Comfort Near the Castle: The Park Plaza Cardiff

Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is not a big city; it’s pleasantly compact with a beautiful waterfront, plenty of pedestrian-only streets and delightful arcades to explore, and the majestic Cardiff Castle as its centerpiece.  In the heart of the action, around the corner from the castle, you’ll find the Park Plaza Cardiff hotel.

With 129 rooms, the Park Plaza is Cardiff-sized: not too big, not too small. All rooms include free wi-fi, TVs, work desks, coffee and tea makers (complete with biscuit snacks to accompany), mini-bars, hair dryers, laptop safes, Egyptian cotton sheets, feather duvets and pillows, both EU and UK power sockets and other standard amenities – everything you need, without extra frills that increase the price but don’t add much value.

Executive rooms, Junior Suites and Suites also include a complimentary half-bottle of red or white wine and two half-bottles of mineral water as well as bathrobes and slippers for use in the room.

I was happily surprised by the size of my room, which had a King bed, work desk, small sofa and chair, and a tiled bathroom with both a bathtub and a walk-in shower. Like the hotel, it was the perfect size: not so big I felt the space was wasted on a single traveler but spacious enough that I would have had plenty of room even with a companion.

Onsite, there’s a gym and UV filtered stainless steel pool as well as a spa that offers massages, facials, nail services, waxing and other services. There’s also a relaxing lobby lounge with cushy sofas and low lighting, and an onsite bar and restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, traditional afternoon tea, and dinner. The modern Welsh cuisine includes dished like grilled lamb, grilled duck breast, roasted cod and the best sticky toffee pudding I had in my seven days in Wales. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

Throughout my stay, service was superb, down to the small touches. When my friend realized her phone charger wasn’t working, staff graciously charged it at the front desk several times. The Park Plaza has a business-like air about it, and does seem to cater to business guests, but with comfortable rooms, welcoming staff, and a perfect location for sightseeing, it’s an ideal place for leisure travelers as well.

If you go: Check-in time is 2pm; check out is noon. Parking is available onsite for a discounted rate of £15.00 per day. Room rates start at around £89 per night. Make your reservation directly online with the Park Plaza Cardiff, or compare rates and book with Booking.com.