Meet the city on the sea

There are indeed beaches worth swimming at in the United Kingdom and Wales' coastal city, Swansea, places you on the Gower Peninsula where white sand meets medieval castles. Away from the water, Swansea is also where you can explore the country's industrial history at the National Waterfront Museum and zip down slides at the LC Waterpark.

There are plenty of waterfront accommodation options available such as the Swansea Marriott Hotel positioned near the Maritime Quarter with museums, galleries, a theatre and a popular marina. On the ocean is a string of high quality hotels such as Southview Hotel, Carlton Hotel, The Poets Corner and The Bayswater.

Capitalise that culture

Wales' capital city, Cardiff, is another city by the ocean, but with a different style to Swansea. Instead of beaches, you have Cardiff Bay, where you can stroll along redeveloped docklands, ducking into restaurants or partaking in some sports on the water. Accommodation near Cardiff Bay includes Jolyon's, a boutique hotel with only seven intimate rooms designed with space and comfort in mind.

One of the biggest Cardiff attractions is the Cardiff Castle, standing proudly on Castle Green. You can reside with the 2000-year-old castle in view at The Angel Hotel, which combines an antique-furnished lobby with modern rooms. There's also the Holiday Inn, with a city-centre location and light-strewn rooms.

Caenarfon and the must-see castle

There's history seeping from the ground and walls in Caenarfon, having been inhabited since before Roman times. Most people visit the town to see its enormous waterfront castle. Caenarfon Castle's high ramparts and grimy grey stone walls look to be taken straight from a medieval dream. Dating back to the 13th Century, it's one of the best places to immerse yourself in medieval atchitecture and history.

Caenarfon also has its fair share of memorable hotels. Take the Black Boy Inn for instance, with its own medieval stylings, such as open fireplaces, and Welsh character within its rich oak furnishings. There's also the Travelodge and Premier Inn if you prefer a more modern approach.