Hi Glen,
It's great that you are considering a hop-on-hop-off tour to discover Dublin!
I'm sorry to hear that you saw negative reviews online. While I haven't experienced such a tour firsthand, I've heard good things about
DoDublin's hop-on hop-off tour and Big Bus. Their most recent reviews on Google and Tripadvisor will perhaps reassure you.
You could also get a
Leap Visitor Card if you'd rather explore Dublin without a guided bus tour. It's an affordable and convenient way to explore Dublin and beyond
using public transport and at your own pace. You can even reach the coast with it by using the Dart (coastal suburban train).
What are some of the attractions you'd like to see while in Dublin?
Cheers,
Antoine