Holiday Inn Express Cardiff Bay

Breakfast was the best part of our stay at Holiday Inn Cardiff Bay. We thought it was good, despite what other reviews said, and it moved our rating from one star to two. The room had very little tea, just enough for one drink each, so we couldn't have one in the evening and again the next morning. There were no glasses or plastic cups for water, either. We had trouble with parking from the start. The car park was full when we arrived, so we left the car on the road. Before leaving the hotel car park, we asked reception how to pay and were told we'd need to go to the car at 8am to put a ticket on it, because there was no app. We checked and found an app. We also couldn't exit the hotel car park without a code, so we ended up blocking the exit while going back inside to get one. The pipework made a lot of noise whenever someone in another room flushed the toilet, and it kept waking us. At checkout, when we raised it, the receptionist didn't apologize and said a pump problem would be fixed “soon.” That didn't help after a badly disturbed night. The rest of the stay left a lot to be desired, even though breakfast was good.

It's a quiet, decent budget place by the water in Cardiff. The room had a good shower, hairdryer, kettle, and an iron with an ironing board. Breakfast is basic, but fair for the price. No Marmite, though, which I wasn't pleased about. The car park is a decent size and costs £10 a night. There was a false fire alarm at 715, but that's not the hotel's fault, probably someone pushing a fire door or vaping in their room.

The staff were polite, friendly, and quick to help, and the atmosphere felt calm and welcoming. Our room was spacious and tidy, and the hotel overall was clean, comfortable, and well looked after. We had a very pleasant stay at Holiday Inn and would happily return or recommend it.

I liked the hotel's appearance and decor, but I wouldn't stay again. The windows don't open, and the curtains smelled of stale cigarette smoke, as if they hadn't been cleaned for a while. Without fresh air circulating, my sinuses were badly affected, and I felt it in my lungs. That's especially unsuitable for a pet-friendly hotel. I'll look for somewhere more suitable next time.