travelling lover
November 23, 2024
Having visited Cardiff numerous times and stayed in various hotels, I must say my experience at Novotel Cardiff Central was regrettably the worst to date.
The challenges began before I even arrived. Due to train delays, I was unable to check in at the expected time. I made multiple attempts to contact the hotel—via email and phone—to inform them of my delay and secure my booking, but unfortunately, there was no response or opportunity to connect with staff.
Upon finally arriving at the hotel, I requested at reception whether my late check-in could allow for a slightly later check-out as a courtesy. The staff member informed me that late check-out was available, but only at an additional charge. When I inquired further about the possibility of an exception, I was met with a terse response: “This is the policy.” While I understand the need for policies, I found this approach to be rather inflexible and lacking in customer care. To my dismay, the staff member then turned to his mobile phone, leaving me feeling dismissed and undervalued as a guest.
The issues did not end there. The floor we were staying on was incredibly noisy, with children running across the corridors yelling, some inappropriately undressed. Several times, our door was banged on loudly, disturbing my family, including my young child, who struggled to get any rest that night. It was a particularly disappointing experience, especially during what should have been a christmas festive and welcoming season.
Given this unfortunate experience, I am afraid not be returning to Novotel Cardiff Central on future visits to Cardiff. There are certainly better options available for travellers seeking both comfort and professionalism.