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.
Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#5 of 66 hotels in Cardiff
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
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 Môr, 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.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel, stands out for its prime location close to Mermaid Quay, with guests enjoying easy access to nearby attractions. The spa and views from the hotel receive compliments, although there's a call for longer pool hours and inclusive amenities.
While the staff's service garners appreciation for their attentiveness, some visitors have encountered slow service. The hotel's atmosphere is generally regarded as comfortable, yet some areas, including the rooms, are considered dated. Travelers commend the cleanliness but question the overall value, pointing out additional fees and high costs.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Comfortable
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Relaxing
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Me and my boyfriend stayed here for one night after Christmas for a date night. The hotel itself is immaculate, absolutely stunning and in a lovely location. Our room was spacious, very clean and tidy with the most comfortable bed! As we paid a little extra for the superior room, we had a balcony that overlooked the bay which was definitely worth the extra cost.
The shower was powerful and the hotel provided hair shampoo, conditioner and a shower gel for guests to use. During our stay, we went out for dinner to miller & carter which was a little walk away, but we enjoyed seeing the bay lit up at night.
The following morning, we were awoken to a beautiful view from our balcony. The sun rise was amazing to sit by the doors and make use of our hot drinks facilities provided by the hotel! We attended the hotel spa facilities that morning, hotel robes were provided and there was a private lift just outside our room to head straight into the spa area. The swimming pool was nice and quiet, and we enjoyed our time here before it was time to get ready to leave for check out.
Overall, lovely over night stay and would love to return!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â Book a superior room!
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 Dream823260, Manager at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Feb 21, 2020
Dear Sophie G, Thanks for posting a lovely review following your stay with us. I am delighted to read you enjoyed many touches of the hotel of which are our brand fundamentals, for example, powerful shower and larger toiletries you have mentioned. We look forward to welcoming you back. Warm regards Brady J Smith Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
So we booked this as a treat from our Christmas money (actually spending it on us and not the kids haha) we booked the advance purchase with dinner and breakfast really worth the money as we had visited the admiral restaurant two years prior and enjoyed food then. Had a phone call week or two before to confirm everything and to make a dinner reservation ready for that evening which was all done and even sent myself a menu over so we was able to look what was available in our deal. Managed to check in just before 3 by then time we had walked from the station, check in was simple and straight forward told us about the facilities we could use and our dinner reservation, we booked the junior suite but when we got there we actually had the signature suite (keep reading..) Absolutely amazing welcome board in the room and some water on the table, spacious living room area and then separate sleeping area, 2 balconies one from the bedroom and then a larger one from the living room to around the corner with seating area outside, complimentary stocked mini fridge to use in the room and your hot beverages to use including nespresso machine too. So went for food at the time we requested all lovely to our table and introduced by our waiter for the evening, served fast and simple as we ordered off the set menu due to our deal or had a choice of £30 from the original menu. We both ordered the same as that’s just us partner was torn until he seen someone else’s fish and chips which was just amazing! Soo as the night drew it turned into a special night as my partner had finally got down on one knee! Little did I know until afterwards that the hotel was aware and had helped with my partner to make this all happen (was wondering why the waiter in charge had kept looking over haha) amazing as we was given a board with congratulations and some champagne to celebrate!! But the person in charge had kept it discreet whilst working alongside my partner of when it was going to happen etc) so they really did help to make the special moment, even if I was dying inside when it was done with a full restaurant haha! Breakfast you couldn’t fault it so much variety on offer and quality of food amazing! Whether you want a hot buffet or continental or order straight off the menu! Check out was straight forward and they kept our luggage so we could pop into town for a while and the woman on the desk then also handed me over something little which was small gifts, little brochure and a card from the wedding coordinator which was on such a personal note towards us and just going that extra mile. So I just wanted to leave this review to say how amazing it was and thank you for that special time and making it more amazing!! Will definitely be returning as I loved it and was kicking myself for leaving my leisure wear behind unable to use the facilities!
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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 Dream823260, Manager at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Feb 18, 2020
Dear Sar15794, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. The team and I are over the moon your stay was exemplary and we would like to pass on our congratulations on your engagement. We rust you will consider us as a venue and look forward to welcoming you back to create more happy memories. Warm regards Brady J Smith Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
This was remarkable value (due to lockdown) but a highly recommended night away. We paid £83 for a 'Standard King Room' (520) which was large and had two walls of windows to enjoy the views across the Bay. The spa was available and is worth a visit. There is one very cold pool - I didn't go anywhere near that - but also much warmer hot tub style sections and a curving corridor of water which was fun. The restaurant was lovely and the staff attentive. It was my birthday so they gave us a free glass of bubbly each and offered Buck's Fizz the next morning - a nice touch. In the day we walked the barrage and then went round the wetland area in front of the hotel. Saw beautiful views and a range of sea birds. Only down side was a lack of information in the rooms. This was supposed to be on the TV, but we couldn't find it. You are meant to take your room towels down to the spa (they provide dressing gowns but no slippers) but his wasn't mentioned anywhere either. No matter, we did eventually work out the coffee machine ourselves So, stuck in Cardiff? Go overnight to the St David's Hotel to be pampered and feel as if you have had a real break far from home.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Get a corner room if you can, for amazing views and sunsets. 520 was lovely.
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 Greg Lewis, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Oct 15, 2020
Thank you so much allisonowenjones for you rating and review following your recent stay with us. We are delighted you had an enjoyable visit. We look forward to welcoming you back soon Kindest regards Brady Smith Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Quick check in upon arrival, the cold room was a DELIGHT to walk into on such a warm day!
The parking is slightly frustrating as you prepay for it when you make the room booking but then the carpark is full when you arrive, surely there should be a reserved section?
The room had a selection of hot drinks and biscuits, chilled water in the fridge and lovely smelling soaps. The only thing we found was missing was chairs on the balcony, especially as we had our little one who fell asleep early, it would have been nice to enjoy some couple time on the balcony.
Breakfast was great, the staff were attentive and the food was lovely. The pool was also clean, a nice temperature and not over crowded.
The location is fantastic if you are going to enjoy Techniquest, Red Dragon Centre or just a visit to the bay itself.
Would stay here again :)
Read more
Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
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 Peter Hughes, Guest Services / Front Office at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Aug 13, 2021
Thank you ZoeWilliams5 for your comments and rating after your recent great stay with us. We are all delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, had a nice cool room and got to relax in our Spa. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Kind Regards Peter Hughes - Guest Services Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a 2 night stay at this hotel and booked a superior room as a treat. The room had an interconnecting door and wind whistled through it like a kettle on and off through the night which meant we didn’t sleep well in the super comfortable bed. We contacted reception and the next day they were able to move this to another room. The 2nd night we were in a suite on the 6th floor & the room was amazing- with a little patio. The beds are astoundingly comfortable – I wish I had one in my own house! The bathrooms were well equipped, towels nice & fluffy, and the water pressure was good. The view was the main reason we booked and the balcony had a bay view toward the barrage which was great.
We used the pool twice. We had to book a 45min time slot in advance due to distancing regulations which made it really lovely with so few people.
The Covid standards were good, mask wearing in the public areas, hand sanitiser available, distancing markings & one way markers.
The staff were all really friendly, welcoming & helpful. A pleasure of a visit.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020Trip 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 Greg Lewis, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Sep 14, 2020
Dear nicnoodle, It was lovely to hear you had enjoyed yourselves following our reopening on the 1st September and you found all our new guidelines in place worked well. We look forward of having the oppertunity to welcome you back. Regards Brady J Smith Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were saddened to see that the spa has declined over the past few years. What used to be one of the best in Wales now feels cheap and tired. The spa itself was packed with children which did not make for a relaxing experience. We tried to swim in the pool but with children jumping all over the place it was not possible. The spa could really do with a makeover. Maybe a bigger pool and the addition of a steam room.. Maybe even modernising with new experiences such as ice rooms, hot stone loungers? The jacuzzi was freezing cold that I had to get out. The pool was too busy. The sauna was nice. I found the facilities lacking and spend all my time sat on one of the limited chairs. We also had a massage, where we were not told the procedure. There was no music on and staff were quite cold. The massage itself was the roughest we had experienced. Having told the person to apply less pressure it was still quite hard. We both left feeling the opposite of relaxed. The waiting area used to be so pleasant, with sofas and drinks, even light bites but now feels like a clinic waiting room with uncomfortable chairs and no refreshments. The relaxation room was cold in temperature and again no refreshments. Finally, it did not feel covid safe. People ignoring signs to wear masks in reception, too many people in the pool and no sign of any cleaning processes being carried out. Regular sanitisation of loungers, changing rooms etc would feel more covid sage. It did not feel like a premium spa and instead like a cheap gym with pool add on. On a positive note the robes and towels were nice, but could have done with slippers (again not a premium experience). I would not say the spa is value for money. I hope it improves as it used to be so lovely.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2021Trip 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 IHG Service, Other at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Oct 21, 2021
Dear Amy7161, I appreciate you for sharing your review about your recent stay. I am very sorry that you did not experience an exemplary hotel stay due to people not ignoring to wear masks at the reception area and that your spa experience was not relaxing. This is certainly below our usual high standard of service. Please be assured that I have noted and forwarded your comments for the management to improve. In the midst of the inconvenience, I am glad to know that our sauna, the robes and towels were still appreciated. I very much hope that you will grant us the opportunity to prove ourselves again. Best Regards, Ben W. Case Manager IHGService
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Decided to stay here with friends for our anniversary, due to the location (Bay) on arrival we checked in effortlessly and was a warm welcome. The lobby is stunning in all fairness and very well kept.
Due to our anniversary we were upgraded! I am a thankful person but when I seen the room I was disappointed there was rips in the carpet the balcony was full of bird droppings and windows were filthy. The air conditioning wasn’t working so staff brought a fan.
We paid £225 for this and was very disappointed. I’m am going to be writing to the CEO.
The Bar/restaurant was lovely and staff so friendly.
The spa i believe it was the (Manager) told our friends the facilities would close at 20:15 however when you look on the welcome pack it stipulates 21:00! I think they want to change goalposts as it suits themselves.
I asked the manager to intervene. The manager went to the spa and asked what was going on? The woman advised she had told my friends the facilities would close at 20:15 then she said they would keep them open until 20:25 it was pointless going to the pool for 15/20 minutes.
Due to the inconvenience the manager then wavered the £24 pound parking fee which was a nice gesture.
I will never return to this hotel again, it’s a shame as I have stayed many times before and have loved my stay.
The management need to start with the cleaning of balconies, changing carpets and ensuring that the facilities remain open to the welcoming pack guidelines.
Covid control was adhered to and was well managed.
I would book the Celtic manor before booking this place.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
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 Peter Hughes, Guest Services / Front Office at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Jul 26, 2021
Dear OCD08, Thank you for providing your comments after your recent stay with us. I am deeply saddened to read that you were not satisfied with your stay and experienced shortfalls in our usual high standards of service. The room condition you described is certainly not up to the standards we have implemented as part of IHG Clean Ways and I have passed your feedback to our housekeeping team for review & action. Our welcome pack states the Marine Spa closes at 9:00pm, the pool & gym facilities last sessions are from 7:30pm until 8:30pm as confirmed when booking. This leaves half an hour to shower & change before the Marine Spa is closed. I am sorry that you thought you could just extend the session and stay swimming up until 9:00pm and it is most unfortunate that your late arrival to the Marine Spa meant you could not enjoy our facilities. I did manage to book a swimming session for the next morning but I understand that you had pre-existing plans. We would be more than happy to arrange access to our pool facilities as a day pass guest, please contact us directly to arrange. Once again, please accept my sincerest of apologies for our shortcomings on this occasion and I hope to hear from you very soon. Kindest Regards Peter Hughes Guest Services Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I recently stayed at this hotel as a treat for my partner for his birthday. Due to work commitments we arrived at around 8pm that evening. We went out for a meal and some drinks and returned to the hotel room. I had upgraded the room to a superior room and it wasn’t as superior as I was expecting. We had a nice breakfast in the morning and checked out. We made our way to the spa which we were told at reception we were able to use complimentary as we stayed at the hotel. When we got to the spa at 10:20 we were refused to use any of the facilities as they were at maximum capacity and that we could return at 17:00. We explained that we only stayed the 1 night and needed to return home after a few hours and would like to use the pool and was again told we couldn’t go through. The main reason I chose this hotel is for the facilities available but were not able to see or use. Extremely disappointed and very poor customer service from a 5* hotel, I’ve never had any problems anywhere else before. I’d recommend anyone else to consider staying somewhere other than here if it’s the facilities they are planning on using, such as St Brides Saundersfoot or The Celtic Manor Newport where they limit use of spa time to ensure all guests get an opportunity to use the facilities.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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 Dream823260, Manager at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Jan 14, 2020
Dear Tinr7033, Thanks for providing your rating and review following your recent stay with us. I understand our Guest Relations Team has reached out to you with regards to your feedback. I am sorry to read you were disappointed with the pool access times as a hotel resident you can enjoy guaranteed complimentary access between 7-10am and 5-10pm daily. Between these times it is subject to availability and we ask our guests to check with the Spa Reception Team for access. I trust we will have the opportunity to welcome you back soon where you find the time to enjoy the Marine Spa. Warm regards Brady J Smith Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Visited for a date night with my partner the hotel was lovely, clean and decorated to a high standard. Hotel car park was full so was advised to park in car park next to theirs, download an app and pay by the hour. For such a large hotel I was very surprised to find the lack of parking spaces designated for the hotel. The room- heating would not turn off and was ridiculously hot, we were very lucky to have booked a balcony room so opened the doors through out the night to let air in but the foot traffic passing at about 6am onwards was very disturbing. Tried to watch a film on the tv but every 15 minutes it would knock off and go to the hotel main screen. The wardrobe door would not shut properly so the light inside beamed through the room all night until we got fed up and wedged it shut. (We did receive a reduction off a bottle of wine brought the night before at Checkout for these issues) The restaurant- arrived 15 minutes early so was told to take a seat in the bar and wait for the table to be ready. Waiter came over to take a drinks order, we requested a menu to order from before we were seated to save time. Fifteen minutes of back and for explaining to waiter we were not asking for mayonnaise on our steak but bearnaise sauce. waiter still kept repeating mayonnaise until we pointed it out on the menu. Then he arrived with cutlery we explained that we were waiting on a table and had no intention of sitting in the middle of a bar surrounded by people drinking to eat a steak! He then said well your food might come here because this is where I told the chef you are sitting. Again explained we are waiting for a table there’s no way we are sitting in a pub surrounded by people drinking and stood around listening to a singer to eat our dinner. He then came back 15 minutes later and says he’s sorted it and out table is ready. We sit, then out comes our mains we explained we’d ordered starters and would like them first, interestingly enough we then watched him check an iPad then go give the mains to another table. So made sense When we did get round to the mains we had requested the mushrooms and tomato be removed but they had not been, the other table must of missed out on them as they had clearly got our first order they had messed up and we had theirs. We were not given an ice bucket stand so had to use a neighbouring table and get up to get wine when ever we needed a top up as no one offered assistance. Checkout day- only one lift working and as we were on the 2nd floor, every time the lift got to us it was full. After 20 minutes of not being able to get in and with no sign of stairs we asked a cleaner for help who very kindly directed us to the staff lift to use. I will not be visiting again,
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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 Dream823260, Manager at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Jan 26, 2020
Dear 125carysa, Thank you for taking the time to reflect your recent stay in such detail. I appreciate for drawing to our attention elements of the room such as the air management system, television and wardrobe door in your room and I have shared these with our Maintenance Engineer for full review of the room you were allocated to. I am saddened to hear of your feedback regarding your dining experience. Rest assured your feedback will be discussed and reviewed with our Food & Beverage Manager and Kitchen Brigade. It is a real shame that you will not be returning to voco St. David’s, Cardiff and I trust you will reconsider choosing us when visiting the area in the near future. Warm regards Brady J Smith Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a wonderful stay at this hotel. We originally booked a normal room but were offered a custom upgrade for a very reasonable price so we ended up staying in one of the very beautiful St David suites. The room itself was absolutely perfect- amazing views, lots of space, huge balcony, the bed is like sleeping on a giant cloud, 2 massive TVs etc. The main perk was having doors between the bedroom and lounge area so we could leave the baby sleeping while we played board games at the large marble dining table (perfect for games).
Room was cleaned every day and was utterly spotless when we arrived.
The three things that were less great- firstly my keycard kept deprogramming itself so I had to go back downstairs to get it fixed and couldn’t get in my room. I hadn’t kept it that close to my phone but anywhere even close to the vicinity of my phone undid it. I thought they should be a bit more resilient than that as it was a pain to have to go back down to reception and wait for it to be fixed every time.
The other thing was breakfast wasn’t great. I think they were having a bad day with some staffing issues so I wouldn’t say my experience is usual. But there are so many places to get a nice breakfast within a five minute walk that it didn’t matter too much.
There was also a slight issue with the Tv not working which meant we had a technician in our room for an hour one afternoon fixing it. This messed up our baby’s nap routine and meant we couldn’t get showered and ready for the evening but in hindsight we should have asked him to come back later.
All in all it was lovely. We were there for a belated birthday and the team had included a birthday card and some drinks vouchers for the bar which was really kind. The staff were all really helpful. I would definitely stay in that room again.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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 Greg Lewis, Owner at voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG hotel
Responded Sep 27, 2020
Dear finnolab, Thanks for taking the time to review your visit at voco St. David’s. We are glad to read your stay was enjoyable and the team were able to assist to remedy issues that occurred. I trust you will be back soon. Kind regards Brady J Smith Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bristol, United Kingdom120 contributions52 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$181 - C$312 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
st. david`s hotel cardiff
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Voco St. David's Cardiff, An Ihg Hotel
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.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
