Marriott Hotel Cardiff

The room carpet had heavy stains, including what looked like food, plus thick mud in one corner. It clearly hadn't been vacuumed or checked properly and needs a deep clean. The bed linen and bathroom, though, were very clean. For the price, I expected better room standards. The staff were super friendly and helpful, and the clean, welcoming lobby made a good impression. We didn't eat in the restaurant, which was packed each night, but our first-night drink at the hotel bar was really expensive compared with local pubs and bars. The room was okay, though below the hotel's general standard. It's very convenient for the station, bars, shops and restaurants, but the nearby busy bars and clubs make it VERY noisy. I'd stay again for the location and friendly staff if visiting Cardiff, but management needs to check room cleanliness.

The room felt past its best, and the carpet needed cleaning. The bed was terrible. It felt uncomfortable as soon as we arrived, though I thought it might just be me. After two nights, both of us are still feeling the effects, with painful backs and sides. I told the desk staff when we left; they said they'd take note, but I don't think I'll return. I've stayed here before and loved it, so this visit was nowhere near as good. The staff were amazing and make the hotel for me. Breakfast was great, and the waiting staff were helpful.

The biggest concern was how guests were kept informed about safety. Our first-floor windows usually weren't visible to anyone, but one day workmen walked past while doing roof repairs. I was shocked, and luckily I wasn't changing clothes. On Monday afternoon, the fire alarm went off, so I put on my shoes and started down the stairs. It stopped near the bottom, and I wondered if it was connected to the repairs. The elevators wouldn't go back up and displayed a message about the alarm. I headed for the lounge, then it sounded again. A staff member told me they test the alarms every Monday afternoon. Guests should be told about both situations in advance. The bed was VERY hard. Reception kindly added a topper, which helped, but it was still very hard. The rooms are well laid out, and ours had a comfortable sofa. The location is perfect in the city center, an easy walk to the arcades and St David's, about 10 minutes from the castle and 15 from the museum. The carpark is fairly easy to navigate, though on longer stays you have to get your ticket validated at the front desk every time you drive out. It's a bit of a hassle, but staff are quick. Hotel staff were really good overall. Zsofia and Tam at reception and Ben in the executive lounge stood out, and housekeeping did a great job. The gym is always clean and has a good range of equipment. I especially appreciated the step equipment and the smaller weight sizes. The executive lounge has breakfast of average quality and puts out cookies mid-afternoon, which weren't very good. Evening drinks run from 17:30-21:00, a nice long window. Ben was great at keeping on top of things and chatting with everyone, and Jenna was good too. Snacks are available from 17:30-19:00, but there's not much: soup and two hot dishes in ramekins each night. One was often plain, dry rice. There's also cheese and crackers, usually a fruit cup or salad, and small desserts. The desserts were the best part. A solid choice in Cardiff.

Don't stay here for business. The hotel's attached to a nightclub, so there's drum and bass from about 10pm to 4am every night and you won't sleep. The restaurant gets a solid 2/10, though breakfast is good. The actual hotel staff are great, but the restaurant isn't part of the hotel.