Jurys Inn Cardiff

With its long and elegant French-style Victorian-era facade, this hotel is one of the more recognizable, and attractive, properties in the center of Cardiff. Marked by an ornate fan of wrought-iron at the entrance, marble steps and polished brass rails lead to a pair of sliding wooden doors and into the hotel lobby. In contrast to the period frontage, interiors are fresh and contemporary with sleek, simple design features and plush, upholstered furnishings. There's no central reception point, but instead a trio of small desks for a more personal check-in experience. The ambiance is of a chic cosmopolitan city center hotel that manages to retain a few of the buildings original touches such as wide staircases with carved wood banisters and marble fireplaces. The hotel draws a wide range of clientele from business to leisure travelers, with its location also being particularly popular with hen and stag (bachelor and bachelorette) parties. 

Set in a pedestrianized zone in the center of the city, the hotel is within easy reach of a wealth of bars, restaurants, and clubs, as well as numerous retail outlets and shopping malls. Cardiff Castle and the neighboring expanse of green space -- Bute Park -- are around a 10 minutes' walk away, while the nearest train station at Cardiff Queen Street is just a few minutes on foot.  

The hotel's 140 rooms are modern with contemporary design furnishings and neutral-toned decor with splashes of color. Standard rooms include free high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs (with Freeview), tea/coffee facilities, and mini-fridges. Overall, most feel fairly spacious but bathrooms -- although clean and modern -- can be cramped. Executive rooms and above also have robes and slippers as well as free water and chocolates. While double-glazed windows do minimize external noise, some street sounds are inevitable and there have also been occasional reports of rowdy guests causing disturbances. 

For a hotel of this caliber, there's not a great deal in the way of on-site facilities. There are, however, two places where guests can dine. Those arriving by car can find limited car parking on-site (for a daily fee) while guests wanting to exercise have access to a nearby gym (a two minutes' walk away). High-speed Wi-Fi is also free of charge and a full room service menu is available around the clock.