Advantages: 3 star hotel
Disadvantages: Specific check in times

...The Hotel Begardenhof, in Cologne is a recently opened hotel with modern architecture with stylish, cosy ambiance. Now becasue of the position of the hotel is approx 2km to the motorway in the cologne-south. The hotel is appox 15km from Kolin-Bonn airport and approx 7km to the central station of cologne. The Hotel Begardenhof is a 3 star astablishment with 36 rooms and i have to say that rooms are of a very high standard. Now a single room includes buffet breakfast, all the food you can eat in the morning as breakfast is the most important meal of the day lol. Now the rooms facilities are exceptional and that word is not over used in this case. the facilities include Internet facilities, Mini-bar, Shower, TV, Telephone, Hair Dryer, Wake Up Service/Alarm-clock, Radio, Working desk, Seating area, Bathroom Amenities, Toilet, Bathroom... Read review

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Advantages: Position. Clean. Spacious. Parking. Receptionists.
Disadvantages: Facilities.

...WHY DID WE BOOK THE HOTEL VIKTORIA - COLOGNE? It all started earlier in the year upon receiving an unexpected wedding invitation - not in Cologne, but in Lubeck, three hundred miles to the north east. Having decided on taking the car, and to make an autumn break of it, we decided that we would split our German holiday in two: three days in Lubeck and a further three in Cologne. During the last six years we have driven through Cologne over twenty times on our way to or from Poland, but have never stopped to actually see this magnificent city. We spent several nights on the 'net looking for a suitable hotel, quickly coming to two conclusions: 1) that Cologne is a far from cheap place to stay, and that 2) the actual choice of accommodation in the city is not all that great, especially if, like us, you want to stay in the city... Read review

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Advantages: History. Scale. Drama. Art. Views. Free Admission.
Disadvantages: Crowds. Luggage.

...of the stonework is the same colour. More importantly architecturally is that the nineteenth century spires were built to medieval architects' drawings dating from around 1300. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Walking the half mile or so from our hotel towards the Cathedral, we had the best chance to actually appreciate the growing enormity of it. Our first impressions were actually in the dark on a damp October evening. It is at night that the exterior of Cologne Cathedral looks its spectacular best. The whole structure is beautifully illuminated, the spires particularly, lit by lanterns from within, make the most lasting impression. In reality, whilst yes the twin spires point dramatically skywards, it is the sheer bulk of the body of the building which begins to make a real impression upon you. We finally approach via a flight of shallow steps... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent breakfast, great location, very friendly staff, very clean
Disadvantages: Small shower, main entrance obscurely placed

...In a very pleasant old style part of Cologne lies the Hotel Caprice. Although the entrance is in an odd place to get to from the main road from the Railway station (by the Catheadral) it does not take a great deal of genious to find it when following the intructions given when we booked. Our purpose in Cologne was simply to relax with the scenery and enjoy a sample of German-style life. The hotel on first site was moderately pleasing from the outside, and we were received by a most gentlemanly character who chose, after greeting us in German that English would probably sort formalities out more quickly. (We only encountered one member of the reception staff unable to speak fluent English - appropriately he worked through the night !). The lobby was extremaly alluring - don't forget that free coffee is available to guests throughout... Read review

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Advantages: Close to Cologne Cathedral and shopping areas
Disadvantages: Breakfast expensive 14 euros per person per day

...We booked this hotel throuigh accorhotels.com and it certainly wasn't expensive for the class of hotel. We drove through France to Cologne and found the hotel easily, because it is on a main road. There is a public car park under the hotel which costs 10 euros per day or 1.50 euros per hour, so it could work out expensive if you took the car in and out. We found no reason to take the car anywhere, becauae verything we wanted was within a short walk. Upon arrival we were greeted by a very friendly receptionist who spoke extremely good english. She gave us the choice of a smoking or non smoking room, offered us a tourist map and asked if we needed any information about Cologne. The room was very nice, with air conditioning , internet connection, min bar, room service, television, a supply of shampoo etc, towels and a view over... Read review

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Advantages: Milka...Lindt...chocolate in general
Disadvantages: cable car shut in winter

..., but not everywhere has a chocolate museum like Cologne does. On the banks of the Rhine, and a mere 10 minutes walk from our hotel, this was my mecca, and we spent a morning of our trip there. I've been to many a chocolate museum - Hershey in Pennsylvania, Cadbury's World in Tasmania (nothing as normal as Bournville for me) - but this was something else. Firstly, they give you chocolates as you pay to go in (currently €6.50/adult). This I liked. Then, once you've navigated through the hideously boring history of chocolate bit on the ground floor (useful only if you're trying to kid yourselves this is an "educational" outing…and only if you've not heard the same spiel about the history of cocoa on several continents and in several languages on previous occasions), there's a chocolate fountain from which they give samples. Not just any chocolate fountain... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of History
Disadvantages: Not for non history lovers

...If you visit Argentina, I think that it worth crossing the Rio de la Plata (River Plate) to visit Uruguay. And colonia is a good option. It takes an hour or two, depending on the ferry you choose to cross the river. Buquebus is the name of the company that organizes this travels that can also include a lunch in a farm, or in a restaurant inside the old city, or even a night in a hotel. The price for a whole day including the meal and the tour is about 40 pounds, depending on the menu for the lunch (the farm option is more expensive). Colonia used to be the old capital of the country. The complete name is colonia Del Sacramento, a catholic name for one of the eldest spanish/portuguese colony in South America. How old are we talking about? The portuguese Manoel Lobo founded it in 1680 and then although Portugal and Spain agreed... Read review

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Advantages: Large luxury rooms, excellent breakfasts, fantastic service
Disadvantages: A little bit far out (but not too much!)

...I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Cologne for three nights over Christmas and had a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing experience. The pros:- The staff at the hotel were incredibly friendly and we were able to check in around three hours prior to the official check in time as our flight arrived early morning. In fact throughout our stay the staff couldn't have done more for us - from the maid to the reception; the restaurant to the bar everybod was wonderful. The hotel itself is rated as a four star so I was expecting a high standard. I've stayed at a number of four and five stars over the last few years and this ranked alongside them. It is quite a large hotel with two restaurants, a bar and leisure area. There are a considerable number of standard rooms, a few suites and a presidential suite. We were fortunate enough... Read review

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Advantages: Refined hotel that has great heritage
Disadvantages: located in an old town

...Now the Das Kleine Stapelhäuschen, located in Cologne is a refined privately-run hotel can be found in one of the old town's few Middle Age buildings that survived World War II undamaged. Now the fact that this building has servived World War ll UNDAMEGED! WOW!! This hotel would be perfect for historians studying or who have studied World War ll, tourists from all over the world, students, to gain knowledge of the war but also to bare witness to great building that survived the war un damaged as said above. the hotels main customer base is keen World War ll tourists as they meet, take pictures and discuss what is before them when you look or think back to the World War ll not many buildings survived and really took its toll on the country. This building hsas been standing tall for so many years and now it has been refined... Read review

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Advantages: Price. Food. Service. Comfort. Quiet. Location.
Disadvantages: Looks like an Office Block!

...- Germany - 86% Swallow Bower Hotel - Chadderton - 83% Grand Hotel, Torquay - 83% Innkeeper's Lodge, Chester Northeast - 83% Innkeeper's Lodge, Stockport - 83 % Innkeeper's Lodge, Hull - 81% Preston Swallow Hotel - Samlesbury, Lancashire - 74% Hotel Drei Schwanen - Hohenstein-Ernstthal - Germany - 72% Hotel Viktoria, Cologne - 70% Innkeeper's Lodge, St Albans - 65% Hotel Piast, Boleslawiec (Poland) - 64% Chadwick Hotel, St Annes - 63 % Innkeeper's Lodge, Lichfield - 39% CONTACT DETAILS: Amber Hotel ChemnitzPark Wildparkstrasse 6 Chemnitz-Rohrsdorf Tel: +037 22 513000 Fax: +037 22 513100... Read review

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