This was an okay stay. We booked two standard twin rooms which were basic and everything was really clean and tidy and the beds were comfortable. The bathroom was quite big. The rooms had far reaching views of the city which will be great when the building work is finished. The rooms are bright white and there were blue curtains that could have doubled as shaggy rugs or blankets on the windows in the bedroom and the bathroom! Room facilities included towels, tea and coffee making facilities and sachets of shampoo and soap; however there was no hairdryers or irons in the room but each floor has an ironing station. There was a TV showing terrestrial channels with the option to pay for films.

We had a good price for this hotel off the internet. If it had been more expensive I would have been very disappointed. The hotel was easy to find from the central station. The hotel is central enough with the town centre just a few minutes walk away. The reception staff was really friendly and helpful and they looked after our luggage for us when we checked out. Decor was very 60's and 70's with rectangles, pastel colors, Formica or melamine surfaces and although recently decorated the finish wasn't to a great standard.

The breakfast was lovely, a continental buffet breakfast but loads to choose from and as much as you wanted to eat and drink. There's a bar on the first floor with a friendly barmaid but few customers. It was very outdated very like a construction work men’s bar and had no atmosphere at all and the bar's loos are practically on the street.

I’ve traveled around cheap and cheerfully a lot and the best way to describe this hotel is an up market back packer place with no frills but clean, central and comfy. What can best be described as a 1960s tower block (in desperate need of having its windows cleaned), it's not the most attractive exterior to a hotel that I've seen.

what a fantastic hotel. i had read various reviews that werent very complimentary to the hotel, so i dint quite know what to expect.

my son and i went to cardiff for 1 night to see Pink in concert at the CIA. i found this hotel on a google search of hotels near to the CIA, it certainly was, it was opposite!!

the hotel was easy to find from the central station, i followed the signs for the CIA. the reception staff were really friendly and helpful.

we went upto our room in the lift. we were on the 9th floor, fantastic views across cardiff and down to cardiff bay. everything was really clean and tidy. the bathroom was huge with fantastic views out of the windows.

the breakfast was lovely, a continental breakfast buffet but loads to choose from and as much as you wanted to eat/drink.

overall i really enjoyed my stay at the big sleep hotel and would definatley stay there again.

This was an okay stay. The rooms were basic, utilitarian feel. However, bed was comfortable. The room was way too hot, no air con and it felt like a sauna ( this may have been as a consequence of the weather being sunny and hot??) - couldn't open the windows. The breakfast room needed some redecorating - signs of damp gave a poor impression. We had a good price for this hotel off the internet. If it had been more expensive I would have been very disappointed. Location was good. Good discount given for the NCP car park close by. On a positive note the reception staff were very helpful.

My wife, 19 year-old daughter and I needed somewhere not too dear for a couple of nights. My wife found TBS on a web search and I am so glad she did. WE were sold on the hotel partly by the Conde Nast plaudits and it lived up to our expectations: friendly night porter although we arrived at 4 am due to plane problems, pleasant young staff on desk in the morning, great continental b/f with hot croissants, pan-au-chocolate, cereals, fruit, yoghurts, coffee, tea, juice..loads of everything you want. Decor was very 60' and 70's with rectangles, pastel colours, formica or melamine surfaces. The rooms were great too, roomy and light though lack of opening windows was a surprise as were the blue curtains that could have doubled as shaggy rugs or blankets! My daughter loved the whole thing (she is a design engineering student so tha probably gave her added value). She spotted Sonia (character from the BIG UK soap East Enders) at breakfast...yes it was her ,I checked with desk staff...so there you are even the stars use TBS!
Location of the hotel is just about right for the town centre..few minutes walk. The bar complete with those pin-and-string pictures and asian-lady-behind tree was rather deathly but perhaps gets atmosphere at weekends.
I can't see where the bad reviews are coming from frankly but its a subjective thing I suppose and it depends when you go. I would recommend it to friends and would happily stay there again next time I visit. We stayed at the (excellent) Angel previously which has a totally different style but if you want the extra elegance and to be spoiled a bit more then you pay a lot more. TBS is clean and comfortable..room service had the beds made before we got back from breakfast! I couldn't believe it was a 60's building, it seemed so new. Go and enjoy it!