AC Hotels by Marriott Belfast

The harbourfront location is great, with good public transport and easy access to everything going on. The rooms are stylish and comfortable, and have the usual useful things like an iron and ironing board, tea and coffee, and a safe. When the concierge's computer crashed during check-in, they immediately offered us a complimentary drink at the hotel bar. It’s a stylish spot with lovely live music and a relaxed atmosphere. The staff were friendly, helpful, and accommodating throughout. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.

The room was lovely and spacious, and the location was nice, but for a four-star hotel I expected water in the room. What really let the place down was the service during check-in, dining, and checkout. We’d booked a special-offer dinner for that night, but reception hadn’t heard of the promotion. At the restaurant they charged us full price and ignored the offer at first, though they did correct it. We then waited 15 minutes for the bill while the waitress attended to other things. At checkout, they charged us for the meal again even though we’d paid the night before. The communication was really poor. Nobody asked how our stay was or whether everything had been okay. We also weren’t told about the hotel’s half-price parking and ended up paying full price. Very poor service. Would I stay again? No. I think I’d have got better service at the Premier Inn.

Our room was gorgeous, with a view of the water, and it’s an easy walk into the city centre for shopping. The staff were attentive and helpful from the moment we arrived until we left. We stayed Sunday and Monday, and will definitely come back.

Dinner at Novelli Restaurant was the best meal we had in Belfast. There’s an extensive menu and everything was perfectly prepared. Charlie at Novelli Restaurant deserves a special mention for being so welcoming and accommodating, and breakfast was delightful too. The hotel is modern, bright, and has excellent views. We stayed over Easter, and found it an excellent base for sightseeing in Belfast. We’ll definitely return. A great choice for a few days in the city.