There seems to be a certain class of hotels in Germany where the 80s are still going strong. And this is one of them.

Situated outside the centre in Sandhofen, near the American airbase, the Weber is actually a decent hotel, provided you're not looking for anything stylish. The rooms are (as can be expected in Germany) spotless and fairly well appointed. The furnishings are in good condition, though dated, and there are a number of TV stations to choose from.

Actually, regarding TV, it may be worth mentioning that the Armed Forces TV Network is available in the bar area (but not in the rooms).

One of the old-fashioned touches is that all the towels and other linens are embroidered with the hotel's name. Oddly, they place a small hand towel on the bed to welcome you ... actually, more like a large napkin than a towel. I'm not quite sure what the intention is, but maybe it's something that their target group finds handy.

Breakfast is plentiful and tasty, even if the dining area has a bizarre ice cream parlour feel to it.

The reception staff is friendly and helpful, lending pens and ordering taxis without a moment's hesitation. The bar staff is also very attentive. While conducting an after-hours meeting with colleagues, our glasses never went dry: as soon as the last drop disappeared, someone was right there asking if we wanted another.

Though I didn't use them, there was a range of fitness/spa facilities also available.

The hotel also functions as a conference center, and some of the arrangements are obviously designed for handling larger groups. There is a large restaurant attached, the menu for which was appealing in choice and reasonable in price. Can't vouch for the quality, though -- arrived too late and left too early for that.

I have stayed at this hotel several times because of its proximity to my work; my guess is that this is a fairly common reason. The hotel is conveniently located off the A6, but is too far from the centre of Mannheim to be considered a city hotel. The hotel advertises strolls in fields as a fitness option ... I guess that there were enough pieces of green to go walking in, but I certainly would not call them fields. The area is low-rent and dominated by the airbase and motorway/traffic.

Would I stay here again for work? In a hearbeat! Despite its serious fashion problems, it's a very solid hotel that was in the right location for my needs. Would I come back for pleasure? Doubtful. It's far from everything and does not have enough of its own charm to be considered "a tucked-away gem".

Info:
Frankenthaler Str.85
DE-68307 Mannheim Sandhofen
Phone: (+49) 0621 77010
Fax: (+49) 0621 7701113
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