Service Issues: I guess cleaning the bathrooms isn't included in maid service. And while the breakfast buffet is colossal, the staff gives you the distinct impression that they'd like you to leave. When they've finished sending out the bad vibes, they adjourn outdoors to smoke, and every time the door opens, you're treated to a whiff of Ernte, HBs, or some other legendary German cigarette.

But someone did a nice job decorating the lobby, and the reception clerk was obliging and courteous. Our room, even by American standards, was huge. We came by train, and this location is perfect.

Kassel: There's oodles of museums and galleries here, one of them devoted to Death and Funerals, which we visited. There's also a monster palace on the hill overlooking the town, with an eighteenth-century back-to-the future "Rocky"- style statue of Hercules. The cash to build and and acquire this massive castle, gardens, galleries, furnishings, art treasures, etc. came from selling locals to the English to fight the American colonists. This is where the Hessians came from. The Count got a bonus if one of his guys was killed.

Kassel was once real close to the old border with East Germany. so things in this neighborhod were tense for years. During World War II, The British bombed a tank factory here: They missed the factory, but managed to level the town and kill maybe five thousand people. There's precious little left of the old city. Result is, much of it looks like a 'fifties nightmare.

Check out the Caricatura in the "Kulturbahnhof" ("Culture-Train-Station" [?]): Great paintings and nice bar. And the farmer's market on Saturday is worthwhile.

Kassel is most famous for a giant contemporary art exhibit called the Documenta that's held every five years. Skip it.

This city-centre hotel would be convenient for business travellers who do not have a car but the absence of parking makes it very undesirable for anybody who is driving. We arrived around 7 in the evening and were lucky to get the one on-street parking place left outside, but this was free only until 9 the next morning, when we would have to start paying for the privilege. The streets around offer only limited on-road parking facilities. The reception we received could only be described as “suspicious” and just short of discourteous. In addition to providing credit card details it was necessary to provide an extra 15 Euro cash deposit “in case we would take anything from the mini-bar” and this made us feel distinctly unwelcome, as we are not in the habit of welshing on debts, nor do we believe that our appearance (somewhat staid and middle-aged!) gives any reason to think we might do so! The room was large, well furnished and comfortable and it gave a splendid view (see attached photograph) over the local museum, and two of the town’s old gatehouses, in one of which the Brothers Grimm lived at one stage – their statue stands in a small park in front of it. Kassel Centre is and easy stroll from the hotel and is interesting and picturesque, offering a wide range of dining opportunities at all cost levels. Breakfast at the hotel in the morning was more than adequate, with a well stocked buffet. All in all this hotel is adequate for a single night but we would have no desire to stay any longer.

I stayed at the Mercure Hessenland for 2 nights and was pleasantly surprised. The hotel is fairly small but is very clean and situated very close to both the centre of Kassel and to the railway station. Buffet breakfast was not massive but had enough choice to please most people.