Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Experience a warm Welsh welcome at voco St. David's Cardiff, our landmark five-star hotel nestled on the picturesque Cardiff Bay waterfront. Our iconic architecture boasts unparalleled views and sets the stage for an unforgettable stay. Whether you're unwinding in our award-winning Spa at St. David's, indulging in exquisite dining at Tir a MĂ´r, or simply relaxing on your private balcony, every moment is infused with luxury and relaxation. Venture beyond our doors and explore the vibrant city of Cardiff or the serene countryside, both a short distance away. Stroll along the waterfront promenade, take a leisurely boat ride, or simply immerse yourself in the beauty of our surroundings. For those seeking relaxation, our spa beckons with rejuvenating treatments and luxurious amenities, including hydro and swimming pools. But voco St. David's Cardiff is more than just a retreat; it's also a premier destination for events and celebrations.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to VisitWales.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel, is acclaimed for its prime location near Mermaid Quay and the picturesque Cardiff Bay. The hotel's cleanliness garners high praise, with guests appreciating the pristine condition of rooms and facilities.
While the rooms offer comfort and impressive views, some guests feel the decor could be updated. The hotel's service is well-regarded, particularly the spa's personalized treatments, although there are occasional remarks about service delays. Amenities like the pet-friendly options and spa are popular, but some guests find the value debatable, citing high costs for parking and dining.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Relaxing
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Overnight stay with an Ishga spa treatment and breakfast. Great hotel and an all round enjoyable experience. The staff were friendly, professional and helpful from check in to check out. The room was as expected for a 5 star hotel with robes supplied in the room ( no slippers as they are a "barefoot" hotel and Spa but flip flops can be supplied for a small fee ). Nice view over Cardiff Bay from our balcony. Opted for a full body massage for my spa treatment, which was very relaxing. The masseuse Bernadette was excellent, explained everything, and provided good aftercare information. The spa was of a very high standard throughout. We used the hotel restaurant for our evening meal and again the staff and quality of the food were 5 star ( as were the prices ). Extensive choice of hot and cold food for breakfast the following morning Would definitely recommend.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â There is a car park outside the hotel but it is ÂŁ25 for 24hrs. Its cheaper to get a taxi from...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded Oct 20, 2024
Dear Hugh61, Thank you for sharing your experience of the spa and overnight stay package. I’m delighted to hear that you had an all-around enjoyable stay, from the friendly and professional service to the relaxing spa treatment. It’s great to know that Bernadette provided excellent care during your massage and offered helpful aftercare information. I’m glad you enjoyed the beautiful view of Cardiff Bay from your balcony and appreciated the high standards of the spa. Your positive feedback about the restaurant, with its 5-star service and food quality, is much appreciated, as is your comment on the extensive breakfast offerings. Thank you for recommending us, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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I was lucky enough to have a spa package as a gift from my friend. On arrival we were greeted by pleasant and friendly staff, shown to the spa reception. The lady on the desk explained how everything worked, advice for when we had finished in the pool/jacuzzi/sauna and where to go to wait for our treatments. We were also provided with lovely thick towels and robes, I would have liked some complimentary slippers to work around the enclosure, this is only a slight niggle and didn’t in any way affect the experience and next time I will bring my flip flops.
Changing rooms are well equipped, shampoo, condition and body was are provided, there are a couple of hairdryers, along with straighteners. Lockers are self locking with a code of your choice, so no need to make sure you have change.
The pool is a decent size. There used to be a walk in pool which was beautifully warm. The jacuzzi is lovely. Seating around the exterior of the pool with beautiful views over looking Cardiff Bay. There is a relaxation room with complimentary herbal teas and water again overlooking the Cardiff Bay and Penarth.
We made our way upstairs after our 2 hour session in the pool etc, for our treatment which was an intense full body massage. My therapist was a lady called Hema who gave me the most incredible massage which included an Indian head massage. She was very considerate keeping my hair covered so as not to get oil in it, u til she asked would I like the Indian Head massage, this was an amazing experience. I would highly recommend Hema.
After our treatments we went to the hotel restaurant for our 2 course lunch which included in the spa package. We had arranged for our partners to come along and join us for lunch. Lunch exceeded my expectations, there was a good selection on both our inclusive menu and the normal one for our partners. The waiting staff were so courteous and polite, nothing was too much trouble. I wish I had taken the name of the gentleman who mainly attended us because he was excellent! I can’t wait for a return visit!
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded Oct 13, 2024
Hi Hoops2015 Thank you for taking the time to share you feedback :) we are really happy to see you enjoyed your time with us and for the kind words regarding Hema as i will be sure they are passed on to her. We hope we get to welcome you back in the near future. Kind Regards James Gil Guest Service Manager
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Excellent massage by Hema and great service from Kanchan in the lounge Will have visit again and recommend to friends Excellent venue with great views Mint tea was fresh made and very refreshing Reception staff at the spa were knowledgeable and efficient Well done team !
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded Dec 6, 2024
Dear Roger P, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed your massage with Hema, the service from Kanchan, and the relaxing ambiance of the spa. Your kind words about the team and the fresh mint tea mean a lot. We look forward to welcoming you back and to your friends discovering us too!
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Firstly must say how friendly and attentive all the staff were. They did all they could to help and make us feel welcome.
On entering the room, it felt like a sauna, heating was stuck on full. A member of staff came to try to fix, but was unable and advised nothing could be done as maintenance had gone home. She did bring up a couple of air cookers that helped.
The general condition of the room is not what you would expect from a 5* hotel. The toilet seat was dirty, so we had to get a cleaner to come up before we could use it. Stains on the wall, carpet and chairs; Wires hanging out from TV; shaving mirror hanging loose in the bathroom.
The spa and swimming pool was very nice though and we enjoyed our time in there.
Finished with breakfast, which was definitely 5* quality, sadly it was cold. Even the fresh hot buffet food came out cold.
Sadly these issues meant we didn't enjoy our stay at this hotel, will look elsewhere for our next visit to South Wales.
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Date of stay: March 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded 2 weeks ago
Hello, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are delighted to hear that our staff were friendly and attentive, and we genuinely appreciate your kind words about their efforts to make you feel welcome. However, we are very sorry to hear about the issues you encountered during your stay. We sincerely apologize for the uncomfortable room temperature and the maintenance issue you faced, especially given that it couldn’t be resolved during your visit. This is certainly not the level of comfort we aim to provide, and we will review our heating system to prevent this from happening in the future. We also deeply regret the condition of your room, including the cleanliness issues, the loose bathroom fixtures, and the general state of the room. This is not the standard we hold ourselves to, and we will be addressing these concerns with our housekeeping and maintenance teams to ensure that future guests have a more seamless experience. We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed the spa and swimming pool, as well as the quality of the breakfast, though we are sorry that the food was not served at the right temperature. We will be working with our kitchen team to ensure that hot items are served promptly and at the correct temperature moving forward. We sincerely regret that these issues impacted your stay, and we completely understand your decision to look elsewhere for your next visit. We would love to have the opportunity to make things right, should you choose to give us another chance in the future. Best regards James Gil Guest Service Manager
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I wouldn’t say the hotel is 5 star at all, I would say 3.5 at the most.
The style of the entrance and reception is what gives it that 5 star look that’s about it.
We stayed in a bay side room with was a small balcony, I think they should put outdoor table and chairs so you can enjoy the Welsh air and view.
The rooms are pretty average, toilettes make your skin extra dry however there is a moisturiser and they all have locks on it. Cleanliness isn’t very good, as the towels were dirty and the tea table and teas and coffee area were dirty with mug marks.
I would understand this is a spa hotel but the family hours to use the swimming pool is ridiculous 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6pm. My daughter is under 1 so I definitely couldn’t or wouldn’t wake her up to take her in morning especially when we needed to squeeze breakfast in and the 4pm to 6pm slot we were busy being tourist so we missed out going swimming altogether when the reason we picked this hotel was the swimming pool.
Good selection on the teas, coffees and hot chocolates in the room.
Staff are standard, they don’t go out of their way to make you feel welcome as they would in 5 star hotels.
The breakfast is nice, you can go for the buffet or you can pick from the menu which has a nice few selections.
Parking is £25 per night, which I think should be free if you’re staying at the hotel.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Parking is ÂŁ25
Not really a family friend hotel. Children under 16 can only go swimming between...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded Sep 8, 2024
Dear MssHoliday, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry the hotel didn’t meet your expectations, especially regarding room cleanliness and pool hours. We appreciate your suggestions about the balcony furniture and parking fees. On a positive note, we’re glad you enjoyed the breakfast and in-room beverage selection. Your comments will help us improve, and we hope to offer you a better experience next time.
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We had always wanted to visit Wales, and Cardiff was our base for 3 nights and the voco St. David’s Hotel Cardiff was the perfect choice. Our executive suite room was amazing. The views of Cardiff Bay out the huge windows was spectacular and having the large living/dining area along with the outside balcony area was very spacious and lovely. The bed was very comfortable in the large bedroom and the bathroom had everything you needed. There was a coffee maker and small refrigerator. We included breakfast with our stay and it was excellent. The location across from Mermaid Quay where you could walk to in 5 minutes proved handy for a couple of dinner choices including Bill’s restaurant (there are multiple restaurants in that area and a great gelato place.) Parking is nearby and a little tricky. There are two lots. One can be paid for through the hotel, but was always full. The other one has a machine in the lot with instructions for payment. In summary, this hotel was a great choice making for a really memorable stay in Cardiff!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded Sep 8, 2024
Dear Lifetravelernow, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay and that the executive suite with its stunning views of Cardiff Bay made your visit so memorable. It's great to know that the location, spacious room, and amenities like the coffee maker and refrigerator added to your comfort. We're glad breakfast met your expectations and that you found the nearby dining options convenient. We appreciate your feedback on parking and will look into ways to improve the experience. We hope to welcome you back to Cardiff soon for another memorable stay!
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Stayed 10th December- Our favourite hotel in Cardiff one which we stayed here on numerous occasions over the past 10 years, since becoming apart of the IHG brand, it’s certainly less of a family feel and there’s been some noticeable differences too. Some good, some not so good. The reception area floor wasn’t particularly clean, usually spotless, something I just happened to notice, although staff on reception were as always very hospitable. The bar area looks a better since the new refurb a couple years back, the £14 baileys before bed not quite so good. But it’s 5* I suppose so you accept it. Breakfast has gone downhill. There used to be a lot more choice, a lot more pastries, and the little touches you expect with a 5*, such as bringing a coffee to your table at breakfast are missed from years gone by. My eggs were slightly cold and when asking for a black pudding to accompany my meal it didn’t arrive for 25 mins, to which I had already unfortunately finished my food, no apology was given, again the little things. The room, a King with balcony was pleasant enough, and in the main very clean. Just the slightest issue with no soap, some previous guest toothpaste hanging off of the sink. No slippers are provided with the spa robes anymore, apparently to combat the overuse of plastics. Bring some sliders/flipfloos there. The lift are you get to the spa is run down, few coats of paint would make all the difference. The spa itself we love, sauna and the 2 jacuzzi areas a personal favourite. Although it is looking a bit tired down there, a freshen up and some more beds would be a massive benefit. Overall a lovely spa.
Overall great stay, just missing those little touches to make it a 5* experience.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded Dec 15, 2024
Dear Edd, Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback about your stay. We’re delighted to hear that St. David’s remains a favorite for you and that you enjoyed aspects like the hospitable reception staff, your comfortable room, and the spa facilities. However, we’re sorry to learn that certain touches you’ve come to expect were missing. Your observations are very valuable to us, and we’ll address these points with our team. We also appreciate your comments on sustainability changes, such as slippers, and will continue to refine these practices to ensure guest satisfaction. Thank you for your loyalty over the years, and we hope to welcome you back soon. Your feedback will help us improve!
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This really is a lovely and stylish hotel. Our first time here and first time staying overnight in Cardiff. Check-in was smooth and we were given lots of information about the hotel, restaurant/spa etc.
We didn’t book a spa package, but I did use the pool and spa and it was most impressive. Loved the little passage type entrance into the jacuzzi, where you are massaged with jets of water as you pass through. The private lifts directly to the spa, operating from each floor, are a bonus. You don’t have to parade through Reception or public lifts in your robe…actually, the robes are a bit on the small side, I would say the size of both in our room was UKWomen size 12, however the spa has larger robes to preserve the modesty.
Dinner and breakfast in the restaurant was excellent. Particularly delicious was the sticky chicken on the sharing board. If we return, I shall order a plateful of that and may email the chef and beg for the recipe!. The young lady who served us at dinner, I think her name was Karolina , was utterly charming and enhanced our dining experience.
The room, (sea view balcony), was large, very well laid out, clean and had every amenity we needed. We liked the extra little entrance room where you could leave coats and bags.
The Bay Area is on the doorstep and is a fascinating place to walk around.
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, would highly recommend this hotel and will certainly return, should we visit Cardiff again….for longer, next time!
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Do join the IHG loyalty scheme and use the water taxi to the town centre, if it is operating.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear HighwayGirl, Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted that your first overnight stay in Cardiff was such a great experience and that you enjoyed the stylish hotel, seamless check-in, and impressive spa facilities. It’s great to hear you appreciated the private lift access to the spa and found a solution for the robe sizing. Your kind words about dinner and breakfast, especially the sticky chicken, are much appreciated—we’ll be sure to pass your compliments on to the chef! Karolina will also be thrilled to know she enhanced your dining experience. We’re so glad you loved your spacious sea-view balcony room and found the extra entrance space useful. It sounds like you made the most of the hotel’s location to explore the Bay too! We’d love to welcome you back for a longer stay next time—hopefully, we can convince the chef to share that recipe!
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Disappointing Experience & terrible customer service
My experience was far from satisfactory. The list of issues I encountered during my stay is quite extensive, and I feel compelled to share them in this review.
Firstly, upon arrival, we were given a cot for our infant, which was in an unsuitable condition. It was old, uncomfortable, and clearly not up to standard. Additionally, the showers in our room were in poor condition, with low water pressure and inconsistent temperature control.
Customer service was disappointingly slow, and when we raised concerns about an unlocked terrace door, we were met with unhelpful responses. In particular, the manager, Peter Hughes, was dismissive and failed to address our concerns adequately.
Furthermore, despite numerous issues, the compensation offered was inadequate. We were only given a meager 10% discount and offered breakfast, which was overpriced and of subpar quality. Paying ÂŁ15 per meal for breakfast that wasn't worth it added to our disappointment.
Parking at the hotel was exorbitantly priced at ÂŁ90 for two nights, and the service was both inefficient and slow. To add insult to injury, our card was overcharged, and instead of promptly rectifying the mistake, we were told to wait for our bank to resolve the issue. This lack of accountability and responsibility is unacceptable.
In summary, my experience was highly unsatisfactory, and I cannot recommend it to others. The combination of poor facilities, slow customer service, and inadequate compensation left a lasting negative impression. I sincerely hope that the management takes these criticisms seriously and implements necessary improvements for the benefit of future guests.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Do not book with this hotel nothing like a 5 * hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded May 2, 2024
Dear Q4515LUajayk, Thank you for sharing your feedback about your recent stay at our hotel. We sincerely apologize for not meeting your expectations, and we appreciate your detailed account which helps us identify areas for improvement. Regarding the cot provided for your infant, please be assured that all our cots meet safety and comfort standards and are regularly inspected. However, we understand that preferences vary, and guests are welcome to bring their own equipment. We regret the issues you experienced with the shower. While our maintenance team was unable to replicate these issues, your feedback is crucial and will contribute to our ongoing evaluations of our facilities. Concerning your interactions with our manager, I apologize if his responses were not to your liking. He engaged with you post-stay to address your concerns and offered compensation that we believed was reasonable. Regarding the overcharge, this was an error identified by our payment provider and has been refunded, including any related fees. We are sorry for any inconvenience this caused. We are committed to improving our services and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide a better experience. Thank you again for your feedback. Kindest Regards voco St. David's Team
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My partner and I booked the Snuggle Up package as a small staycation. It wasn’t cheap but it was worth every penny! We had a suite with incredible views and a very comfy bed, lots of complimentary drinks and snacks, and a wraparound balcony. Dinner was excellent - the Snuggle Up deal’s menu is very limited and different from the normal menu, but we were able to order off the a la carte menu and deduct about £30 per person from the total bill. We ordered the sea bass and the porchetta, both were divine! The spa especially was excellent; the spa therapists are very skilled. My sea salt scrub with Hema was so relaxing and she really went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable. My partner got the deep tissue massage with Kanchan and said he felt reborn afterwards. All in all a really luxurious weekend that has left me so relaxed. Will definitely book again in the future!
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
Responded Sep 23, 2024
Hi 437meredithg, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and I am happy to see you enjoyed your stay with us :) We are glad you enjoyed your dinner as well as the team will be happy to see you loved the sea bass and the porchetta! I will make sure Hema and Kanchan see your lovely comments! We hope we get to welcome you back in the future. Kind Regards James Gil Guest Service Manager
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Bristol, United Kingdom120 contributions53 helpful votes
They pre-authorise for any spending ALSO really helpful of your a member as you accrue points plus it takes the pressure of carrying cards, phone, so much easier way of paying.
There are more places to choose from in the Cardiff area.
PRICE RANGE
C$189 - C$357 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
st. david`s hotel cardiff
LOCATION
United KingdomWalesSouth WalesCardiff
NUMBER OF ROOMS
142
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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