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Looking to spend three nights as a couple in Cardiff (or the surrounds) later this month. We’ll spend a day in the city and another day visiting friends near Tonypandy. Does anyone have any recommendations? My last stay was in the Radisson Blu with work but I’m certain there must be better! No strong ties to any brands – I’ve got various “spend £x and get £y off” on my BAPP and AmEx Platinum but don’t need to use any of them. A pool would be nice but isn’t vital and we will need somewhere to park (and possibly charge) the car.
Disclaimer: I live too close to Cardiff to have stayed in any of these places, so this is based on local hearsay.
Colleagues tend to stay in the Park Plaza or the Indigo. The Bay itself can be quite sterile, but St David’s is often recommended if you want to be outside the centre. The Park Gate looks stunning from the outside but gets mixed reviews.
A quirkier option would be Parador 44, which has the merit of being associated with (probably) Cardiff’s best steakhouse and a couple of doors away from my favourite restaurant, Casanova. An (expensive) NCP is across the road for parking.
I quite liked the Voco St David’s. Pool and spa is decent.
Bounced round all the very central ones during an extended academic project. Park Plaza was the best (don’t be put off by the fact it looks like a council tower block on the outside – everything on the inside was good). Holiday Inn and Park Inn are the ones to be avoided. Leonardo had strange rooms and bad food. Haven’t stayed at any by the bay so can’t compare to those.
The Park Plaza was formerly a council tower block, so there’s a very good reason it looks like one!
I stayed at the Hilton Cardiff during covid times. Had a nice view of the castle and it had a good swimming pool. Not sure what it’s like recently.
I stayed at the Hilton Cardiff during covid times. Had a nice view of the castle and it had a good swimming pool. Not sure what it’s like recently.
It was rather stingy immediately after covid but the whole hotel was recently refurbished and treats guests properly now – however if lounge is important to you the offerings are still meagre
Try the Vale Resort, just outside Cardiff and on the way to Tonypandy.
Has a pool and Spa (and two golf courses)
EV charging at the services on junction 33Thanks all – several to investigate there (and a couple to avoid). Will report back on where we picked and how it was!
@Iona, if it were me, I’d be booking Parador 44 based on the quality of reviews and the quality of the owners’ restaurants. The Times and The Telegraphboth loved it, and the Guardian included in its list of 2022’s best new hotels.
Stayed at the Voco St Davids and the premier inn Cardiff bay.
Both are good for different reasons and different budgetsJust realised I never came back on this.
We looked at Parador 44 but the dates didn’t work. We did have an excellent breakfast at Asador 44 though.
We ended up spending one night at Llanerch Vineyard (it was available for a good price when booked room only, non-refundable a week or so out). We booked a Courtyard Room – comfy bed, nice shower and espresso machine (with fresh milk available). Neighbours believed in shutting their door firmly but no other issues. We didn’t have breakfast (M&S Cafe for the win!) but dinner was very good. Real mix of clientele – including some elderly couples who’d been to a funeral, a father and (18-21) son and several singles with business nearby.
We also spent a couple of nights at the Park Plaza. It was ok… I’d stay again (with a couple of caveats below) but wouldn’t pick it ahead of other places. They have two tiers of guests/rooms (even down to whether you get a folded piece of paper with your room key in or a little cardboard wallet). We booked a Superior Tree-Lined View which is advertised as having “air conditioning/heating control”. What they don’t mention is that the only people who can change the temperature of the room are reception… They also offered us the option to put a portable electric heater in the freezing bathroom in order to warm it up. We ended up being moved to an Executive Room which was tired but better. I wouldn’t book below that level in future. Thought the £10 charge for a robe was a bit cheeky given the fuss they make about the hotel having leisure/spa facilities. Finally, a very seasonal issue is that it’s across the road from Winter Wonderland so if you’re in one of the rooms facing it (which I assume is about 50% of them) there’s loud music until 9 or 10pm (depending on the day of the week).
We used Just Park to book parking at the Ibis Budget which worked well but was a bit of a trek from the hotel.
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