Budget
The River House Backpackers
Excellent boutique hostel in central Cardiff just opposite Millenium Stadium. The dorms are neat and simple, bathrooms are nice and always kept clean. There is a common kitchen and eating area, as well as a TV and reading room. Free breakfast and wifi internet is included. The atmosphere is social but not too rowdy. Very hospitable owners and staff.
Wedal Road Youth Hostel
2 wedal road, roath park, tel: +44 084 5371-9311, (http://www.yha.org.uk/hos...) - for â£19 adult without yha membership it's the cheapest place to stay and really quite funky for a youth hostel: no curfew, modern, clean, friendly personnel, and a sumptuous breakfast is included; it's about a 20 minute walk from the city centre, or 10 minutes by bus.
Nos Da
There are three other hostels in the city including Nos Da, Cardiff Backpackers and Nomad.
Midrange
Express By Holiday Inn Cardiff Bay
Longuiel close, â +44 29 2044-9000, (http://www.ichotelsgroup....). clean hotel in cardiff bay, 15 min walk from the centre.
Holiday Inn Cardiff Central
Castle st, â +44 87 0400-8140. just minutes from most attractions in the city centre.
Lincoln House Hotel
Cathedral rd, â +44 29 2039-5558, (http://www.lincolnhotel.co.uk). traditional converted townhouse on the outskirts of cardiff city centre.
Cardiff Marriott Hotel
Mill ln, â +44 29 2039-9944, (http://marriott.com/prope...) is within a block of the train station, right across from at least ten clubs. it has reasonably comfortable rooms not yet with the marriott upgraded beds. they have high speed internet connections in the rooms, but the fee is â£15/day for the service. the staff is friendly and helpful. also, they have a small multi-storey car park for the hotels guest.
Top end
St. David's Hotel and Spa
Havannah s, â +44 29 2045-4045. a really great stay for those who want that little bit extra. fronting the bay it offers spectacular scenery and is little more than 5 minutes away from the cosmopolitan bay area. built and originally operated by the rocco forte group, it was sold in 2006 to the principal hayley group.
Cardiff Hilton
1 kingsway, â +44 29 2064-6300. this is the place for more upmarket stays. situated right in front of the castle and offers nice views of the civic centre.
Bear in mind it can be very difficult to find rooms available or within a sensible price when the Millennium Stadium is hosting events, especially when Wales play in rugby or football, so plan around the dates or plan early as it will be much cheaper.