Northcote Lane Apartments

Northcote Lane Apartments are a small set of self-contained flats on a residential lane in Roath, about fifteen minutes' walk from Cardiff city centre and closer still to the university. For a dog owner the useful headline is the charge: guests travelling with a pet report that no extra fee was applied, which is unusual in city self-catering and can make a multi-night stay noticeably cheaper than the alternatives. Listings for the property word the pet policy inconsistently, though, so get it confirmed in writing before you arrive.

There are three flats in the building, all covered by CCTV, and guests describe it as feeling secure. Each has its own kitchen and living space and entry is by code rather than a reception desk, so there is no lobby to walk a dog through and nobody to check in with. Roath Recreation Ground and Roath Park lake are both a short walk away for a proper leg-stretch, and there are cafes, shops and a supermarket around the corner.

This is a budget property and the reviews are honest about it. The recurring complaints are cleanliness and wear: stained or unvacuumed carpets come up more than any other single point, along with missing basics such as soap and toiletries, an oven that smokes and a shower tray that drains slowly. Dog owners should also know that a previous guest's dog left fur and treats behind furniture that had not been cleared before the next arrival - a comment about how thoroughly the flats are turned around rather than about the pets. Code mix-ups on arrival have been reported as well.

Parking is the other practical issue. The street is mostly permit-holder only, the frontage is double yellow lines that do get ticketed, and the nearest secure car park is about ten minutes on foot - awkward if you are unloading a car with a dog in it.

It suits a dog owner who wants a cheap, self-contained city base and is willing to trade finish and consistency for the price and the pet policy.