Oh my. This hotel is really overrated. I was shocked at the great reviews considering what we found. If you are looking for a good experience (I said good – not great) and are well traveled (outside of just Germany) then you will probably have a similar opinion. We stayed in Room 2. It’s notorious for the noise. The noise is the least of my compliant. The rude check in experience, the lack of communicating properly with guests, the dorm style room (my dorm was actually nicer in college), the mold in the shower…. Those would be my main complaints that explain my rating.
There are TONS of hotels located right around the corner from this hotel. I would highly recommend looking into those hotels. They looked very nice on the outside and very welcoming.
Pro
Location – It’s close to the Old Bridge and the old church. However, so are several other hotels that looked awesome and they don’t open up to the noisy drinking street.
Monica- Monica is one of the inn keepers who was there in the mornings. She was very sweet! If she was the person greeting guests at check-in, we likely would have started off with a much better impression.
Con
Location – while you are steps away from the bridge and the old church, you are on a party alley. Its filled with people drinking all day and all night. If you want to be in that setting – this is a perfect location for you.
Breakfast – no variety. Boring. It was bread. Boiled eggs. Scary looking sausage. Yogurt (plain – no flavoring either day). Cereal (and again – nothing exciting).
Noise – Room 2 is noisy and if you want to open the window – it doesn’t stop until after 1am. They give you ear plugs. Not really a problem – except you likely need to open the windows for air circulation.
The facility – There was a dirty towel cart outside of our room (room 2) and the next room over the entire time. Never moved. The would never have happened in the US – even in a budget hotel. The reception area is unwelcoming and dirty. The kitchen looked very dirty (see photo). I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything cooked after seeing the state of the kitchen at check-in.
Beds – uncomfortable. And if they tell you 4 people can fit in Room 2 – it’s a pull out couch and it’s uncomfortable. The “real” bed wasn’t much better.
Bathroom – there was mold in the shower. The shower curtain had pink obvious mold all over it. There is a reason US hotels don’t use shower curtains anymore – they get moldy.
In Germany, we have come to understand that there are a few things that are standard for hotels – 1. No air conditioning available in most – best of luck for those visiting in the heat of the summer – it was early May and it was already super stuffy in the room; 2. They don’t provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, etc. – bring your own samples you have collected – no exception here; 3. Most smaller places don’t have elevators so ask what floor your room would be on when you make a reservation – although there was an elevator here; 4. They don’t provide a warm and welcoming front desk experience like the states or Asia – it’s just not the place to really except to go to get directions and guidance on the area.
