Cardiff Bute Terrace Hotel

For one night, this no frills hotel was adequate. The room was a good size, and I was glad to be on the 10th floor, though the lifts were slow. Staff at check-in and housekeeping were approachable and polite. The breakfast was OK, but items took a while to be replenished and there weren’t any pastries. The shower had no glass door, so water splashed onto the bathroom floor and I had to put towels down. The bed was two singles pushed together and felt somewhat uncomfortable.

We slept well during our one night here, and the staff were welcoming and friendly throughout. Still, the hotel felt dated, so I probably wouldn’t stay again. Our corner room was spacious, with a king size bed, a single bed and windows on two sides. It looked a bit tired and wasn’t very clean, with dust on the bedside drawers. There was a 40inch TV but no remote, so we couldn’t use it. You can hear some noise from the nearby railway line, though it wasn’t loud enough to keep us awake. The hotel serves a limited continental breakfast: cereal, yogurt, fruit, croissant, muffins and toast. There are also clingfilm wrapped bacon, sausage or veggie sausage butties in brown paper takeaway bags. The coffee machine was good, and you could help yourself to a large takeaway cup. On site parking is available, but spaces are very limited. An NCP car park nearby costs £14 for 24hours.

The lady who served us was especially lovely, and the staff member was kind. I liked that we could leave our bags, but a 3pm check-in was inconvenient. After a long journey, there was no way to freshen up before then. The room was nice enough, though it could’ve been cleaner. The bathroom was horrible, and I didn’t feel comfortable using it. The room was warm and had no windows for ventilation. I wouldn’t stay again.

The location is convenient, and the staff were nice. They explained that our side of the building gets the sun and suggested keeping the curtains closed. The room had an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer and a small table fan. The fan did the job for me, though some people might not find it makes much difference. It’s a bit run down, and the shower needs fixing. Water sprayed toward the ceiling and everywhere else, leaving my hair soaked. If your room is on the sunny side, keep in mind it gets boiling, and the windows don’t open. It doesn’t feel like a top rated hotel, but it isn’t the worst either.