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The Novotel Cardiff Centre is a 4 star hotel perfect for your next break in Cardiff. Close to live sports action at the Principality Stadium, entertainment at the Motorpoint Arena and plenty of shops, restaurants and bars in the City Centre or Cardiff Bay. Enjoy our restaurant and bar, The Customs Shed, serving local and international cuisine with an array of drink choices. You can also make use of our well equipped leisure facilities including; superb 15m indoor swimming pool, Resistance and Cardio gyms, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. Guests will find free WiFi internet throughout the hotel. For business needs, we have ten meeting rooms including The Warehouse function room, a fabulous venue for weddings and conferences alike. There are 125 parking spaces, some of which are dedicated EV charging stations. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Accor Hotels.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Green
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Arabic and 1 more
Location
Schooner Way, Cardiff CF10 4RT Wales
Novotel Cardiff Centre
3,096 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
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Nestled in the heart of the city, the Novotel Cardiff Centre boasts a central location that is lauded by guests for its convenience to local attractions. While the hotel's rooms are recognized for their generous size and comfort, feedback suggests they may benefit from modernization and more meticulous cleaning. The service and atmosphere receive a blend of reviews; the staff's warm hospitality is frequently acknowledged, yet some guests have encountered less attentive service.
Despite the praise for the overall cleanliness and the enjoyable amenities like the pool, concerns regarding noise levels and room upkeep are noted. The hotel's value proposition garners mixed reactions, with some guests finding the offerings not fully commensurate with the cost.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Welcoming
Rooms
Dated
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Noise level
Noisy
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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I stayed here for one night as I was delivering a training event at the hotel. I have stayed here before and had a good experience and this time was no exception. The location is handy, just 15 minutes walk from Cardiff Railway Station and around 20 minutes walk to Cardiff Bay.
The room I had was on the second floor, accessed via a short walkway above reception area. The hotel have two elevators although I tend to use the stairs. The room was of a good size, with two armchairs, queen bed, desk and free Wi-Fi, and there were a couple of handy power sockets by the desk. The bathroom (unusually) had both a bath and a shower cubicle, which was nice, however it meant the toilet was squeezed into a small space which hardly gave enough room to sit down, indeed I kept hitting my hand on the toilet roll holder as there was no room to manoeuvre.
Staff I encountered were very friendly, as is usually the case with Novotels. The breakfast was very good, with a large selection available, the hot food plates were well-stocked and very tasty. The food at my training event was also excellent and our needs were well catered for, the only minor niggle was having to wait for some more coffee to be delivered at the start of the event as we ran out, but the staff ensured all other breaks had an extra flask. Shame the toilets are on the ground floor and the event rooms on the first floor, but in all other respects the facilities were good.
The hotel has health and fitness facilities although I didn't use them.
Overall it was a very nice stay and I would happily stay here again if on business or visiting Cardiff for pleasure.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Douglas G, General Manager at Novotel Cardiff Centre
Responded 13 Feb 2020
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I am delighted that you enjoyed your experience, please let me know in advance of your future plans to visit with the family for me to organize a room upgrade. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Highest regards,
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We had booked a standard room for two adults and two toddlers, we booked online and requested a cot for the room for our one year old, and would have used the sofa bed for our three year old, on arrival we were informed the standard room would not accommodate a cot and we were subsequently upgraded to an executive room. The staff were so polite, friendly and welcoming, the room was spotless and suited to our needs. We were able to park in the hotel car park which was great though cost an extra £12 per day. we were able to leave the car and walk into town so no additional parking costs. The pool was lovely and clean and warm enough for the children, the Jacuzzi was a little cool but the steam room was perfect. Breakfast was self serve with a vast selection including a make your own pancake machine which was super easy to use. We ate supper in the bar one evening and found the food to be good value for the price paid. I would highly recommend the Novotel Cardiff to other family groups.
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Review collected in partnership with Accorhotels.com
Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Douglas G, General Manager at Novotel Cardiff Centre
Responded 10 Mar 2020
Thank you for your very kind words. Very much appreciated and our team will be delighted to hear that you enjoyed yourselves. Look forward to welcoming you back! Warm regards,
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We went as a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens) and had two rooms at Novotel Cardiff. We used tesco clubcard vouchers.
The initial check in took some time as the receptionist wasn’t familiar with the Tesco voucher procedure however with a little time it all got sorted.
The reception/bar/restaurant area is really modern, quirky and a comfortable space to be.
The rooms were a little basic in decor and the bathrooms could have been updated but the beds were comfy and we were really only using the hotel as a base to explore from.
A couple of things we weren’t expecting - you have to book a slot at the pool (COVID-19 restrictions) which I totally understand and was glad of however both times we used the pool there was a one to one swimming lesson taking place which made the experience less than peaceful and relaxing. I think the hotel should make guests aware if this is happening during your time slot as you may wish to go another time.
Also you communicate with the hotel via WhatsApp as there are no phones in the rooms. Housekeeping will only service your room if you request via WhatsApp before 12midday. We had to ask for fresh towels and the procedure worked well.
The menu at the restaurant is pretty basic but we only ate there one night. Breakfast is interesting. A bag of individual cereals, pastries and fruit is provided with cardboard breakfast bowls. Hot food is served on a normal plate with normal cutlery so why the cereal had to be eaten from cardboard bowls was a tad confusing - however as a family breakfast covered all the options we needed.
Big shout out to Emily one of the staff in the bar/restaurant. She was really friendly and made an effort to connect with us and enquire about our stay and plans for the day. She really made Novotel feel like home for a few days.
Novotel Cardiff is a short walk to the city centre and we would recommend it to anyone needing a base near the centre.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booked for a family weekend in Cardiff, the rooms and facilities are absolutely perfect for the very reasonable price, and location is good for the city centre. We travelled in couples, with two rooms booked together, the first couple checked out and had their car park ticket validated by a staff member free of charge. When it was our turn to check out we encountered ‘manager’ Kamilla, who was immediately very rude when taking our room number and key etc, and then told us there was a £14 charge for the car park. We said that only 5 minutes ago the other couple in our party have left with a free of charge, validated car park ticket, and the lovely Kamilla then (somehow) got even more rude and abrupt, when we were simply asking how this could be the case. This ended with her saying she would charge MY card, for their parking - which we obviously said cannot possibly happen. There are ways to speak to your paying customers, and treat other human beings in general - unfortunately our experience was completely ruined by being spoken to in this manner. Fine hotel, will never ever stay again due to the rudest member of hospitality staff I’ve ever come across.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Was a Comfortable room during our stay, however there are a few issues I feel the hotel would benefit from by addressing them, firstly, twelve pounds per person for a cooked breakfast consisting of hash brown, sausage, mushrooms,,,, and a boiled egg????? Who on earth thought that was a good idea, maybe scrambled eggs, some tomatoes or beans just to add some moisture to what was akin to eating sawdust. Yes I understand there is an issue with covid but really? This should not be an excuse. Secondly,we have eaten at the hotel several times In the past, but to be served in what was a glorified McDonald's box with wooden knife and fork was bordering on shambolic, we ate out at another 4* hotel on the 24th, a deal bought on Groupon 3 courses and a bottle of wine for 2 for £45,all served on proper crockery with proper cutlery and proper napkins, I think you guys could learn something here, maybe the same kind of deals would help you recover some of the trade lost during this pandemic, surely something to think about, whilst the food served to us was of an acceptable standard and quality, the manner in which it is served certainly isn't befitting of a four star hotel. Thirdly, the customs shed is an inviting environment, and should be one of the most important assets to the hotel, the staff here are very hard working as are all staff, what was our favourite go to place in cardiff is now a shadow of what It once was.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Douglas Goncalves, Other at Novotel Cardiff Centre
Responded 30 Sept 2020
I am so sorry to hear that your stay at the hotel was a disappointing one & clearly we did not meet your expectations. For that, I am truly sorry. Whilst we try to navigate the very challenging times that are affecting all of us at the moment due to COVID & with the safety of our guests always being at the forefront. We treat all feedback as an opportunity to improve, so I thank you for taking the time to write the review and your breakfast comments have been noted with the relevant person/s. We hope to better serve you in the future & with The Customs Shed back to its former glory. Kind regards, Suzanne Staples.
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It's shocking to read through recent reviews and find myself nodding at all of the faults pointed out. I wish I had read them through properly, rather than relying on Novotel's previously good reputation. I have no idea how they're still making money, given the amount of refunds they're having to make.
All of the carpets NEED a deep steam clean; there are marks everywhere. The whole place needs a once over. Luckily the bar/breakfast area felt the cleanest of all.
Customer service at the desk was fair when I complained about the state of our room (marks on the curtains, the carpets, limescale/scum on the shower head and a horrid smell in the bathroom), but this hotel is nowhere near the standard it should be. Especially post-Covid!
The staff at breakfast are the standout here. One older man with a bun in particular was attentive and kind, offering the professional service one would expect.
The hotel needs more staff and a big clean.
The pool facilities were fine, but they do need more chairs by the pool, or just another area to place your towel. When we went down we had to put our towels on the floor as the 4 chairs were taken.
It was also a shame to see that they are using single-use bowls and cups at breakfast. Why not use proper ones? They are better for the environment (even if they are compostable cups, they are likely being thrown into the garbage, I'd guess, which means they just go to landfill anyway).
All in all, it was a disappointment to see what could be a wonderful hotel really drop the ball. I sincerely wonder what the manager is doing. Frankly, I was hesitant to leave a terrible review as I know from experience that many will choose to punish staff, rather than taking the information on board and understanding why things are the way that are.
Are they understaffed? Do the people in charge of this hotel ever actually 'stay' in these rooms? I doubt it.
It's unfathomable that whoever is in charge does not take more pride in their hotel, ensuring that both staff and customers are happy. Currently, they're running this place into the ground.
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Review collected in partnership with Accorhotels.com
Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We’ve just returned from a 2 night stay in The Novotel, on arrival the first thing we saw was an overflowing bin with rubbish so initially were disappointed. The man that checked us in was friendly and check in was fast. The room was basic, for the cost and for a 4* hotel I’d have expected something nicer but the room was exceptionally clean and the bathroom was a great size and the bed was comfy. Parking for 2 nights was £26. Swimming pool was open 12-8pm and although we didn’t use the pool the facilities looked good. The staff make this hotel and the changes they’ve made to meet COVID regulations are impressive
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Douglas Goncalves, Other at Novotel Cardiff Centre
Responded 30 Sept 2020
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. My apologies that your fist impression wasn't a good one but pleased to hear that it didn't impact on the remainder of your stay and that check-in was pleasant and fast. Your comments regarding staff & the implementation of COVID regulations being a positive one will certainly be filtered through to all the team. Safety of our guests & staff has always been at the forefront for Accor UK during these very difficult times. Hopefully we'll see you in the future & you'll get to use the swimming pool too! We look forward to seeing you again soon. Kind regards, Suzanne Staples.
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it is the fourth time we stay in this hotel. The location is very close to the centre ( only a short walk ) , hotel facilities are very good, if you would like to relax after your sightseeing the swimming pool and spa is the perfect place to go ( it is a real plus), the breakfast buffet has everything and more of what you would expect , including some welsh products . The food restaurant is very good as well. What I would consider more valuable of this hotel though is not the hotel itself but how cozy and at home you feel , specially thanks to their staff , I would like to special mention David Ruiz who made us feel at home all the time. Thanks to make us feel like home .
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Douglas G, General Manager at Novotel Cardiff Centre
Responded 13 Feb 2020
Thank you for your kind comments, compliments and loyalty– I am delighted that you enjoyed your experience, David and the entire team will be happy to know and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Highest regards,
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Quite a good stay . However the parking was expensive as a guest £13 per night which came as a shock as there was nothing on their website stating that. We assumed as we were staying there it would be free. None guests it’s £20 . However, the staff were lovely . Sophie at the desk was very helpful. We stayed in room 451 and the double glazing was excellent to keep the street noise out. Nice clean hotel . The room itself was quite spacious with a queen size bed. We had asked by prior email for a twin bedded room but were told on arrival they did not have any twin bedded rooms at all in the hotel . The bed was excellent and there was even a sofa in the room which I believe converted into abed bed . However, there was no telephone . The tv was good , shower worked well and plenty of hot water. Housekeeping was not available ( apparently due to Covid restrictions) . It meant we made our own bed , we had to ask for new towels , tea and coffee and emptying of the bin. We were staying for 4 nights and on the 3rd night at midnight and at 4am in the morning there was some idiots screeching in the hallway. As there was no phone I couldn’t call the front desk. I mentioned this in the morning and I asked if they had cctv in the hallways but they said they didn’t. They gave me a number to call on my mobile if it happened again. It never did though. It wasn’t the hotels fault but a phone in the room would have handy to deal with it immediately. On arrival we were given a welcome drinks voucher which we used on our final day and that was a nice touch. The barman was friendly and welcoming. On the whole it wasn’t a bad stay though but probably of Premier Inn standard
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Douglas Goncalves, Other at Novotel Cardiff Centre
Responded 5 Oct 2021
Thank you for posting your thoughts on here. We really value your feedback. Kind regards
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We had a 2 night stay in a family room this weekend for my daughter's 11th birthday.
We made full use of, and enjoyed, the swimming pool & hot tub. The breakfasts are fantastic with a full buffet including pastries, full English, pancakes, continental, cereals & toast. The bed was incredibly comfortable & the room well appointed & clean with a fantastic en-suite.
The staff were fantastic. On the day of my daughter's birthday she went to breakfast with her 'birthday girl' badge on & about 10 minutes later 2 members of staff, including the chap who checked us in for breakfast, came out with a slice of carrot cake with a candle on a beautifully decorated plate saying 'happy birthday' & sang her happy birthday (picture attached). I never asked for this nor did I expect it. My daughter was delighted - they really went above & beyond & were incredibly kind.
The room was very hot but was fairly quickly remedied by opening the window & setting the room thermostat very low (about 15 deg) & putting the fan on high & leaving it on.
I think this hotel offers fantastic value for money. The building as a former Victorian customs warehouse is both beautiful & fascinating & we all felt a little spoilt with our weekend's stay.
Thank you to all who made it.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Douglas G, General Manager at Novotel Cardiff Centre
Responded 13 Feb 2020
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. I am happy to hear that you enjoyed the swimming pool, found our breakfast fantastic and loved the architecture and the history of our Building. The most important for us is to know that your daughter had a great experience for her 11th birthday, Andrew and our breakfast team were happy to sing along and commemorate her anniversary, we are passionate about our job and love people and party! We look forward to welcoming you soon! Warm regards,
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There are more places to choose from in the Cardiff area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$143 - AU$200 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
novotel cardiff centre hotel cardiff, hotel accor cardiff centre, cardiff novotel
LOCATION
United KingdomWalesSouth WalesCardiff
NUMBER OF ROOMS
138
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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