There is an apocryphal recipe which begins “first catch your chicken”. Equally, “first find your hotel” is pretty much a prerequisite for staying there, never mind writing a review about it. During my perambulations around Europe I’ve had some real tough ones to find, including some navigational challenges which have threatened divorce. These days, armed with Google maps and mobiles, the thrill of the hunt is lessened somewhat, so it was a surprise to come up against a brick wall on this one. Blind alley would be a better metaphor. We were in our usual configuration: he doing the higher intellectual stuff of map-reading; me, as a mere rude mechanical, doing the driving. We knew the hotel was in the old town, by the river, we had the hotel phone number and maps large and small.

So it is to the hotel’s credit that half an hour after arriving hot and frazzled I was feeling much more relaxed. But before we thankfully put the car away for the night and the rest of this review, I have to tell you about the parking arrangements. Car management is an important issue if you’re staying here. This is a typical central European old town with very little space, so a car park is out of the question. Instead, the hotel has artfully built two garages into the structure, with fearsome looking ramps and hydraulics and stuff. Peering down into the depths, I wondered what happened if your car was at the bottom and you wanted a quick getaway next morning. Presumably they think of that. We left our jalopy and keys gratefully with the receptionist and rediscovered it next morning reversed up a narrow ramp that I would never have attempted. Rolling down the ramp was fine, but getting round the tight corner in the direction we wanted to go was not. Picture the scene: relaxed holiday-makers enjoying a late Sunday morning breakfast in the sunshine, interrupted by the growling of a car in low gear and then being asked if they would mind moving their table back. And just a little bit more. To their credit they were very gracious about it.

Our room was a deluxe double, as opposed to a plain vanilla double. Triple rooms and suites are also available. Like the rest of the hotel it was very modern and light with white walls, light wood, brushed metal fittings and a minimalist design. It was L-shaped, with the en-suite bathroom in the infill of the L, so there was a small lobby area which opened out into the room. That description, however, gives the impression of its being much bigger than it actually was. In truth it was rather small. Fortunately we were only staying for one night as I think any longer and it would have felt distinctly cramped. The bathroom only had space for a shower, not a bath, and there was nowhere to put one’s lotions and potions which I always find really irksome.

Visiting the old town from here is, of course, a short walk, and getting around on two feet as opposed to four wheels is a breeze. This is not a review about Bamberg, but I have to mention what a delightful place it is, with its highlight of the old town hall sitting on its own island in the river. In fact, the only other thing in the river, at least in this stretch of it, is our hotel, and one of its main selling points is its panoramic restaurant terrace with views on to the town hall.