Originally Posted by
sharkskin
I was punting in Dublin last year and at first I would go all over the city but quickly realised that I would have better punts if I stuck to a few areas. Central is best. South of the river, I would prefer D2 Docklands, Barrow St or Ringsend Road. As you note, the prices are higher there but I am sure that you would get more business. Personally, I do not like Temple Bar as it is too busy and it is not so easy for a punter to find a quiet spot for that last phone call.
North of the river, I would say look for as close to Talbot St as possible but avoid those dreadful flats on Lower Gardiner st. Best of all would be the complex just behind the station. Beautiful site and I always felt safe and discrete there.
As a punter, I would avoid Dorset Street because some of the flats round there are dreadful and how do I know which one a lady is in?
Think like a punter, if I see D1, D2 or D4 on a profile, I can ring a lady and then ask about making a booking and usually then I would just say something like "can you let me know roughly what part of D2 you are in please?" If I then hear "Docklands near the Ferryman," I know exactly what the area will be like, I will feel safe and there will be plenty of places to make that last phone call. I am then much more likely to turn my enquiry into a confirmed booking than if I hear a place that I like less.
Also, time marches on, the winter will come soon enough and if you will be around then, don't forget that with the tiniest amount of snow, Dublin comes to a halt. Last winter, I had two punts in the bad weather and the only way to get across town was on foot and even then it was so slippery that I was scared of falling over. For each of those two punts, I had to walk for over 45 minutes to get there. I got there on time for them both. The first punt was nothing special partly of course because I was under the effects of the icy trudge. The second was a no show as the escort didn't answer the phone leaving me with a fruitless one and a half hour trudge there and back. At that point, I resolved that it would only ever be central for me.