“My delightfully quirky stay in the Westend is a story I have dined out on since !”
I chose this hotel on the internet based on two simple criteria; price and its proximity to the Augustiner Braustuberl Brauhaus. Actually I was attending a Trade Exhibition that was located in what had been Munich Airport when I was last here in 1974 for the World Cup Finals. Nowhere interesting was conveniently central to the Expo.
Nowhere entertaining being close to the Exhibition Centre the Kurpfaltz / Westend won out on price and my expectation that all I wanted of it was a place to sleep after an evenings entertainment at the Hofbrauhouse. Simple requirements of an Irishman you might muse.
The hotel was exactly as I expected.( I have difficulties with those who trawl the web for the most economical prices and then expect all the frills of a higher grade hotel when they arrive .You find them frequently on their first outings as a reviewer whinger about this.) Anyhow the hotel was small but I loved the practicality of it and lack of pretentiousness.
The receptionist dealt with me in a cheerful Bavarian english and obviously with a choice of rooms to assign gave me a good room on the first floor. I was given a double room though I had booked a single room. This would do me just fine for my five day stay.
My first meander around the area to get my bearings found me encountering the touring Hamburg Fish Market . What a treat. Food stalls everywhere, for all the world like a megga buffet covering an entire park. Buy your shrimps here and eat them with a beer move to the next stall and enjoy a Bratwurst or Schweinshaxe with saurkraut and a different Pils. Seek it out if you are visiting Germany, it could be near you anywhere.
My hotel stay was going well. After a wearying day of walking the Exhibition stands it was back to my room, a shower and change of clothes, check my emails, visit the bar and have a bier or two and then out looking for entertainment.
On day three I got a call from reception who had a problem. It was Friday and they discovered they had a family booking but no family room, would I move rooms to help them out of the embarrassing problem. I gladly obliged and ended up on the fourth floor in a single room. Small- yes, but that was what I booked after all. The barman treated me to a couple of complimentary beers on my visit to the bar, I had a new friend!.
Sunday came and it was time to leave. Reception said there was no problem remaining in my room until I was ready to leave in the afternoon. So I turned up to an empty reception in the mid afternoon to check out. After searching for assistance a man, probably the owner, arrived to check me out. 'Danka' he said ' fur the zimmer, de room moving ' he said gratefully struggling with little English while he dealt with my bill. Leaving, he fussed to be of assistance. Did I required a Taxi 'fur de flughaven' which I declined as I was meeting some colleagues.As I turned to leave Mine Host waved expansively and said ' Danka und have ein good fahrt'!!! ( Which of course you all know is the German for a trip, tour or journey !)
This humorous encounter was later followed by a cautionary experience that I must share with all travellers. Meeting with my friends, we had yet another great Bavarian meal,for which I offered to pay. Having presented my credit card I was signalled to by the waiter who appeared to have a difficulty with my card. It was declined which I knew should not have been the case as I certainly had some hundreds less than my limit in the account. Thankfully I had an alternative means of paying called cash.
On my return home I discovered that reception had 'booked' an amount from my credit card that they estimated I might spend in their hotel over the five days. Accommodation, food, drink etc. However on checkout the manager/owner created a new bill and charged that against the card. As I found out the 'estimate' stays 'locked' for seven days if it is not used (and the risks that this entails). So my card was reduced by two amounts for the duration. Lesson learned, ensure that when reception 'swipe' your card you must be alert that they use that authorisation number when you pay your bill if they book certain funds in advance. Caviat Emptor!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC