Business trip in Cardiff for two days and needed a hotel, booked The Royal and then read some reviews.. was a tad concerned! But after staying there really can't understand why I'd seen so many bad or average reviews.

Perhaps the key was I got a deluxe double on the 5th floor at a half price deal.. book very late (I booked same day) and you can probably get the same rate unless summer I guess.

The Deluxe double was a nice big size (probably twice the size of your standard living room), leather sofa at bottom of bed to watch the flat screen tv with dvd player (which was nice touch).. my room was kitted out to a reasonably high standard with modern fittings but with an element of style..flooring not carpeted so can give cold feel but I like like feel anyway, bathroom pretty large and the bed was gorgeous for comfort.... service isn't fantastic but its okay, as with most hotels these days its staff hail from half of europe but pleasant enough.

Breakfast room okay size and the buffet style reasonably basic - although table signage suggests the waiter/waitress will attend your table and see if you want the full english etc - it never happened on either of the two mornings I was there so proactive staff a tad lacking.

One thing I can agree with on other reviews - don't expect your bathrobe - there aren't any!

Situ in the city is great - right next to the stadium and pefect for the shopping experience if you want that...also Cardiff's hard rock cafe is directly opposite which was great for me when I wanted a decent fast food meal.

The hotel front is squeezed between a few bars so I imagine it could get a bit loud which if you were lower in the hotel may hear overspill (but I had complete silence from my floor)... plus walking late night will having weaving between the younger crowd going in and out and hanging around outside - may put some off - hotel has this unique second floor reception.. the first floor as far as I could see was nothing more than a waste of space - you can take lift or stairs to second floor - the lift is blind when you go in as down the corridor and right.

Only major issue I had was finding the place... travelling in by car means you struggle to get to the door due to unigue one way system for cars and there is no hotel parking so its NCP 5 mins away for £12 a day.

All in all I'd certainly stay there again if I could get a good deal - if I had probably paid full rate for my deluxe then you might question the value and could probably get more for your money out of town but you're paying for the location as well as the actual hotel.

This was a romantic surprised arranged by my husband so it was a lovely evening.

I've been looking forward to staying at this hotel for a really long time, ever since i heard it had reopened i've been dying for an excuse to stay there so i was very excited by the surprise.

I grew up in Cardiff and remember going to the Royal Hotel when i was young. I remember it was beautiful but very tired and in desprate need of a makeover. Over the last 20 years Cardiff has changed a lot and this hotel finally got a makeover, but not the one it deserved.

A large chunk of the old hotel is now 'Edwards' the bar next door and you can see the granduer of the old hotel there, but you can't see it in the hotel.

You can enter the hotel from the front or the back, but neither leads directly to the reception and you have to go up a couple of floors.

Check in was easy, the receptionist was friendly and efficient, although it took some time to establish there was a room ready.

The room is nicely decorated but it was a bit rough around the edges, the paint was peeling around the window and the walls were a bit grubby (always a danger when you paint a room white).
The selection of tea and coffee was good, the bathroom was clean and the toiletries nice, although the tissue box only contained one tissue stuck out of the top to make it look full, very odd.

The bed was comfortable. The hairdryer was in the wardrobe and attached to it which was a pain.

The most important feature of this hotel has to be the location, it's right in the centre of cardiff, walking distance to all the amenities and a short taxi ride to the bay.

Breakfast was fabulous, continental is included in the room price or £4 extra each for full english. There was a lovely choice in the continental so we didn't bother with the English but if you wanted it it was cooked fresh. It was served in an old dining room with stunning wood pannelling, the only hint of the grand dame the hotel once was.

Check out was quick and easy.

I would stay here again but there are better hotels in Cardiff for the same money.

It's just a huge shame that they covered the old beauty with modern features that don't really work instead of restoring the original features.

Having read some of the other reviews for this hotel I was more than slightly worried about staying here but I found it to be much better than many of the reviews state. The hotel does have an odd layout since the reception is on the second floor and not as you enter the front door, however there is a lift so this is not a problem. The room was small but entirely adequate, with a tv and a very clean and fairly sizeable bathroom.

The main (and only) problem that I can see with this hotel is the noise, it is located on a very busy street in the centre of Cardiff and although this makes it an excellent location for the train station, millenium stadium and the shops it is difficult to get away from the noise.

All in all this is a nice hotel and if you don't mind the lively location it is ideal.

Well, this is an unusual hotel as it is situated from the second floor upwards of a tall building in central Cardiff in a nightclub and restaurant district. It is only a few minutes walk from the station but it does not have its own car parking. If you want a quiet room it may be a challenge. The higher the floor, the less the street noise, so I was on the 6th floor. The wind whistled through the double glazing, which didn't quite fit its frame. It kept me awake. There is air conditioning.

The first bedroom I was allocated had not had any housekeeping that day, with a dirty coffee mug and so on, so I asked to be moved. A very pleasant staff member did this immediately and with understanding once he had been to see the problem. This was good service, albeit it shouldn't have been needed in the first place.

My bedroom had TV, DVD player (with DVDs you can borrow from reception - a nice touch), shower room, hot drink facilities and air conditioning. The bed was comfortable with huge pillows as well as smaller ones.

There is no restaurant, although you can order bar food. I didn't eat here as I decided to go to one of the many local restaurants and eateries.

The decoration and furnishing reminds me of places I have stayed in Belgium - few, if any carpets, rather spartan furnishings, but I found it unusual, tasteful and attractive. If you like opulent furnishings then this won't suit you.

The continental breakfast was simple and predictable, but included cold meats and some cheese, along the truly continetal style.

The only thing which might stop me staying here again is the noise, but this is a city and maybe it is hard to avoid.