AC Hotels, Belfast

Introduction

Hello, I'm William, and this is my first attempt at writing a detailed, long-form review. My goal is to provide clear and professional feedback, sharing my honest opinions and experiences. I'm not aiming to make this a poetic read, as I don't think my vocabulary is at that level, but I will do my best. Everything shared here is my own, and any references used will be credited to their original authors at the end.

The AC Hotel Belfast by Marriott is a waterfront urban retreat in Northern Ireland. It offers luxurious accommodations with spacious rooms featuring stunning views. The hotel boasts a restaurant by chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and is conveniently located near many attractions, such as Titanic Belfast, SSE Arena, City Hall, and more.

Location and Surroundings

The hotel is situated in the heart of Belfast city, by the river Lagan, and near the large SSE Arena, offering a lot of entertainment and scenic views. The location was fairly easy to reach by car as I drove directly there. However, if you're traveling by train, be prepared for a bit of a walk from the train station in the city.

Parking

Onsite parking is available, but it requires an additional fee. I chose to park on the street since parking is free after 6 pm until 8 am the next day. You then have a maximum of one hour to move your vehicle before the traffic warden comes around. This was on a weekday, so make sure to read the parking signs to ensure you comply with the rules.

Arrival and Check-in

Upon arrival, you're greeted with a clean and pleasant entrance. Check-in was at 3pm, but I arrived much later. The lobby features a high ceiling and a stylish contemporary design. It’s connected to the onsite restaurant through an open-plan layout, making it visible from the reception. Checking in was a breeze—easy and straightforward. I was given two room cards for my single-person stay.

Accommodation

I stayed in the "Standard King Room," which featured all the amenities you would expect: an iron, hairdryer, coffee and tea facilities, air conditioning, shampoo, wardrobe, and all the necessities required for a stay. This was really good.

The room was large and spacious compared to other places, to be honest. The full window view was amazing in terms of natural light. I selected the "city view," room but next time I would choose the "riverside view." These two reasons strongly compelled me to choose this accommodation because thats something I really like.

The air conditioning worked fine, and the lights provided a lot of ambiance for the evening—easy on the eyes and overall warming. There were plenty of wall sockets for charging all your devices. One downside for me was the TV; the YouTube app was not functioning, so I just AirPlayed my Spotify to the TV for background ambiance.

The room featured a large table accompanied by two comfortable chairs, perfect for unwinding and enjoying the serene ambiance. The plush furnishings made it a delight to simply sit and gaze out of the expansive windows. To have all this in a room with extra space is pretty good.

The bathroom was well-equipped, featuring plenty of towels, toilet rolls, and a variety of toiletries for guests. It was very clean, and the shower had good water pressure and optimal temperature control. There was an overhead rainfall shower, which was a highlight, and you could switch to the handheld shower head, which was a nice bonus. This was my first experience with a rainfall shower, and it was something new and enjoyable for me.

The bed featured a king-sized mattress with four pillows. While the mattress was comfortable, I'd rate it around 7/10 since I prefer a firmer surface, and it was on the softer side. The pillows were adequate, though a bit soft, which wasn't a major issue for me. It seemed like two beds joined together, with a divide in the middle, but this wasn't particularly noticeable. Since I slept on one side, it didn't affect my comfort. Late night and early hour noise from the building or outdoors where fine, I didn't notice much during my stay.

Dinner and Other Facilities

The hotel offers an onsite restaurant as well as a 24-hour gym, open 7 days a week. However, I did not utilize either of these amenities during my stay. For those interested in dining options or fitness facilities, it's advisable to check the hotel's website for more information and current offerings.

Check-Out

Check-out was scheduled for around 12pm the following day, providing ample time to prepare and enjoy either a coffee or tea in the room, or you could opt to go down for breakfast. Since I didn't partake in breakfast during my stay, I'm unable to comment on that aspect for this review. However, the in-room tea and coffee options included Thompsons Family Tea and Nescafe Instant coffee. While they were sufficient, I felt they could be improved upon for a more satisfying experience.

Price and Score

The price for my booking was around £120+, as I made the reservation relatively late. Earlier bookings were available at a lower rate, approximately £90-£100, but my delay led to the price increase. Despite this, I found the pricing relatively fair and in line with what AC Hotels offer. Overall, I had a great experience and would certainly consider staying here again in the future.

I would give this a rating of 4/5, I recommend it. 

Disclaimer *this was not sponsored. All images included in this review are original and captured by me