Delta Hotels by Marriott Swansea

The radiator stopped working, and reception sent up a portable heater that was broken. When we asked to change rooms, we were moved to one with no handle on the window. Wind came through, and rain left a big puddle on the sill and soaked my money, which luckily is plastic now. This was the first night of our honeymoon. We’d booked a four-star hotel, but the Delta hotel was nothing like what we’d hoped for. We were asked about a honeymoon romance package and declined because it was a £7 bottle of Prosecco being sold for £50. They brought it to our room anyway, which we thought was kind since I’d emailed to say no. At checkout they tried to charge me £70. I showed them the email, and they accepted they’d made a mistake. I asked for a refund later, but the manager didn’t respond or acknowledge it through hotels.com, and hotels.com weren’t helpful either. I’d stay in beautiful Swansea, but I wouldn’t recommend this hotel. The manager should contact me and refund me.

The best thing about this place is its spot right by the beach. The room, though, smelled bad, and the covers were so itchy I ended up sleeping in my sleeping bag. There were hairs on the towel and in the bathtub when I went to take a quick shower. Check-in was pretty late and took a little while, which can happen. But I was told the £50 deposit wouldn’t come out of my bank until I left, unless something was wrong with the room. A couple of minutes after I got upstairs, it was withdrawn. It showed as pending, so that money was tied up until they sort it out, and who knows how long that might take. £50 isn’t the biggest issue as long as I get it back, but it added to the frustration. The key card also didn’t work, so I had to get another one. I don’t usually like leaving bad reviews, and I won’t make the choice for anyone else, but personally I’d rather buy a £30 tent at Decathlon and camp on the beach beside the hotel than sleep here again. The location is far too good to be let down by this kind of quality. Hope they improve.

I nearly knocked this down to two or three stars over one thing: there was no charging plug beside the bed. A hotel without one is a psychopath move when you want to use your phone or computer in bed. The reception staff were polite and efficient, though I’d have liked a warmer smile. The food really surprised me. Fresh tuna with salad one night, pizza the next, both excellent. Hotel food is usually pricey and lazy or poor, but that wasn’t the case here. Bar and breakfast staff were lovely, and the reception, bar and restaurant all felt welcoming. The evening bar had a cosy atmosphere and friendly feel, unusual for a chain hotel. Rates were competitive, and it’s right by the beach, with loads of town centre bars and restaurants about five minutes away. I read the AI generated review and it’s accurate. The rooms were spacious and looked nice, but a few things needed attention, like the toilet flush. Pleasant stay for a chain hotel. 4/5, will definitely come again.

The location is good and convenient. My stay was still let down by the pillows: one smelled really damp, and another genuinely had a smelly feet odor. I had to call reception at bedtime for clean pillowcases. Nobody apologised, either when I called or when they brought them up. It came across as dismissive and left me wondering if other parts of the room had been cleaned properly.