I’m on the phone with Joe E. We’ve been gabbing about travel gear, including the DreamSack, and then we got to talking my draft itinerary. Joe says Cardiff itself isn't worth 3 days. (Well, he didn't quite put it that way, but I'm trying to keep this post PG-13. Somewhat.)
Hay-on-Wye, Joe says, is much more worth some time. It's near Hereford, and has “pretty much nothing but used bookstores”.
Any bookstore there, will give you a map to all the bookstores. (I’ll miss their May 23-June 1 literary festival though.) Then you raid pastry shops for somthing to eat. There’s also a good campground. Sounds like something I’m definitely interested in, so maybe I can piece that in as a day/side trip?
Joe also recommends joining Hostels of Europe. You get discount on many places, and it’s not as popular a membership as HI. But the Hostels of Europe properties tend to be much cooler places, Joe says.

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I agree. Cardiff is 1.5 days max. If you’re in the mood for a castle, hit Caerphilly Castle, that was fun. But I was a bit bored after 2 days.
Thanks Claudia!
I was afraid of sounding like a crank and I was hoping that someone would chime in and agree.
Joe E,
You are a crank
– but don’t let that stop you!
I agree, HI or Independant hostels of europe places are cooler and more homely
The IYH places are good of course but in some countries they can tend to be a bit “institutional”
http://www.hostelseurope.com/
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