St Mary's is brand new, it's light and modern. The rooms are great, as are kitchen areas and bathrooms. Most of the town houses also have amazing views of Bangor. However, st Mary's is up an extremely steep hill. The social life, especially for Freshers, compared to ffrif site at Bangor, is quite poor, as is the gym. Due to the bin collection system, and the seagulls, st Mary's site is often covered in rubbish. The town houses are nice, but for the overall experience, I recommend Freshers stay at ffrif site.
As an international student it is important to live in a atmosphere welcoming to all. I found my halls private enough yet giving enough opportunity to socialize.