Holiday Inn Cologne-Bonn Airport, Cologne

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Quality of Rooms
Standard of Service
Quality of Facilities

Advantages:	Nice internal surroundings, friendly staff, good food, reasonable prices
Disadvantages:	In the middle of nowhere unless you need the airport

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Just before the end of 2000, a friend and I took a whistle-stop tour to Cologne to visit the Christmas markets, actually the coach trip was probably longer than the stay, but for what we paid you wouldn't really fault it.

I can recommend the Christmas markets, but be prepared to be crushed and cold, ensure you have your credit and get yourself a good pair of comfortable walking shoes before you leave, as believe me you will need them.

Included in the trip (£79 each) was two nights in the Holiday Inn at Bonn/Cologne Airport, situated on a busy dual carriageway, totally inaccessible by foot.

The reception area was remnant of many four star hotels in the UK, and the seating areas, public facilities and corridors were modern, clean and well signposted (in a couple of languages including English), everything, as I have come to expect from our German friends was well maintained.

The reception area information racks contained ample leaflets in an array of languages and there were free German newspapers, ice supply and shoe cleaners on every floor.

THE ROOMS
The rooms themselves were superb. Warm, and very spacious with two double beds, and as you would expect were en-suite, with bath and shower. The room did have a remote controlled TV with limited english TV channels and a mini-bar.

Arriving at the hotel, equipped with a small jar of Gold-Blend, I discovered (shock, horror) that there was no kettle in the room. I have since from my travels discovered that this is the norm on the continent, so if you can't survive in the mornings without a tea/coffee, take a travel kettle (and plug) with you. On my recent tour of the Netherlands, two of the three hotels did supply kettles and cardboard cups - not really the same is it?

THE BAR
The bar was a small, low lit area with a number of secluded corners, selling reasonably priced drinks, including the strong local beers, and just about every spirit imaginable.

Beware, like in Spain, they do not measure their Spirits, as I discovered to my detriment, when I woke with the mother of all hangovers at 6am on the day we were due to travel home.

The bar staff were extremely entertaining, performing tricks probably more appropriate to Tom Cruise than an airport hotel, they spoke good english and were very friendly, and not averse to a little professional flirting.

The only problem we encountered was in the bar, after discovering that visitors staying in a coach party are not permitted to charge drinks to their room bill, even if swiping a credit card - although 2 years on this may well have changed. They do however, have a 24 hour exchange bureau and take all credit cards and english money.

THE FOOD
Breakfast was a sumptious feast of every type of bread roll and style of bread you could possible imagine, accompanied by a wide range of sliced cold meats and cheeses. There was Boiled Eggs, Scrambled egg, cereal, fruit juice, fruit, every type of tea imaginable, and delicious fresh coffee. On the last evening, we decided to check out the restaurant, the food, for the nature of the hotel was reasonably priced (about £30 for two including drinks), and was absolutely superb. We enjoyed large rump steaks/pepper sauce acommpanied by salad and chips and I can personally recommend the combined dish of mushrooms, bacon and onions all fried together and smothered in pepper. Try as we might, we could not finish this delicious meal.

In summary, the location of the hotel was disappointing, but had it have been nearer the town, we would not have had the pleasure of trying out this memorable sumptious feast.

The trip was good, but if you are looking at a trip of this nature, go for the longer durations, as there is a lot of travelling and it can be very tiring. I must say, our trip was made by the drivers, who kept us entertained in some very difficult weather and conditions.