot of people will warn u about anywhere with the word willow in it, its not all that bad but if u want a quiet life you are probably best to avoid the place. id go for valley court.

TimeClock18

Scan111 wrote: »

Try heatherview, Im not sure if its booked yet but give it a go!

Overbooked as far as I know!