Overview

I spent two of what should have been three nights at this hotel after Hurricane Darragh delayed my travel plans by a day and sent me halfway around the country when my selected route was cancelled. I chose this location as I've been here before, but also because of its proximity to the Red Dragon Centre, where I knew I could get a bite to eat. It's a great wee hub for exploring Cardiff Bay, not far from Cardiff Bay Railway Station and just over a mile from the city centre. As a Travelodge, it's a basic place to stay, but it keeps costs down, so that's a bonus.

Transport & Parking

Free parking for Travelodge guests can be found at the rear of the building and in the wider Red Dragon Centre car park. Immediately at the rear of the hotel, there are six accessible parking spaces, 42 accessible parking spaces at the Red Dragon, and 858 standard parking bays. Just make sure to enter your car registration at reception to qualify for free parking. Cardiff Bay Railway Station is 130 metres from the hotel, where you'll find a shuttle service running between Cardiff Bay and Queen Street Railway Stations. Cardiff Bay station was undergoing work, which will add a second line and potential alternative routes in the future. The nearest bus stop is next to Cardiff Bay Railway Station on Lloyd George Avenue, where the 6 Baycar, 304, 305, and X2 services operate.

Access

The hotel has both a front and rear entrance, with the rear entrance facing the Red Dragon Centre and entry points on both sides of the building. At the front entrance, there are steps with a handrail and a ramp. The first set of doors is automatic, but you'll need to tap your keycard later in the evening. Once inside, there's a second set of doors that require you to press the touchpad to open. The rear entrance has level access with an automatic door, which, just like the front, requires a keycard later in the evening. The additional doors also require you to press the touchpad. I had a standard double room booked, but they had also made up the single guest bed. I emptied my bag here, but there was enough room to pass between the double and single beds in a powerchair, and enough space between the desk and bed for a left-side transfer – though this may vary depending on your room. The website mentioned there’s an iron and a hair dryer in the room, but I didn’t find evidence of either. I expect you need to ask at the front desk. The lifts have braille buttons and an induction loop, with a loop also operational at the front desk. However, the front desk does not have a lowered counter. Additional braille signage is provided in the lifts and on each floor. The lifts also have metal grab rails inside for those who need extra stability while moving. The door to each floor requires you to tap your keycard. These doors open outwards and do not have an automatic option, so I found myself wrestling with the door at times. This is not ideal if you're travelling alone and can’t easily manage the process of opening the door. There's another manual door before you get to the corridor with the rooms. The rooms are much the same, although the doors open inwards. Other than the ground floor, each level is carpeted, which I find requires extra effort when pushing a manual wheelchair.

Toilets

I didn't stay in an accessible room, so I can't comment on the accessible toilet in the rooms, but there is an accessible toilet in the lobby. The door to the toilet opens outwards and doesn't require a RADAR key to enter. There's plenty of room for a left-side transfer and contrasting grab rails on either side of the toilet. The small sink has a lever-style tap and contrasting grab rails on either side. The red cord is to the right when seated on the toilet and hung freely to the floor during my visit. There was a ridiculous amount of toilet roll in this accessible toilet, but I guess you'd rather have too much than too little. There was no colostomy shelf in the room. The toilet wasn't the cleanest, but it would suffice in a pinch. I stayed in a standard room, which wasn't the best accessibility-wise. I won't consider this in my rating, but I can advise that it is very compact, with no suitable space for a wheelchair transfer, a raised sink, and a step into the shower. The shower has a grab rail. If you're able to walk or weight-bear for a short period, I expect the toilet in the standard room would be suitable for a quick wash.

Staff

The staff were helpful, particularly when my card key was deactivated. It wasn’t fun to discover this after I’d already taken the lift up, but they sorted it quickly.

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