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PARK PLAZA HOTEL
My dad and I checked into the four-star Park Plaza Hotel, which caters to business travelers during the week and leisure travelers on weekends. It used to be an office building, which explains the bland exterior but two and a half years ago, it was converted into a chic and happening hotel. The hotel is modern with a minimalist design. Our pleasant experience began at check-in. The attentive, friendly, international front desk crew greeted us with a warm welcome. Rooms are huge by any standard and feature comfortable beds. The tiled bathrooms are also spacious and they have both a separate shower and tub. Amenities include free wireless Internet, a stainless-steel indoor swimming pool, steam room and gym. Though still not a bargain, the in-room mini bar is not a complete rip-off when you reach for a bottle of water (£1.50) in the middle of the night to quench your thirst.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The best part is the Park Plaza's location; it's just three blocks from the Cardiff Castle, two blocks from the shopping centre, a block from the National Museum and one building over from the New Theater. There's not much this hotel needs to improve except perhaps throwing up a few pictures on the room walls to make them more cheerful and getting rid of our room's tobacco smell. But overall, this place rocks and I'm not surprised that they won best AA (UK's motor club, equivalent to AAA) hotel within a year. Rates begin at £80 and usually include a mediocre breakfast buffet on the ground floor's Laguna Kitchen and Bar. Park Plaza Cardiff, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff; Tel.: 029 2011 1101.

LAGUNA RESTAURANT
Although the Laguna has a sub-par breakfast buffet, dinner is anything but. The Laguna Kitchen and Bar has huge, glass picture windows which instill an airy, casual feel. What I liked best about it is that the dishes aren't flashy. The menu features a variety of simple but good food. I enjoyed bruschetta (£3) and cheese ravioli (£8.50), while my dad had a tasty Caesar salad (£4.50) and the " roast of the day" (£12). It was roast beef, served with cabbage with bacon and Yorkshire pudding. There was also a side of steamed veggies, a meal in itself. On Sundays, they offer a deal – two courses for £11.50 or three courses for £14.50. You know a restaurant is good when it's popular with the locals and that's who most of the clientele here are. Laguna Kitchen and Bar, Park Plaza Hotel, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff; Tel.: 029 2011 1103.



CARDIFF CASTLE
Cardiff's main attraction is the Cardiff Castle. It's actually three castles in one; a Roman fort, a Norman keep and a magnificent Victorian mansion. Parts of it have been around for 2000 years, when the Romans set up a 10-acre fort in the mid-first century AD. In the 11th century, the Normans invaded and added their own characteristics, such as a classic motte and a Norman keep. When my dad paid the entrance fee and we passed through the gatehouse, I had the same feeling I get when I see the inside of a baseball stadium for the first time. It was magical. The interior was a grass field large enough for a game but in the background on a hill was a fairy-tale looking Norman keep that my dad and I just had to climb. As you can see from the video (below), it was difficult for my resolute father who recently underwent open-heart surgery and then re-injured his bad back, schlepping his luggage around. But he was determined to see the interior and the views from the top. I can't blame him. It felt as if we had just stepped inside the pages of a children's storybook. Afterwards, we took a guided tour of the apartments and marveled at the clock tower, which reminded me of the Astronomical Clock in Prague. What's interesting is that the exterior of the castle was redesigned to fit the fantasies of two 19th-century medievalists: the third Marquess of Bute, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, and his architect, William Burges. To learn more about them and the history of the Cardiff Castle, check out this website. Adult admission: £6.80, Tel: 029 2087 8100.

CARDIFF MARKET
Our next stop was at the Victorian indoor market. It is similar to the one in Budapest but not nearly as interesting. We took a quick walk around to see the assortment of merchandise, ranging from fresh fruit and traditional Welsh cheeses to tacky souvenirs. It's been trading in one form or another since the 1700s but I gather it was a lot cooler back then. Cardiff Market Website.

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