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Hotel Class: 
5 Stars - 9 Reviews and 745 Opinions
Havannah Street, Cardiff, Southern Wales, CF10 5SD, United Kingdom
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754 Opinions
SallyM
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This hotel has a great location on Cardiff Bay.
We got a good deal on two nights' bed and breakfast, with dinner on the first night thrown in (£370).
Our room was pleasant, with furry throws and cushions on bed and floor to ceiling windows with view of bay, but I would call it a UK 4* rather than 5*.
Facilities in room: tea-making (4 each of ordinary tea bags, Earl Grey, Blackcurrant, Nescafe, plus 2 x hot chocolate; biscuits; 2 bottles of mineral water; bath salts, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner; bath robes and slippers; iron, ironing board and trouser press; shoe cleaning block, cotton buds and cotton wool pad.
The breakfast was the usual buffet style, with tea, coffee and toast served to order.
I did not make use of the hotel spa faciltities so cannot comment on those.
Unique Quality: Perhpas the most unique feature of this hotel was the art work on our bathroom wall, which appeared to depict three buttocks.
Moving swiftly on, the best thing about the hotel is the location on Cardiff Bay, with great views from our room, and from the restaurant.
There is ample on-site parking. The hotel car park itself was full when we arrived, but there is a council-run car park next door, which was fine, except the machines were pay and display only (no pay on exit or pay by phone). The hotel reception can provide change if necessary.
The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff Photo: St David
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annabeljackson
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We stayed at this hotel to use the spa. The spa was shut the whole time we were there and the spa staff were rude and bullying. We had checked before we stayed there that the spa would be working as the last time we stayed it was shut, and we were told that it would definitely be working. The hotel managers are having real problems filling this hotel and are busing in cheap tours. Last time I stayed here a party in the room next to me continued drinking until 4 in the morning until they were removed by the police. The management were too scared to intervene and I had to go to a meeting the next day without having slept. This hotel used to be wonderful but the new owners have ruined it. Most of the staff have only been there a few weeks and there is a real feeling that they dont know what they are doing.
Unique Quality: Lovely location but terrible management.
blowstar
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The St David's is no longer a Rocco Forte hotel and is managed by Principal Hotels who claim to be "Britain's best four-star conference specialist" ... so it may be dropping a star in the process. Certainly it's showing its 3-year age with some minor maintenance overlooked especially on exterior balconies and in the spa.
Staff are brisk and professional, but it's patchy - three times when I called for some information reception had to phone back because "no one is available" - but they were available to answer the phone? Didn't get that.
Buffet breakfast looks smart, but the cooked food was very poor, cold and underdone in almost all cases - raw tomatoes and mushrooms, pale pink sausage interiors and flabby bacon. Even sending it to the kitchen for a re-heating only resulted in a surface blasting, not a proper cooking. And at £35 for two (continental or cooked, same price) it's pretty steep.
The rooms, particularly the bay-facing King bedded ones, are excellent. Lovely linens, great ceiling heights, full wall of windows and a full moon over Cardiff Bay and you could be in the Caribbean or maybe crossing a great ocean on a liner, such is the nautical feel of the St David's. Bathrooms are smart but not true 5-star - showers are on chrome snakes over the bath, not a walk-in drencher, and not as spacious as, say a Four Seasons one.
The spa is well-equipped, nice changing rooms, robes, huge jacuzzi and nice pool fronting the bay ... at weekends it can be a bit chavvy with both local and visiting families, but children's bathing times are controlled and in the evenings with the light on the water, it's delightful.
With internet room rates around £150, though, this is not five-star pricing either, so for a very high quality hotel, certainly the best in the vicinity by a long chalk, it's good value and a very enjoyable experience.
diocletianvs
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St David's Hotel is situated right in the center of the fast developing Cardiff Bay area, overlooking the old docks and major sights in this area. The hotel was designed by London-based architect Patrick Davies, and has already won numerous awards and titles including "The number 1 in the UK's Top Ten Spas", "Wales's Leading Hotel", "Top 20 Hotels for Ambience/Design", "4th Best View in the Country", "Top 20 Coolest Hotels of the World" and Design Award by the City of Cardiff.
Unique Quality: The location is superb, architecture is interesting and the website promises great treatment so if I had spare 200-300 GBP per night I wouldn't go any further - would just sit on the balcony and enjoy the view.
Aargh, maybe next time ;)
The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff Photo: St David's Hotel Cardiff Bay
SabrinaSummerville
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Floating like an island in the middle of Cardiff Bay, the St. David Hotel is reputed to be one of the very best hotels in the world.
I have close ties with Cardiff and have been visiting this City since I was a very young child, and since I heard about the hotel I have longed to stay here. However, each time I plan to do so, one of my many Cardiff relatives insists that there's a bed for me in his/her/their house and there goes my chance of staying in the St David. Up to last weekend (1st October, 2006) I had never even seen the exterior of the hotel.
On Sunday 1st October I begged my cousin to bring me here and in fact we got as far as Mermaid Quay, from where I took this pic, and no further as mu cousin had other commitments.
I know that some people hate tips or recommendations on hotels from people who have never stayed there, but my tip is helpful in that I advise that this hotel is pretty remote from the City Centre and not ideal for those who want to step out of their hotel and find themselves in the midst of shops.
There are, however, a myriad of restaurants of every type and nature in the immediate vicinity at mermaid Quay.
The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff Photo: View of the St David from Mermaid Quay
percy961
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The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff Photo: St Davids
neilward
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Vey luxurious and the staff there look after you and make you feel special.
A couple of football teams have stayed there before Cup Finals (held at The Millenium Stadium) and lost so I think its a bit jinxed !!)
Unique Quality: Go on pamper yourself !!
The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff Photo: Impressive
M0B1US
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Apparently this is Wales' first 5-Star hotel and voted one of Condè Nast's "Top 20 Coolest Hotels of the World"...
It is easy to see why when you see the ultra sleek building standing boldly on a small peninsula by Cardiff Bay with its daring rooftop sail design, affording guests stunning views across the bay towards Penarth.
Whilst I haven't actually stayed here, I do know that most celebrities that visit Cardiff choose to stay here and prices are quite reasonable for a 5-Star hotel.
Unique Quality: One of the major drawcards of this hotel is the fact that it has one of the premier Spas in the UK and one of the only hotels in the World to offer Ayurvedic specialist treatments.
Another major drawcard is the stunning setting of the hotel's 'Tides' restaurant with its fabulous views - though I have it on very good authority that they have been having patchy quality...
The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff Photo: View of St David's Hotel across Cardiff Bay
CarolynShort
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Double room - £160 (£130 at weekends)
Unique Quality: Wales' top 5-star hotel, so if you feel like treating yourself, this is the place..... I managed to spend a night there for free once, when a friend couldn't make her reservation, and couldn't get a refund from the on-line booking service... It was the only hotel I've ever stayed in when the maid knock on your room door in the early evening to see if you want your sheets turned down! (but then again I not usually a 5* guest)... Decided paying a fortune for hotel food negated the benefit of a free night's accommodation, so went to the nearby Tesco Metro and bought some sandwiches and took them back to my room (how cheap am I?!!) Made good use of the Spa pool/sauna/steam room though... catching the lift down to the Spa in my plush dressing gown and slippers... feeling very glam...
The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff
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Amazing location with great views across Cardiff Bay from the rooms.
Staff friendly and accommodating. Was a bit disappointed by the hotel, it was not as 'plush' as anticipated. In light of the price, the rooms were quite ordinary, but did have exceptional views. In addition we arrived around 8pm and our room wasn't ready!!
Worth staying at if you can get a cheap deal, but not otherwise.
We stayed here in October for our wedding night. Firstly, although there was a mix up with our booking, the manager personally resolved the issue and upgraded us without any fuss. The hotel reception is architecturally beautiful with it's open roof height atrium. The rooms are furnished impeccably and luxury is the word. We had floor to ceiling windows to our bedroom and lounge areas, which gave the effect of sailing on a grand cruise ship. The room service was fantastic, and they make you feel special. All in all, we can't wait to stay here next year for our anniversary! 5* luxury which is pricey but well worth it.
St. Davids hotel
Wetlands with St Davids Hotel in the background
I'll be staying at the Hotel St. Davids in a few weeks. Are there any good pubs within walking distance from the hotel?
I assume you mean the 5* St Davids Hotel overlooking Cardiff Bay. There are a variety of good pubs in the Bay. My favorite is The Waterguard, a modern pub (attached to an old gatehouse) that serves good continental beer, with plenty of space to sit outside on warm days/evenings. It's not far from the white Norwegian Church. If you want to visit a traditional Cardiff 'Brains' pub then I suggest you try The Packet, which is just south of the Bute Street/James Street junction.
Thanks for the information. The Brains pub sounds like what I'll be looking for. Thanks again. Cheers.
If you venture into the city centre at night get a taxi back to the hotel, don't walk it as you have to go through an area that is ...... less safe than it looks (and that's being polite to all those living between the Bay and the city centre).
I hope you went in Terra Nova, it's a great pub and lovely inside.
I was only able to stop by The Packet (I only had an hour), but found it very nice. A couple good pints later and I was forced to return to the fancy, yet sterile, confines of the St. Davids. Thanks again for the suggestions.
Wales' top 5-star hotel, so if you feel like treating yourself, this is the place..... I managed to spend a night there for free once, when a friend couldn't make her reservation, and couldn't get a refund from the on-line booking service... It was the only hotel I've ever stayed in when the maid knock on your room door in the early evening to see if you want your sheets turned down! (but then again I not usually a 5* guest)... Decided paying a fortune for hotel food negated the benefit of a free night's accommodation, so went to the nearby Tesco Metro and bought some sandwiches and took them back to my room (how cheap am I?!!) Made good use of the Spa pool/sauna/steam room though... catching the lift down to the Spa in my plush dressing gown and slippers... feeling very glam...
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Address: Havannah Street, Cardiff, Southern Wales, CF10 5SD, United Kingdom
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