Pros
- City center location is a short walk from the main train station
- Pleasant restaurant serves locally sourced produce
- The cafe bar features a menu of British favorites and an outdoor patio
- Indoor swimming pool, steam room, and sauna are nice perks
- Air conditioned rooms include high-end bath products and flat-screen TVs
- Large multi-story car park is convenient (though expensive)
Cons
- Expensive fee for Wi-Fi
- Generic and dated interiors
- Noise from local bars can be an issue
- Rooms lack mini-fridges
Bottom Line
This Marriott Hotel is a mid-range, chain property located in the center of Cardiff city. There's not a great deal to get excited about inside or out; uninspiring architecture and generic corporate-style decor can be found through most of the property. Rooms are adequate and mostly spacious, though lacking minibars, and some suffer from street noise. The restaurant is pleasantly decorated, the indoor swimming pool is a decent size, and multi-level parking is certainly useful for drivers. Overall, however, the hotel doesn't quite live up to the brand's typical upscale standards, and despite relatively low rates, expensive Wi-Fi, breakfast, and parking can add up and make this not a particularly high-value stay.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Cribs
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
Scene
Modern redbrick chain hotel with generic corporate ambiance
Appearing more office block than hotel, this modern redbrick property is a bit bland. A glass-ceilinged portico points visitors to the entrance and into the lobby -- an equally characterless, though perfectly passable, sparsely-furnished space with wood-paneled reception desk and ceiling spot lighting. The hotel opened in 1986 as a Holiday Inn and was sold to InterContinental Hotels Group four years later to become a Marriott hotel. Despite 2008 renovations, much of the interiors feel dated -- with the exception of the bar and restaurant A trio of elevators whisk a mixture of business and leisure guests to one of the hotel's 172 guest rooms spread over 12 floors.
Location
Set in Cardiff city center, close to shopping, transport, and hip hangouts
The hotel is located in the center of Cardiff, overlooking Mill Lane and a collection of hip bars and hangouts popular with students and young revelers. The location is also super-convenient for access to most of the city's shopping and entertainment, with the Cardiff Central Market and St David’s shopping mall a couple blocks away and Millennium Stadium less than 10 minutes on foot. Cardiff Central Railway station is also just a three minutes' walk away, and numerous restaurants and cafes can be found in the surrounding area.
Rooms
Typical traditionally-styled rooms with decent toiletries, though some noise
The hotel's 172 rooms are decorated in a typical but not unpleasant chain-hotel fashion with a mixture of traditional styling and both modern and old fashioned furnishings -- though some are looking tired. Room have adjustable heating and air-conditioning, as well as flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, and tea/coffee facilities -- though no minibars or fridges. While Wi-Fi is available, it's not free of charge and pretty expensive. Bathrooms are clean and generally well-maintained with shower/tub combos and high-end Acca Kappa bath products. Although all rooms are double glazed and there's no intolerable traffic noise, late night disturbances from the clubs and bars opposite have been reported.
Features
Good leisure facilities, biut expensive breakfasts, parking, and Wi-Fi
The hotel offers a choice of three breakfasts: buffet, continental, and grab-n-go, though all cost the same (rather high) price. The restaurant Zest has pleasant surroundings and offers a range of locally sourced Welsh dishes for dinner and Sunday lunches. Alternatively, Chat's Café Bar offers more relaxed dining of traditional British fare as well an outside patio for alfresco eating. Leisure facilities are decent, with a good-sized indoor swimming pool, steam room, and whirlpool, as well as free fitness classes and a gym. The main downside, however, is the hotel charges an expensive hourly rate for even a basic Wi-Fi connection. While the hotel has a multi-story car park, daily rates are also pricey.
Related Hotels
Scene
Modern redbrick chain hotel with generic corporate ambiance
Appearing more office block than hotel, this modern redbrick property is a bit bland. A glass-ceilinged portico points visitors to the entrance and into the lobby -- an equally characterless, though perfectly passable, sparsely-furnished space with wood-paneled reception desk and ceiling spot lighting. The hotel opened in 1986 as a Holiday Inn and was sold to InterContinental Hotels Group four years later to become a Marriott hotel. Despite 2008 renovations, much of the interiors feel dated -- with the exception of the bar and restaurant A trio of elevators whisk a mixture of business and leisure guests to one of the hotel's 172 guest rooms spread over 12 floors.
Location
Set in Cardiff city center, close to shopping, transport, and hip hangouts
The hotel is located in the center of Cardiff, overlooking Mill Lane and a collection of hip bars and hangouts popular with students and young revelers. The location is also super-convenient for access to most of the city's shopping and entertainment, with the Cardiff Central Market and St David’s shopping mall a couple blocks away and Millennium Stadium less than 10 minutes on foot. Cardiff Central Railway station is also just a three minutes' walk away, and numerous restaurants and cafes can be found in the surrounding area.
Rooms
Typical traditionally-styled rooms with decent toiletries, though some noise
The hotel's 172 rooms are decorated in a typical but not unpleasant chain-hotel fashion with a mixture of traditional styling and both modern and old fashioned furnishings -- though some are looking tired. Room have adjustable heating and air-conditioning, as well as flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, and tea/coffee facilities -- though no minibars or fridges. While Wi-Fi is available, it's not free of charge and pretty expensive. Bathrooms are clean and generally well-maintained with shower/tub combos and high-end Acca Kappa bath products. Although all rooms are double glazed and there's no intolerable traffic noise, late night disturbances from the clubs and bars opposite have been reported.
Features
Good leisure facilities, biut expensive breakfasts, parking, and Wi-Fi
The hotel offers a choice of three breakfasts: buffet, continental, and grab-n-go, though all cost the same (rather high) price. The restaurant Zest has pleasant surroundings and offers a range of locally sourced Welsh dishes for dinner and Sunday lunches. Alternatively, Chat's Café Bar offers more relaxed dining of traditional British fare as well an outside patio for alfresco eating. Leisure facilities are decent, with a good-sized indoor swimming pool, steam room, and whirlpool, as well as free fitness classes and a gym. The main downside, however, is the hotel charges an expensive hourly rate for even a basic Wi-Fi connection. While the hotel has a multi-story car park, daily rates are also pricey.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
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Airport Transportation
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Balcony / Terrace / Patio
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Business Center
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Cable
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Concierge
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Cribs
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Dry Cleaning
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Fitness Center
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Golf Course
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Internet
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Jacuzzi
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Kids Allowed
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Laundry
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Meeting / Conference Rooms
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Pool
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Poolside Drink Service
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Rental Car Service Desk Onsite
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Room Service
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Swim-Up Bar
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
