Clayton Hotel Cardiff

Opened in 2011, the Maldron Hotel occupies a distinctive and imposing piece of modern architecture characterized by a curving stone-and-glass facade and jovial splashes of color. Stepping inside, guests find that the lobby is equally modern, decorated in a palette of grays and black with contemporary design furnishings and low lighting -- although it doesn't quite break free from chain hotel aesthetics. Cardiff’s largest city-center hotel, this Best Western Plus has just one a pair of elevators -- which can get congested at busy times -- that ferry guests to the 216 rooms spread over the property's 12 floors. An inner courtyard with simple box chairs and tables provides guests with an outdoor space -- where guests are allowed to smoke. Clientele are generally couples in town for the weekend, while during the week it tends to draw mostly business travelers. 

The hotel sits on a busy corner intersection of three main roads in the center of Cardiff. The location is super-convenient for access to most of the city's shopping and entertainment, with the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Central Market, and St David’s shopping mall less than 10 minutes away on foot. Cardiff Central Railway station is also just a two minutes' walk away, and right outside the hotel is heavy with both road and pedestrian traffic. The many restaurants and bars of Cardiff's center are also within easy walking distance, though visitors arriving by car might find navigating the area's one-way system a little challenging. 

The hotel's 216 rooms are colorful and modern with smart contemporary furnishings, striped carpets and curtains, and large windows that fill the space with lots of natural light. Rooms are all air-conditioned with laptop-size safes, tea/coffee facilities, and flat-screen TVs; Wi-Fi is also free of charge, but rooms lack minibars. Bathrooms are clean and modern with shower/tub combos and wall-mounted soap and shampoo, while hairdryers can be found in the bedroom areas. While higher-floor rooms are reasonably quiet, those on lower levels can suffer from noise from the nearby railway.

The hotel's Stir Restaurant serves a buffet breakfast of hot and cold items each morning -- including a full English option -- though it's not included in the rate. An early-bird breakfast is also available and includes pastries, fruit, and yogurt. Lunch and dinner are also available at the on-site eatery; the chef makes signature bread statues -- while the Stir Bar offers a decent selection of drinks including cocktails. The fitness center is clean and bright with up-to-date equipment.