North Wales accommodation recommendations please

[MadelineZott]

Also restaurants, places to visit etc.

Out of the blue, DH announced that he wants to see Caernarfon Castle. Consequently planning a short break maybe incorporating other castles (Conwy, Harlech?) just for the two of us.

He is looking at Premier Inn type places but I'd prefer a real inn or traditional hotel, ideally within walking distance of bars/restaurants or with its own nice restaurant. Apparently parking is difficult in Caernarfon so that's a factor too.

Any recommendations / suggestions would be much appreciated.

I always find trip advisor to be quite good.

I never know which are the fake reviews on there and was hoping for MNetters' personal recommendations if possible.

For a short trip, I’d consider staying in/around Conwy, rather than Caernarfon. It’s a much nicer town and some would argue a nicer castle...From there you could go into the Conwy valley and visit, for example Betws y Coed.

If you’re up for a walk, climbing Conwy mountain (more a hill than a mountain) gives some lovely views of the town and castle and you have a good chance of coming across wild ponies. Anglesey (and Beaumaris Castle) is within easy reach of Conwy, as is Caernarfon

If you’re turning it into a bit of a history trip, I recommend adding Plas Mawr in Conwy to your list. It’s a real Elizabethan gem and gives a good feel for what the town used to be like.

Having said that, I do really love Harlech castle which is much easier to access if you stay in Caernarfon. Criccieth Castle is also definitely worth a quick stop along the way, for the most spectacular views across Cardigan Bay.

I’m afraid I can’t help with hotel recommendations, but could talk about castles for hours 😁

The Black Boy pub is a very historical pub restaurant with rooms and they own three more traditional accommodations : Ty Dre, Black Tower & Black Jac's.
Celtic Royal Hotel(plenty of parking & only hotel in town with a pool) has recently been spruced up.
Those are the most traditional ones. There's a lot of holiday cottages & air bnb. Airbnb can recommend Glocsen - a flat in town and Crawia (Welsh Slate Mill) - a large house in Llanrug run by the same lovely host. Hole in the wall street & Palas Street are good for food. Generally parking is a pain but you can unload in town then leave the car in long stay at Balaclafa Road (which is near the premier inn) - having stayed in both travelodge and premier inn at Doc Fictoria always plump for premier inn here.

As @SparkleHard said Conwy is a better base with a bigger selection of accommodation. llandudno is a short 10 minute drive with plenty of hotels to choose from.
If it's Castles you want this road trip was done in a camper van over a very long weekend, it's 24 castles in total and plenty of stunning scenery.
http://www.donthibernate.co.uk/24-castles-of-north-wales/

I second the black boy inn. We have stayed there before and probably the sort of thing you are looking for.

Parking in Caernarfon is not a problem at all. Don't park by the castle as it's very expensive. there are a couple of large car parks just a little further away towards Morrisons.

If you want to do the castles then I would look at staying nearer to Porthmadog which is in between the castles at Caernarfon, Harlech and Criccieth. I would also recommend Cony and Beaumaris castles too. It would be worth joining Cadw if you are visiting all of the castles.

And I could listen to you for hours.

Never stayed but how about Bodelwyddan Castle? https://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/bodelwyddan-castle-hotel?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi4KBxPzgAMVhsvtCh1J2gIJEAAYASAAEgJTAPDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You could look at the ruins at Rhuddlan Castle too.

If you do go to Harlech you must get an icecream from Hufenfa'r Castell opposite

Thank you all; some great suggestions for me to look into.

oh the Black Boy! Love it! Traditional and cosy.

We have stayed at Celtic Royal several times. V nice. Parking, pool, nice breakfast, reasonably priced (though admittedly I’ve not been for about three years). Black Boy is one of our fave pubs/restaurants but never stayed there. Enjoy!