Macdonald Holland House, Cardiff

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	A quality hotel close to the city centre
Disadvantages:	A little impersonal

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

In September 2005 My wife and I went to see the Stereophonics play in Cardiff and wanting to be able to take some time to look around Cardiff (recommended to all) we decided to book a hotel for a Friday and Saturday night. After a quick Internet search we settled on MacDonald Holland House.

We were quoted £98 for the Friday and £126 for the Saturday for a Superior Room with breakfast included by the hotel's website. The Superior room is in fact the starting room, if you want a little more luxury you can choose from a Club Room, a Kings Suite or even the Presidential Suite. There are 160 rooms in total.

The Hotel was very easy to find, taking Junction 29 off the M4 if coming from the East (as we were) or Junction 33 from the West. and very close to the City Centre on the Newport Road. We arrived at about 9.30pm and were warmly welcomed. Our car was quickly whisked away to the underground car park, at a cost of £8 per 24 hours.

The lobby of the hotel was spotless and designed to impress. The desk staff greeted us warmly and then told us we had arrived on the wrong day. Knowing this wrong we insisted and were given a room. A fair bit of toing and froing later and it turned out someone with the same name had booked in through a third party and I'd been booked in with a name that wasnt quite mine. They were very apologetic and offered us a bottle of wine as compensation which we accepted.

Our room was very spacious, tidy and clean, with great views towards Newport and the hills to the North. We had a very comfortable queen sized bed along with chairs and a table to rest at and standard facilities such as a TV, trouser press, tea maker and hairdryer. Wardrobe space was adequate and there was a safe if wanted. Pluses for me were an iron and ironing board; a CD system which we put to good use after a reckless hour in Virgin and a shower that should be standard in all hotels. In addition there was a well stocked and somewhat unusually reasonably priced mini bar, though we managed to avoid the temptation.

We were situated right next to the lift system but didn't hear it or any other residents at all. Occasionally we did hear traffic but it didn't affect our nights sleeping.

The bar, next to the restaurant, is large and in my view impersonal. We didnt use it so I cant comment further, however we did walk through it (its quite large!) to get to the restaurant. This was also a bit impersonal with tables a little close together but the food and service were excellent, especially for dinner which we had on Friday night at a cost of about £30 per head with wine.

The hotel has a leisure club with a well equipped gym and swimming pool but 'sadly' we came unprepared and had to forego exercise. My wife consoled herself by booking some of the available pampering instead (a massage and pedicure which cost about £60). There are business facilities, internet availability (you buy cards from the front desk) and if you're in the market full conference facilities.

Check out was quick and easy. We were left an express check out option but as the desk was clear we checked out there, thanked the staff, were apologised to again and left happy.

The hotel is a short 10 minute walk from Queens Street which is where you'll find many of Cardiffs largest and best known shops. It is probably not best suited to families with young children.

I recommend this hotel full heartedly and will definitely use it again myself.

For more information: www.hollandhousehotel.co.uk