Angel Hotel

The location beside the castle and near the city centre was very handy, and the staff were friendly. WiFi was strong throughout my two-night January stay, and the price suited the location. The building has an elegant, quirky feel and could have a lot of potential after renovation, though the old carpets show their age. Noise was the main problem: the door let hallway sounds straight into the room. I could hear plenty and felt bad even coughing because I knew people in other rooms might hear me. My bed was soft, bouncy and lumpy, and an outside light shone through the drapes all night. The outlets were across the room by the desk, so charging things beside the bed wasn't an option. I'm not especially fussy, but those issues added up to a three-star stay.

The staff were lovely, especially housekeeping, and the hotel was clean throughout. I had a powerful shower with a great temperature, and the WiFi worked well. It's an old hotel in a perfect spot opposite Cardiff Castle, with shops and the train and bus stations all walkable. The lift has apparently been out of order for ages, which should be made clear before booking. My mattress sagged on one side, but since I was travelling alone it didn't bother me.

Our family room was far bigger than expected, almost palace-like, with a superking in one room and two single beds in another. The front desk staff were welcoming. The only real trouble was the heat upstairs. We visited on a mild October day, and the top-floor room was too warm, though fans, open windows and turning down the radiators helped somewhat. The hotel's central position was ideal, right by the castle and high street, and close to the university for Cardiff Uni's open day. We booked ahead on JustPark for Greyfriars Road, a three-minute walk away, which worked well since we travelled light. We went out for the evening, so didn't try the bar or food. We can recommend Pilgrim Pizza nearby. It was a very good stay, and we plan to come back to Cardiff.

The building is old and could use a lift, but for a three-star hotel it was more than enough. We saw two rooms after a small problem with the first one. The third-floor room had the basics, including warmth, clean sheets and hot water, though one tap was stuck, so we switched rooms. The replacement was on the first floor facing the street, so it was noisier, but that was fine for us. It had been renovated and had a view of the castle. The staff were incredibly accommodating and the nicest I've encountered.