The Welsh capital city of Cardiff has not always been the visitor draw it is today. In recent years, however, it has overcome its former reputation as a primarily industrial city and is now one of the most visited cities in the United Kingdom. With both modern attractions and historic monuments (some dating back to Roman times), the city is now a delight for visitors – especially in the nicer summer weather – and there are lots of cheap hotels in Cardiff you can choose from for your stay.
Because Cardiff is the capital of Wales, it plays host to many important events throughout the year – including several sporting events which fill the seats of Millennium Stadium. Even if you are not a sports fan, you would do well to find out if there are any such events going on during your visit, because events like that tend to not only drive up the cost of the ordinarily cheap hotels in Cardiff but also limit availability in the budget accommodation options as well. Having said that, if you can still get a cheap room, your next step is to get tickets to the match!
One benefit of getting a cheap hotel in Cardiff’s city center is that the downtown area – where most of the tourist attractions are located – is easily visited on foot. And should you want to take a load off your feet, there are also local buses which serve the city well. In good weather, you may want to take an open-top bus tour to get to know the city when you arrive, as well. Some of the main attractions in Cardiff include the Cardiff Castle, Millennium Stadium & Millennium Centre, and several nice museums and galleries. The famous Brecon Beacons are just a short trip from the city center, as well.
A few of the cheap hotels in Cardiff worth looking into are The Big Sleep Hotel (funky small hotel in city center, 81 rooms, breakfast included, laundry service), Premier Inn Cardiff City South (just outside city center, on-site restaurant), Hotel Ibis Cardiff (in the city center, near the train station, 102 rooms, on-site restaurant, WiFi available), Etap Hotel Cardiff Centre (in city center, 157 rooms, WiFi available, on-site restaurant), and Cardiff Marriott Hotel (in the city center, 181 rooms, internet access available, laundry on-site, on-site restaurant and cafe).