Kings Center Hotel, Munich

I checked this hotel out before booking (having had disappointments in the past) and could not find anything serious said against it but I was not expecting too much because it came as part of a cheap deal with Easyjet. As it turned out, the hotel was one of the best three stars I have stayed in and better in some respects than some four stars.

~~~~ Location ~~~~~

Probably the best selling point for the hotel is its ...
...not too close. From the airport catch S-Bahn S8, which will take about 45 minutes to reach the station. You should then come out of the main exit into Amulfstrasse. Turn left and at the next crossroads turn right. Turn right again at the next crossroads into Marsstrasse and the hotel is on the right hand side. It should take you only five to ten minutes depending on how much luggage you have. Be careful not to confuse this hotel with a similar named ... more

I checked this hotel out before booking (having had disappointments in the past) and could not find anything serious said against it but I was not expecting too much because it came as part of a cheap deal with Easyjet. As it turned out, the hotel was one of the best three stars I have stayed in and better in some respects than some four stars.

~~~~ Location ~~~~~

Probably the best selling point for the hotel is its location. It is close to the main railway station but not too close. From the airport catch S-Bahn S8, which will take about 45 minutes to reach the station. You should then come out of the main exit into Amulfstrasse. Turn left and at the next crossroads turn right. Turn right again at the next crossroads into Marsstrasse and the hotel is on the right hand side. It should take you only five to ten minutes depending on how much luggage you have. Be careful not to confuse this hotel with a similar named four-star hotel that is close by, the King’s First Class. However, in my opinion, the King’s Hotel Center is better located because the four- star has the disadvantage of having a sleazy sex shop across the road. No such establishments are located close to the King’s Hotel Center. The hotel also has a basement level car park for those who intend to drive to Munich. If it is full, there is the Pina Parking House a few metres to the left of the hotel.

The town centre can be reached by a pleasant 10 minute walk or you can opt to get there via the train station which will take you about the same time. The public transport system is truly excellent and puts ours to shame. Before you set off for the day, you can stock up on cheap provisions at the local supermarkets, ALDI and REWE, which are close by. To reach them, just turn left out of the hotel until you reach the crossroads. They are just over the road on the left. Do be aware however that these supermarkets are meant for the locals so don’t expect anyone to speak English.

~~~~~ Checking in ~~~~

You need not worry whether your German is good enough when you check in though because all the staff speak excellent English and will give you a warm welcome. From the outside the hotel doesn’t look like much but when you go in you will be pleasantly surprised. You will notice a smart marbled floor with an attractive wooden reception and cocktail bar. In the corner there is a spot to have a coffee and read the newspaper. And, if the weather is good, you can sit out in the patio.

The check in went without a hitch and everything you needed to know was explained thoroughly by the friendly receptionist. You will be given an electronic key card for your room, which is also necessary to operate the lift. But I only used the lift once because my room was on the first floor – it was quicker to use the stairs.

~~~~ The Room ~~~~

On entering the room, the TV switched on and left a personal greeting message and instructions to use the TV. I thought that was a nice gesture you usually only find in four-star hotels. My first impression was that the room was not that big but was more than adequate for my needs. In addition, you cannot help but notice the unusual canopied beds. I would have been just as happy to look up at the ceiling but it did give a sense of style to the room, which also had some tasteful pictures on the wall and a full-length mirror. Some people might find the beds too hard but, personally, I like it that way. The most impressive thing about the room, however, was its amazing quietness. It was situated at the back of the hotel, away from the road, and you could hardly hear anything from outside. Other guests could be heard slamming their doors but the walls weren’t so thin that you could hear everything next door – a situation I have found in many four star hotels.

At this point my attention returned to the fair sized TV, which was still on and tuned into the local Bavarian TV station. I found that there were 29 free stations, including BBC World and CNN, and four radio stations. In addition there was pay TV which you could accidentally select if you were not careful. But I soon learned I could bypass the menu and go straight to the free stations of my choice once I had worked out which numbers they were. A TV schedule was also provided. I watched a bit of German TV and it was fascinating to note how interested the Germans are in England and English culture. In quiz shows there are numerous questions about the royal family, how much do you score when you hit the bull in a game of darts and which queen did Helen Mirren play in her latest film for which she received an Oscar?

Anyway, back to the room. Everything was wonderfully clean with no stains on the carpet or anything like that. The cleanliness extended to the bathroom, which had a powerful shower and a hairdryer. Shower caps were provided, if you needed them, and separate liquefied soap dispensers could be found for the washbasin and the shower. The hotel claim that the gel in the shower can also be used to wash your hair but I used my own. They also claim that the tap water comes from a pure spring and is very drinkable but I played safe and kept to the bottled stuff.

However, there is one thing that might put some people off – there is no proper air-conditioning. Instead, there is a sort of purified air ventilation system. It might get too hot in mid-summer but I didn’t find a problem when it was 26C outside. You can open the windows but that would expose you to noise. If it gets too much, I understand it is possible to get a fan from reception.

Additionally, some guests might not like the fact that there is no mini bar. Two bottles of water were provided at the cost of 2.50 euros each. Personally, I never use these facilities wherever I stay and am only likely to use the bar in reception. The bar is open 5pm to 1am.

The other features of the room include a room safe at the bottom of the wardrobe, which worked perfectly (in fact there wasn’t a single fault in the room) and internet access including wireless LAN. But this is chargeable and it isn’t cheap. You would do better to find an internet café if you need to read your emails.

~~~~ Breakfast ~~~~

I was given a cheery welcome from the staff when I went down for the buffet breakfast. There was a wide range of foods to choose from including eggs, yogurt, turkey, various sorts of ham, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, jams, fruits and several types of breads including the local black bread. To drink there was coffee, fruit juice and a large selection of teas. It was really quite impressive as was the breakfast room itself. The floor was marbled with an attractive wooden ceiling. However, it can be busy at peak periods. If you want to avoid the coach trip crowd (in this case a bunch of Italians) and eat in relative peace, it is better to choose an earlier or later time. The opening times are:

6.30 to 10.30 am Monday to Friday

6.30 to 11.00 am Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

I was fortunate enough to have breakfast included in the price of the room – it will cost you 12 euros per day otherwise. However, you needn’t worry because there are several good value eateries at the railway station.

Keeping on the subject of food, the hotel does not serve lunch or dinner. This is not really a problem because there are plenty of places to choose from in the town centre. If you want something a bit closer, I can recommend the Italian restaurant just over the road called Vivadi. If you have Mittagessen (lunch) there before 2.30 to 3.00 pm you can choose from one of the special value meals of the day which cost about 7 euros (10 euros including a drink). I managed to speak to the waiter entirely in German so I don’t know if they speak English but I would be very surprised if they don’t. Alternatively, you could practice your Italian as some German customers attempted to do.

~~~~~ Cycling ~~~~~

It won’t take you long to realise that the Germans are into cycling in a big way. Bicycles are everywhere and you would do well to keep out of the cycle lanes. It is not unusual for mass roller-skating venues to take place in the evenings – the Germans love their clubs. If you want to join in the cycling and save your feet, you can rent a bike free of charge. The hotel’s reception will arrange it.

~~~~ Summary ~~~~

This hotel offers tremendous value for money and I can definitively recommend it. In fact I would rate the hotel as a three star plus. The checking out process was just as good as the check in and the staff certainly seemed pleased when I complimented the hotel. If you want all the extras such as bellhops, gymnasium, full air-conditioning and a pool, you should go elsewhere. But if you want somewhere that is friendly, conveniently located with clean, quiet rooms and a decent breakfast, this is the place for you. Oh, and one last thing, Munich is a great city to visit. I can understand why most Germans and a lot of foreigners would like to live there. 

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