This hotel was recommended to us by German relatives and we stayed for two nights (5 & 6 October 2011). Whilst the reception staff was professional, the hotel will not be our first choice when visiting Karlsruhe again. We paid 250 Euros for room 305 which, by German standards, is reasonable. The room faces a very busy intersection and is rather small making movements by two people somewhat awkward at times. The bed is OK and the double glazed windows definitely keep any outside noise at bay. However, the main reasons for not giving better marks are the additional costs for WiFi (around 12 Euros) and a sliding scale for the breakfast selection (14-19 Euros). There are a number of cafes and bakeries nearby which open early and offer, in our view, better value overall. Newspapers (e.g. America Today, The Times and local broadsheets) are not complimentary.

The hotel is situated in a good location (within walking distance of the central business district) and appears to be genuinely busy. Its clientele comprising mainly business and sales people, as well as conference attendees, We were informed by a reliable source (non-staff) that rooms on weekends are probably cheaper than during the week. The reason being lower occupancy rates due to decreased business customers. Overall, we believe there is other, more cost effective accommodation available elsewhere near the city centre.

Otherwise, Karlsruhe is a significant regional centre and of historical interest. The Palace and its garden is worth a visit. Moreover, for judiciary buffs, Karlsruhe is also important. The town hosts two of the highest courts in Germany, the Federal Court of Justice of Germany (Bundesgerichtshof), the highest court of appeals in matters of civil law and criminal law, and the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany (Bundesverfassungsgericht).