It is possible for U.S. citizens to stay at a comfortable, well-located AND reasonably priced hotel in Germany despite the current unfavorable exchange rate!

We received several hotel recommendations for Braunschweig from a local resident. Assuming any of these would be at least satisfactory,
we chose the Ritter St. Georg based on price - 85 euro per night, taxes included, with breakfast thrown in. (That rate is actually less than had been advertised.) Also, we were intrigued by the idea of staying in a place built in 1454!

The hotel's web site contains photos and helpful info - go to [----]. Yes, the hotel really looks like that - very ye olde ye olde!

Ritter St Georg responded to e-mails promptly. Amazingly, no credit card info was required to secure a reservation. For that matter, no credit card was required at check-in. Credit cards are accepted as payment, however. We used American Express.

Hotel employees speak English. We are embarrassed by our mono-lingualness.

Our room, #14, was unexpectedly large, with a bank of windows opening
to a view of an inner courtyard. The room was actually a suite, with a sitting area and a working space. Our German friends told us the decor was "traditional." The bed was certainly traditional German style -- two twin mattresses in a single frame -- and comfortable. Amenities included a hairdryer, a TV, and, on request, an iron and ironing board. There was no welcome basket containing miniature bottles of shampoo and conditioner. However, dispensers in the shower stall and at the sink deliver a shampoo-shower gel mix. So --the bottom-line traveler only has to bring his/her own toothpaste.

Passports and other valuables can be locked up in the hotel safe.

The hotel serves a continental breakfast in a spacious window-filled room, overlooking the street. The usual Northern European B&B fare of
rolls, juice, cold cuts, boiled eggs, yogurt, cereal and so on are
available. We thought the coffee was unusually good as were the jams,
bread, cheese and ripe tomatoes.

Ritter St Georg is in easy walking distance of many of Braunschweig's
historic sites as well as cafes, shopping, etc. For a late night snack, go out the front entrance, turn right. Walk to the corner. You will find a crowded, brightly lit Turkish to-go restaurant. Such excellent food! German kids flock there after a night of clubbing. So, if you're there by midnight, you'll beat the crowds. Across the street is an ice cream place.

Some minor problems: The hotel's front desk is frequently
"unmanned;" employees seem to have diverse responsibilities on site. No one is there in the evening. And even as graduates of America's finest high schools, we could not figure out how to program our in-room phone for a wake-up call.

We highly recommend the Ritter St Georg Haus to travelers seeking a comfortable place to stay at good value

The hotel was quaint and a throw back to the days of old. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms were spacious and clean. The ambiance was a little intimidating - it had the feeling of a haunted mansion - but it only added to it's charm. The rooms had numerous windows that allowed for plenty of ventilation.

The negative points are that the showers were elevated and so it was quite difficult to keep the bathroom floor dry. Also, the lock on the bathroom door was old and tended to get stuck. Finally, the steps leading upstairs are quite steep and can be difficult to ascend - especially with cumbersome luggage.

But for the light traveler with a sense of adventure - this place is perfect.