About me:I was in the Royal Marines for 11 yrs. I retired to study geophysics and have been a freelance con...
Member since:20.03.2003
Reviews:33
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Review rated by 12 Ciao members on average: helpful
Kiel is not the most conducive place for a winter holiday so it has to be reasoned that anyone wishing to stay there then would either do so on business or in transit.
Being the main centre for U Boat construction during WW2, Keil was then a favourite destination for RAF Bomber Command and was badly damaged; the reconstruction is about as imaginative as some similar city centres in the UK such as Plymouth - in other words a quick-fix urban monstrosity.
The Best Western Hotel in Kiel rose up out of an existing office block and despite some attempts to disguise the fact, it shows. In terms of four star status it doesn't deserve it if you compare what you get in most four star hotels in the rest of Europe.
I stayed there for four days in the middle of January 2009. It was comfortable. No frills, no pretty soaps or shampoos - no "night-night chocolates" - Plain but functional. The shower had a large rectangular griddle like a BBQ griddle and leaked, which meant that large amounts of water sprayed over the top of the shower rail into the outer bathroom - and on to my dry towel! Adjustments to the hot tap needed microscopic manipulation to avoid alternatively freezing or scalding.
The outside walls were soundproof and nothing could be heard much from beyond the hotel however inside the room walls had a low noise insulation and every movement up and down the corridor could be easily heard, which if you are a light sleeper like me, is most disconcerting. This is the very sort of thing which you might fairly accept in a 3* but not in a 4* hotel. The heating units were placed between the long curtains and the windows which wasn't a bright idea because most of the more-than-adequate heat was lost.
The hotel and stair carpets were original - that is, I think they were there when it had been an office - all the stair lips were worn through to bare metal which looked more attractive actually than the hideous blue/black/grey whatever- pattern of the carpet itself.
The lifts were GREAT - very wide and you could do a pirouette inside whilst holding the largest of suitcases without kneecapping other occupants.
The reception staff also were always very courteous and friendly The flat-screen TV was very big - but the only English speaking channel was CNN during the mornings, and not strangely during the evenings. As I only spent one Sunday morning in my room, it meant no TV.
The 11.50€ breakfast was not included in my 59 € per night rate , so I decided not to eat there at all. The dining room from the outside looking in was not impressive, but of course I cannot comment on their food as I didn't try it.
On my first night in Kiel, I had stayed at a smaller business hotel just outside the city centre. My one course steak dinner with two large glasses of absolutely excellent Rioja wine came to 42 € (then £42). For this price it should have been good and it was.
I found that across the road from the Best Western there was a Kurdish cafe selling half a roast chicken with salad and yoghurt for 3.40€ - what else can I say!!
The Best Western isn't cheap but it is convenient - the Main Railway Station and the city centre that surrounds it, is a 10 minute walk down from the hotel. All car parking for clients is free, which is not the case in many of the other hotels in Kiel that I had checked out on the internet.
So all in all there were a few good points and loads of little bad ones. There is enormous scope for a big re-vamp and it could be a lovely convenient hotel.
Pictures of Best Western Hotels
Possibly looks more glitzy than it really is inside.
by (8%):
04.02.2009 22:34
May well be posted in the wrong section, but an you have told me all I need to know about this hotel.
04.02.2009 17:51
Very nicely reviewed. xx
04.02.2009 14:22
great review aggy xxx