St David’s Hotel and Spa

My family and I spent a weekend in a master suite, and although it was rather stormy it didn’t deter us from making the most of the views. We couldn’t resist wrapping up and sitting on the balcony, looking out across the water of Cardiff Bay.

In fact, all the bedrooms and suites – totalling nearly 150 – have floor-to-ceiling windows and private deck-style balconies overlooking the Bay, affording each room ample natural light as well as tremendous views.

I guess you’d expect a suite to be spacious but even for a family of four, there was ample room and we never felt in each other’s way. The hotel’s website suggests you’ll be “moving with freedom” in the suite and enjoying the “generously-sized lounge area fully furnished with a couch and lounge chairs” while the “king-sized bed will provide the ultimate comfort” – and I couldn’t argue with any of those statements.

The suite contained two TVs – ideal if you’ve got kids – and a decent-sized bathroom, with shower and bath. There are desks, just in case you need room to do some work, and free wi-fi; this, however, only lasts 30 minutes at a time and you’ll need to keep logging back in. If you don’t want this inconvenience, you can gain 24-hour access for £12 and two hours for £4. I hope that one day all hotels will provide free, unlimited internet usage.

Something which impressed me was the staff’s attentiveness. Soon after arriving, I couldn’t get the air conditioning in the room to stop pumping out hot air; when adjusting the temperature controls failed to create a response, I called Reception. As you would expect, they reacted and tried sorting out my problem; it’s just that when it eventually led to one of the technical guys crawling around in the room’s ceiling space, checking all the pipes and electrical works, I knew they were taking my problem seriously and that providing excellent customer service was high on their agenda. Fortunately, the problem was corrected and we enjoyed a comfortable night.

We ate at the hotel’s Tempus at Tides Bar and Restaurant. Very stylish, with its subdued lighting, wood flooring and classy décor, the atmosphere was relaxed and service excellent; you couldn’t complain about the portions, either. In fact, the kids’ portions were large enough for adults!

Thankfully, the restaurant staff were flexible when it came to choosing meals. As most people with kids know, little ones don’t always like everything on the menu. We’re vegetarian, too, so finding what you want can sometimes be a challenge and involve swapping items for preferred alternatives. I’m pleased to say, our requests weren’t a problem at all for the waiting staff. Although the veggie options were limited, this isn’t anything new when dining out and what we did have was very tasty and well presented.

Again, huge windows in the restaurant mean more fantastic views and during warmer months, al fresco dining on the terrace is available.

Whatever the weather, a visit to the St David’s Marine Spa – within the hotel complex – is recommended. Again, tranquillity is high on the agenda because both the 15-metre Ozone Swimming Pool and hydrotherapy pools overlook Cardiff Bay. Children aren’t allowed in the sauna or hydrotherapy pools, much to my kids disappointment, and swimming sessions for little ones are restricted to 11.30-12.30 and 5-6pm.

Another feature of the hotel – which is part of the PH Hotel Collection, comprising over 20 city centre hotels, and apparently the only AA rated 5-star hotel in Cardiff – we liked was the interior design, most notably the clean, white reception area. If you visit, sit on the trendy curved sofas and look up to the ceiling – in fact, your view is unbroken to the top of the actual building; if you suffer vertigo don’t look down to the reception desk when you get out of the lift en route to your bedroom!

Outside, the hotel – built in 1991 – has been designed to resemble a ship out on the bay. Its look probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but we liked it. On site car parking, though, is restricted to just 55 spaces. Plus, you have to pay £10 per night for parking your car. If you can’t find a space, don’t panic because there is a public car park next to the hotel’s – and there are ample spaces.

It was the first time we had visited Cardiff Bay and were suitably impressed. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues within a stone’s throw of the hotel; the BBC’s fascinating Dr Who Experience, which we visited, is just a short walk away and can be seen across the water. Techniquest, the Bay’s all-weather interactive science discovery centre, is a minute’s walk. An ice rink, nature reserve, boat hire are just some of the other attractions within the immediate area.

We took the opportunity to walk into the city centre, too, which is a 20-minute stroll from the hotel which, in 2013, was awarded the Visit Wales Gold Award for an Outstanding Guest Service Hotel. All I can say, is that it’s easy to see why.

 

More information:

Havannah Street

Cardiff CF10 5SD

www.thestdavidshotel.com / 029 2045 4045

www.doctorwhoexperience.com / 0844 801 2279

www.techniquest.org / 029 2047 5475