Quay Apartments Clarence House

The main drawback was the area outside, especially the car park. It looked dirty and poorly maintained, getting in and out was difficult, signs weren’t clear, and several exit doors didn’t work. I felt unsafe there at night, so I wouldn’t recommend using the car park if you arrive by car. Inside, the rooms were fantastic: spacious, quiet, and neat. Convenience stores right outside were handy for stocking up. From a higher floor, you can get a good view of Newport, the canals, and bridges. It looked misty when I took my pictures, so hopefully the outside windows are cleaned regularly for a better view.

I cancelled and booked an International hotel in Cardiff instead. With my travel staff discount, I saved around £90. It pays to look around for somewhere more helpful, and I wouldn’t recommend this hotel. I’d booked here for 7-9 July as part of a 10-week European trip, but it was the only accommodation in the UK or Europe that wouldn’t let me leave my luggage before check-in so I could go exploring. As travel staff and a travel writer, I found that extraordinary and really unhelpful.

I’d booked an apartment for the night and travelled 30 miles, but when I tried to check in they said none of my three debit cards worked in their reader and they wouldn’t take cash. I was left alone outside with no way home, while drug addicts and drunks walked past every few minutes, shouting and urinating against walls. Luckily I found another hotel nearby on booking.com, part of the Celtic manor resort. My cards worked there and at the cashpoint, where I withdrew money for a taxi. The difference was night and day, and I’m glad it worked out that way. What a joke of a place. Wouldn’t recommend.

We gave up on our planned four-night stay after just one night, and fortunately got a refund. I couldn’t sleep because the bed sagged several inches in the middle, and the fans were noisy. There’s no fresh-air inlet in the bedroom, so one fan has to bring air into the living room and another move it into the bedroom. Turn them off and the room gets hot and stuffy quickly, so it’s noise or stuffiness. The bathroom smelled faintly of sewage, the fridge was in a state, and the parking garage was very dark and smelled of urine. A horrible experience.