... I had a blurry memory about the Marriott hotel from my last visit to Cardiff and thought I would check out their website for a cheap deal.
** Background **
Marriott Hotels and Resorts are one part of the Marriott Group that also includes, among others, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, ... Read review
Located in Cardiff's Cafe Quarter in the centre of the city, this Marriott hotel has a ... more
recently refurbished on-site restaurant, a fitness club and wireless internet access.The deluxe accommodation is near major businesses, excellent shopping and attrac...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Cardiff Marriott Hotel is a modern, ten storey property centrally located in Cardiff's ... more
Café Quarter, 500 metres from the famous Millennium Stadium. The hotel's 184 guestrooms feature light, modern decor and colourful fabrics, and all include air condit...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Cardiff Marriott Hotel is a modern, ten storey property centrally located in Cardiff's ... more
Café Quarter, 500 metres from the famous Millennium Stadium. The hotel's 184 guestrooms feature light, modern decor and colourful fabrics, and all include air condit...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Advantages: Great location, great facilities Disadvantages: How much for a vodka?
...a blurry memory about the Marriott hotel from my last visit to Cardiff and thought I would check out their website for a cheap deal.
** Background **
Marriott Hotels and Resorts are one part of the Marriott Group that also includes, among others, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, Courtyard and The Ritz-Carlton. There are around 450 Marriott Hotels and Resorts Worldwide catering for business and vacation travel alike. There ... ...events online first. The Marriott site offers an online booking facility for each of its hotels and shows real time rates and availability.
The booking form is available from the hotel page and you simply enter the dates of your required stay and the number of rooms and guests to be included in the booking. A list of available rates will be displayed for you to select. Once selected you are required to enter some personal information ... more
After a miserable couple of months since Christmas me and the missus decided that a short break was called for and after searching around for something appealing decided that a weekend in Cardiff would be ideal. I had a blurry memory about the Marriott hotel from my last visit to Cardiff and thought I would check out their website for a cheap deal.
** Background **
Marriott Hotels and Resorts are one part of the Marriott Group that also includes, among others, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, Courtyard and The Ritz-Carlton. There are around 450 Marriott Hotels and Resorts Worldwide catering for business and vacation travel alike. There are numerous meeting and conference facilities available at each hotel as well as specialist staff to help with the organising of events.
** Making a Booking **
Spending most of my time on the internet and feeling more confident in making an internet booking I always try and book flights, hotels and other events online first. The Marriott site offers an online booking facility for each of its hotels and shows real time rates and availability.
The booking form is available from the hotel page and you simply enter the dates of your required stay and the number of rooms and guests to be included in the booking. A list of available rates will be displayed for you to select. Once selected you are required to enter some personal information and payment details and the reservation is complete.
Unfortunately, I had problems with this process when I attempted to make a reservation as I do not live in America. I assume that this is a temporary problem and that under normal circumstances it is possible for non-US reservations to be made online. I did email the help desk about the problem but as yet haven’t heard anything back.
As I was unable to make an online reservation I contacted the hotel direct and was able to get the same rate over the telephone. The process of making the reservation directly with the hotel was quick and easy. The member of staff on the phone was helpful explaining the terms and conditions of the room rate to me at the time of booking. The only thing I missed was a confirmation letter/email for my booking, although there were no problems with my booking when I arrived at the hotel.
** Location **
The hotel is located on Mill Lane in the city centre offering easy access to the train station (Cardiff Central), the shops, local pubs and restaurants and tourist attractions. Mill Lane is just off the high street and can be easily accessed by car, bus or train. To-the-door directions can be obtained from the Marriott website.
The immediate area surrounding the hotel is packed with pubs, clubs and restaurants. Slightly further away can be found the main shopping area of the city, all of which can be reached by a short walk. Mill Lane itself is an area of town with a slightly continental feel to it, with café’s spilling out onto the street and a diverse range of bars and restaurants.
** The Hotel **
The hotel itself is a small tower style building with around 10 floors and about 25 rooms per floor. The hotel is set in the middle of a car park offering easy access from the main roads into the city. The entrance to the hotel is small, but highlighted by an extended covered walkway guiding pedestrians into the building. To the side of the entrance is a patio area where you could sit out in the summer. Not recommended in February though.
The lobby is quite small and narrow. It feels a little dark, although the décor is tasteful and the lighting subtle. There is easy access to all floors from three lifts in the lobby but the stairs are well hidden at the end of the two wings of the hotel so it is not so easy for energetic people to use the stairs. There is a new feel and smell to the hotel, which is generally in an excellent state of repair.
** Facilities **
Considering the city centre location I was very impressed with the facilities offered by the hotel. There was a 25m (approx) indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi on the ground floor of the hotel, which was light and airy with views out over the patio area.
There is a resident’s car park onsite but it is charged at a rate of £7.50 a day. The car park is fairly secure with good barriers blocking the exit but offers little protection from vandalism or theft of vehicle contents.
There is a large bar and dinning area on the ground floor. There is a television in the bar area that was showing sporting events over the weekend I was there. There was plenty of seating space throughout the bar and restaurant and I had no problem being seated for meals.
** The Room **
My room was on the second floor looking out over the front of the hotel. The view from the window was of the surrounding bars and restaurants but I suspect from a higher floor you would have had a good view of the millennium stadium.
The décor in the room was fairly nice and simplistic. There was plenty of hanging space and table tops for storing all the stuff I seem to carry around with me. There was a large desk area with a glass top and an office style chair, which I assume is aimed at the business traveller. The room was well lit and came with an air conditioning system to maintain a pleasant temperature. The room had quite a spacious feel to it despite not being too big. The bedding was clean and comfortable, making for a good nights sleep.
The en suite bathroom was a good size and most importantly had a great power shower in it. There were a good selection of towels and toiletries supplied in the bathroom.
** The Service **
From what little contact I had with the staff I found them very helpful and extremely polite. A willing member of staff dealt with all the queries and requests I had quickly and accurately. There always seemed to be plenty of staff working to prevent the need to queue or wait for any length of time. The reception was always sufficiently staffed, as was the restaurant and bar. It also appeared that there was always more senior members of staff around should you have a problem although I didn’t have the need to use them.
** Eating and Drinking **
The room rate I booked included breakfast both mornings. It is normally the highlight of my stay in a hotel to over indulge in a fried breakfast and end up feeling seriously ill for most of the day. Obviously this depends on the quality and quantity of the breakfast available. I am pleased to report that I spent both days in the hotel stuffed to the brim on fried food and orange juice. There was a good selection of hot and cold food available and all was very fresh and regularly replenished. The breakfast was a buffet style all you can eat affair making it very easy to over eat. There was a choice of egg, fried or scrambled, two types of sausage and two types of bacon as well as other delights such as hash browns and tomatoes.
With so many lovely looking restaurants in the immediate area surrounding the hotel I didn’t eat an evening meal in the hotel. When walking through the hotel lobby there seemed to be quite a few people who were eating in the hotel and their meals looked good.
One night on returning to the hotel I decided to have a quick drink in the hotel bar before retiring to my room. Drinks in hotel bars are traditionally expensive beasts and this was no exception, but when the rest of the bars in the area have closed what choice do you have? To give you some idea of how expensive the drinks are, I bought two vodkas and was charged £9. I could have bought a bottle for that from the off licence if I had only thought about it an hour earlier.
** The Price **
Now for the important part, the cost. I booked this hotel as an offer directly with the hotel. The offer applied to stays of two nights or more and worked out at just under £70 a night for the room. It is not what you would call cheap but for a stay in this sort of hotel I thought this was quite competitive.
** Any complaints? **
No stay can be perfect so here are my gripes from my stay. 1. There was no mini-bar in my room. There was a cupboard designed to hold a mini-bar but it was empty. This is not really a problem as I tend not to use the mini-bar but it is always nice to have a choice. 2. You have to pay for the car park even if you are staying in the hotel. It just seems wrong to me that you should pay so much to stay in a hotel and you have to pay more to leave your car there. 3. Drinks were very expensive. Not really a problem with the number of bars in the immediate area but certainly worth keeping in mind. 4. I could have done with an extra pillow on the bed. For some reason there were three on the double bed. Why three? I probably could have requested an extra pillow but kept forgetting.
** More Information **
If you like what you have read so far and fancy making a booking or finding out some more information check out the chain website here: https://marriott.com/default.mi or the website for the Cardiff Marriott here: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/CWLDT
** Overall **
I would certainly stay here again and would look favourably on other hotels in the chain. It can be quite expensive to stay here but I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. At the price I paid for the weekend I thought it was pretty good value for money.
Advantages: Nice decor Disadvantages: Service, Staff, Prices and Clendliness
...in the £130 a night Marriott Hotel in the heart of Cardiff.
The Marriott stands tall in the centre of Cardiff, just minutes from the shopping area its ideal for anyone who can afford to stay there going on a shopping trip. Luckily for me it was very close to where I was working which was an added bonus. By the time I had finished I was an absolute zombie and staggered through the streets at 3 a.m. clutching my little bag. My first view of the Marriott ... ...say I cannot recommend the Marriott Cardiff to anyone, its by far the worst hotel I have ever stayed in; and the service the worst I have ever received.
I must point out that the list of services available here were limited, this literally is a hotel that you stay in and don't get involved in any form of activity. If such facilities were available its certainly not made apparent without having to ask. ...
sghawken 20.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marriott Hotel, Cardiff
...actually rather good – the Marriott Hotel Cardiff. I visited the hotel a couple of years ago, but unfortunately at the time it was being refitted, so it was a bit of a battlefield. The refit has long since been completed, and this time I was able to enjoy the full range of services that the hotel had to offer.
Location
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The Cardiff Marriott advertises itself as “Cardiff’s Premier Hotel” – a claim that I would ... ...photocopiers.
As with many Marriott hotels, there is also an extensive health club – more often populated by non-residents, and generally quite swanky. The Cardiff health club includes an indoor pool, a solarium, gym equipment, whirlpool and sauna. The club is well fitted, well staffed – and well priced! Nonetheless, facilities are free to residents so make sure you bring your swimming gear. For the golf players amongst you, there are ...
LostWitness 18.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marriott Hotel, Cardiff
Advantages: very good service, excellent location Disadvantages: cost
The Marriot Hotel , Cardiff.
Location: This hotel is 50m from the main strip of pubs and clubs in the throbbing centre of Cardiff. It is only 200m from the train station, and clearly visible from it. The location could not be better for a stay in the city.
Price: I paid 110 pounds for a normal double room, with 2 for breakfast, though checking the board in the hotel the 'rack rate' for that room is 165 pounds, so there stands a testament to booking ... ...doors it is clear that this is a 'higher market' hotel. The huge floral display on the main table helped to give it away! It was both very light and cheery, with plenty of seating, both secluded and public.
Service: The check-in process was pleasant and painless, not a sensation always experienced in hotels! All questions were answered comprehensively, and with no strange looks for what were probably stupid questions.
Room: Though the room was ...
big_t 08.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marriott Hotel, Cardiff
The Marriott in Cardiff is one of the most expensive hotels in cardiff although from the services on offer there the prices are not unjust. The Marriott is centred right near the gay part of Cardiff although is just off Saint Mary Street where the majority of clubs and pubs are. The train and bus central stations are also a short walk away and if you bring a car there is free parking with 24 hour security which makes it the safest place to park in ... ...normally to stay in the marriott although for a one off occasion on my friends 21ST i raided my piggy bank. The room cost £110 for two double beds(When i asked for a twin room i was abruptly told that there were no single beds in the entire hotel)and this brings me to the fact the phone operators had a superior complex and I ended up hating talking to them, I booked and hung up asap. Thankfully though the receptionists in person were more friendly. ...
siany 10.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Marriott Hotel, Cardiff
Advantages: Ideal location Disadvantages: Have to pay to use the hotel's car park
I stayed at the Cardiff Marriott Hotelin December 2003 and I believe there are many advantages of staying here but that there are also disadvantages. I shall take you through the pro's and con's so that you get a clear picture for yourselves. The main advantage was that the Marriott is situated in an ideal location- it is only a few meters away fro a row of pubs and restaurants and around 10 minutes walking time from the main street in Cardiff. The ... ...is very clean and shiny! There is a bar there and a restaurant and a gym/spa. The gym is quite large and for each treadmill there is tv. The pool itself is also large and you get a clean towel each time you go into the gym or the pool. There are 2 lifts that take you up to the rooms and on each corridor in the hotel there is an ice machine. The bedrroms I thought were a bit small but nonetheles were fully equiped with a tv, kettle, iron, teas and ...
llyffantcoch 15.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Marriott Hotel, Cardiff
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Hope it was helpful!
Dan x ...