Staybridge Suites Cardiff by IHG — Hotel in Great Britain

We needed somewhere to stay in Cardiff Bay as we were seeing a show at the Millennium Centre.

Arrived early and was able to park which was brilliant. Room wasn't ready (which was as we were expecting) so walked to the Bay for some lunch. Location was perfect, a short 10 min leisurely walk.

We returned at 15.45 and our room was ready. We stayed in an entry level room. It was ideal. It was a nice size for the night, and had the perks of the kitchen and full size fridge to chill some snacks and drinks.

The room was dusty and had a number of marks on the curtains and furniture but it wasn't dirty. The shower was just okay (not very powerful) and I personally didn't find the bed comfy (but my said she slept fine). We headed out for the evening and access in and out of the property was really easy regardless of time.

The biggest let down of the stay was breakfast. Breakfast is served until 11am (the same as check-out). We got down at 10am and the self-serve buffet looked like it had been destroyed by animals. The mess was out of control. No clean glasses for juice, no milk (powder) in the coffee machine (this was topped up reluctantly when I pointed it out). The "continental buffet" had half a barely cooked baguette left and a few muffins and some standard cereals. Every table was piled with dirty plates and glasses. We had to clear a table to get somewhere to sit. The cooked breakfast was presented in hot containers that are (at best) designed for home use. But it didn't matter as they mostly empty. Apart from the hash browns, this was the opposite and had over filled the container so they were over the countertop. I asked (to confirm) what time breakfast was until (11am) and then asked if things would be topped up and was informed "it depends if the chefs has anything left". Turns out he had sausages! When put out they were a horrid pale colour, almost like they had been poached. Overall it was just awful. I understand that it is a "budget" property of sorts. But this was way below any budget property standards. Breakfast was included in the rate we paid, however we ended up heading back into the Bay and paying additionally for a lovely breakfast in a local delicatessen.

The room and front office staff were pleasant. But the breakfast offering would stop be returning to...

Having stayed in staybridge liverpool and other ihg hotels, the room and the service here by the staff were absolutely disgraceful. First off when we checked in, we asked for an upgrade as we haven’t been automatically upgraded but they said they have no availability for better room and I am supposed to call prior to arrival for an upgrade. Thats the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard of. I double checked online there’s clearly plenty available and the staff at check out confirmed that they have availability and not sure why i haven’t been upgraded. The room was way too small for extended stay and there’s pretty much no kitchen space. They just put some utensils and appliances on the doorway and pretend that’s a kitchen. Breakfast was okay with really limited choices. Its the first hotel i stayed in to struggle with breakfast cereal selection. The socials were pathetic with no interactions with the staff whatsoever. No fresh pint on tap like the one in Liverpool, that’s perfectly fine as different hotel would likely to have different facilities. The funny thing were they offered bottled corona but there was not even a bottle opener until a guest asked for one. Asked for late checkout at 2pm at checkin but the key stopped working at 12pm and not even an apology from the reception staff. Summing it all up, this and the holiday inn express next door were the worst ihg experience I have ever had. No recognition to the ihg membership scheme, cant fulfill a late checkout request that has been confirmed at checkin, staff that don’t know anything about customer service, I don’t even know what else to say about these two hotels in cardiff. If you are an ihg member and would like a nice experience in Cardiff, try the Hotel...

We recently stayed at Staybridge Suites Cardiff and, overall, had a pleasant experience. The hotel itself is lovely, clean, modern, and well-equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay. The rooms were spacious, the beds were comfortable, and the amenities, such as the kitchenette and communal areas, made it feel like a home away from home. The location was also convenient, providing easy access to the city while still being in a quiet and relaxing area.

However, our experience was unfortunately disrupted on two separate mornings due to the fire alarm going off, once at 6 AM and again at 5:30 AM. On both occasions, the alarm blared for approximately 3–4 minutes before being shut off, and we were simply sent back to our rooms without any real explanation from staff or management. While we completely understand that safety measures are crucial and false alarms can happen, the lack of communication from the hotel was disappointing. There was no reassurance, no clear reasoning for the incidents, and no follow-up from the management team to address guests’ concerns.

Had the situation been handled with better communication, perhaps an announcement explaining what had happened or even a simple apology, it would have made a big difference. Instead, guests were left feeling confused and slightly unsettled, unsure if there was an actual emergency or just a system malfunction.

Aside from this issue, our stay was enjoyable, and we would consider returning. However, we do hope the hotel improves its communication and response to such incidents in the future, as it would make a great stay...