Name: Solar Strand Express Hotel
Address: High Street; Newport, Wales; Np11 7by, Gwent, Gwent, Gwent, NP11 7BY, United Kingdom
Rating: 7

Smoke-free property

Heating

Express check-in/check-out

General

Non-smoking rooms

Soundproof rooms

Room service

Family room

Cable TV

Hairdryer

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Linens

Rooms

Iron and board

Iron

Services and amenities

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Airport transportation

Transfer

Free parking

Parking

Beach/pool towels

Pool and beach

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Pets allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Cwmcarn Forest Drive Lake

Cardiff Airport

Bristol Airport

Solar Strand Express Hotel

Gwent

My partner and I traveled to the solar strand hotel for a cheeky getaway. Upon arrival was greeted by a strange man who we believed to be the owner. He was wearing a doctor who T-Shirt and a top hat, not very professional but we didn’t think much more of it. 

When we got to our room, while clean it felt like we was in a hospital and unfortunately there wasn’t enough plug sockets for ourselves, leading us to pull the bed out to find more sockets. 

In the morning after a clinical night sleep on the hospital ward, we went down for breakfast. I like my eggs scrambled however I also wanted to try their poached eggs, to my disbelief breakfast was chaotic and screaming could be heard from the kitchen. When our breakfasts finally came out, both of our eggs, regardless of which way done, were not to standard. 

To conclude, owner bit too jazzy, not enough plug sockets and we wouldn’t stay here again.

Shocking amount of plug sockets

Upon check in, we received a code, no reception present or staff.
The room itself was dirty and looked nothing like the photos.

The water was barely warm from the shower.

Finally, we heard lots of noise during the night and went to see what it was, appears after speaking to one person staying there that Gary rents these rooms to anyone and everyone long term, as a bedsit arrangement.

Avoid this place like the plague

Dirty, odd and not a hotel as claimed

A friendly relaxed hotel.  On site free parking, great value breakfast.  Clean and tidy.  Right next to train station, ideal for travelling into Cardiff.

Just not sure of the credibility of the vegetarian sausages

Great hotel ideal for attending rugby in Cardiff

This is a old pub converted into a 'hotel'.
No staff on site, was texted a code to get in and get a key.

Towels were stained and there was mould growing around the inside part of the window frame.

Car park looks very unsafe to leave a car, more of a builders yard.

The cups in the room had lipstick on, and during the night there was noise as the walls seem so thin... pre fab?

Finally, in the morning I had a terrible neck as the mattress dipped in the middle.

I'd stay clear.

Dirty, unwelcome and dangerous

What used to be an old pup and perhaps a little tired looking, but ideal for visits to Cardiff due to close proximity to train station and In a picturesque location also easy to find. Self service check in was a first, but no problem owners sent instructions via text on the day of check in. 5* it certainly isn't, but it's clean and comfortable we were allowed to check in early and there were tea,coffee,kettle etc in the room and also toiletries provided. The staff that we met were friendly and helpful. Breakfast was toast cereal and yogurt which was fine but there is an option to pay a bit more for a cooked breakfast if preferred. The only thing that spoilt it a little was the 'Noisy drunken bums' being very loud in the early hours whilst deciding who was going out to find a Supermarket!😫 
Would happily stay again.

Ideal

This used to be a lovely friendly pub where all the community used to meet and enjoy each other company! Sadly now locals no welcome that hads meant the older local people now don’t socialise and have become more reclusive and depressed!!!! So well done solar strand for taking the heart of our community and crushing it!!!                          
           
             CROSSKEYS HOTEL 👊

Miss j thomas

Have recently stayed here for one night. Rooms are basic but clean and comfortable with a good sized room and bathroom. There are tea/coffee facilities and a hairdryer. We stayed with two dogs and there was space for all. Breakfast is £5 for toast and cereal plus juice and tea/coffee. Cooked breakfast is from £6:50. Maybe bring own shampoo and conditioner. Room pictures are of just as we were leaving.

Basic but clean and comfortable

We booked the Superior room for 3 nights while we were in the area doing a training course nearby. The entrance had a fancy touchpad entry which you got a PIN number text to your phone to use. Then you enter and there’s an IPad to check in with another PIN number, once that’s sorted you just enter the last PIN number into the locker to receive your key. 

We went into the room and had a quick look around to make sure it was worth the money, unfortunately it was not. The bathroom had pee and god knows what else on the walls. The windows were sealed with filler to stop you opening them, the walls themselves were covered in mould near the windows and the walls in general were generally just marked and dirty. For some reason there was what seemed to be someone else’s left over shower gel and soap in the bathroom. 

We did have an Apple TV box in our room but unfortunately the TV didn’t seem to work, you could turn it on but the remote wouldn’t do much else so you were stuck having to get up and change Chanel manually. I’d have complained but during our stay I didn’t see anyone that seemed to be a member of staff. Even the bar was empty and unmanned every time walked past the door. 

I’ve taken plenty of photos.

Save yourself some cash and book somewhere else!

Run down and dirty

Cannot understand how people can rate this place as bad. Room excellent and clean, beds really comfortable. Checkin service by text due to late arrival brilliant. Really quite could not hear any noise and acceptance of a dog.
Would most definitely come back!

Excellent for the price

First of all, great hotel and great value for money. 

We first arrived to find that we needed a code to access the door and the 3 digit code storage for the key. Luckily there was another guest who let us in through the front. The gentleman we phoned to receive the 3 digit code was very nice and helpful, just what we needed after a long drive. He kindly sent a message with all the information that we needed.

The room was great, and the beds were a good size and the tea and coffee options were more than we expected. 

Noise wise, we did notice the trains came by every so often, but it didn't bother us as we were out for most of the day..

However, only a small point...I did notice a couple of hairs before entering the shower. Also the safety notch on the shower handle was broken so no matter which way it was turned it went all the way round, so the water was piping hot - no matter which way the handle was turned. So it did take a while to get a suitable temperature. Before entering the water, I noticed it did take a long time for the water to drain so my right foot was burnt as the water from before was still piping hot.

Last thing, as I was doing a last check to see if we have forgotten something, so I noticed that under the beds have not been hoovered.

But despite these things I would stay here again!

Solar Strand Express Hotel

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