I stayed in this hotel last year for the 08 bmx masters at jugendpark. we had never been to cologne before and didn't know anyone who had been to the masters. for two young girls at college we didn't have a lot of dosh to spend on the hotel and flights. we paid £30 for a return flight with TUIfly and we were going to cologne for 10 days to make a holiday out of the trip. We booked pretty late and didn't have much saved up. The hotel cost us £180 for 10 days stay and it was recommended on the BMX masters website. Cheap deal and we didn't expect much from £18 a night, but it was only for sleeping in as we'd be out all day most days.

We booked a twin room, two single beds. I don't know how much a taxi costs to the hotel from the airport as we got a train instead from the directions on the hotel website. I'd reccomend paying for a taxi though because the trains are really confusing.

The hotel is right next to a pizza shop, a supermarket on the other side, a mcdonalds 2 minutes down the road. a phone call centre at the end of the road which was really cheap. there is a train station at either end of the road which the hotel is on, they both take you to Cologne and we never paid for a train ticket because no body ever asked and we didnt know where to get them from, but it seems that the locals do the same ! The trains run pretty much all through the night but unless you know which train to get on, i recommend just getting a taxi because we often ended up in dusseldorf at 4AM. The same for buses too, they are more confusing and i would stick to a taxi. a taxi to Cologne cost around 8 to 13 euros. depending on when you got it. after 8PM i think it is more expensive.

Anyway, the hotel looked to be just a little building from the outside, and when we got to the hotel, we were greeted by friendly staff who spoke english well. We paid on arrival and it was the amount we expected and we got a receipt. we were shown to our rooms by the staff. there was a lift which was always working, and we discovered we had been put in a non-smoking room after ordering a smoking room. This was no problem and the woman just went to reception, changed the key and led us up a floor higher to a smoking room. easy.

The rooms were quite small, but we had only ordered a standard twin so weren't expecting much. And we were two young girls with alottttt of luggage! After unpacking, the room had enough space for us. Well, i say unpacked, we just laid down our cases and unzipped them. The beds were comfy and clean, with room service every day although we were often still asleep so they called back later when we had gone out. Towels and beds were changed daily. There was a TV in the room, which worked although we didn't really watch it. The windows in the room were huge and opened all the way to let in the good weather and a nice breeze. We often sat on the window sill with our legs dangling out! quite a drop from the 3rd floor !

The bathroom was quite dark, and there was only room for one. It included a toilet, with loo rolls always available! a sink with a face towel, soap, etc. the basics. A mirror, a small bath/shower. Always hot and cold water.

We only had breakfast once and i think this was 5 euros? Tea and coffee available, buffet style. toast, bread, cheese, meats etc. I think more was available but we got up late and just wanted toast and a brew!

There is wireless internet available all through the hotel and you just ask reception what to do because they have a network key. A computer is available downstairs with internet for MSN or myspace, or looking what there is to do in cologne, however reception staff can give you ideas, many leaflets are available and they will help you with directions to wherever you go. There is a small bar downstairs which was the same price, if not a little cheaper than drinking out. The hotel staff were very friendly and chatted with us about Cologne, and England and also the BMX masters !

The shop next door was very cheap and was open from early in the morning until about 9PM. it was literally about 4 steps from leaving the hotel and getting into the shop. Beer, Alcohol, Meats, Cheese, Fruits, Soft drinks, Sweets, Cigarettes, everything was available there. Its the equivalent to a tesco express !

The hotel is situated in Mulheim, which is the equivalent of a busy town in England. People in Germany were very friendly and would always help. Many people spoke English quite well. The hotel would always call for you a taxi which was always there within 5 minutes or less.

Whilst in Cologne, i recommend going to see the cathedral, it is beautiful.
There are a lot of shops in mulheim such as clothes shops and food shops. Many take aways and Pubs. The pubs were only open until about 1AM so for a better night out you should go to Cologne, however they always ask for I.D in clubs, so if your under 18 i recommend sticking to the pubs which stay open later in the city. There is an etnies shop about a 10 minute walk from the centre, which sells shoes and clothes and stuff. Nikes are sold in a lot of shops! which was nice because they are really cheap in Cologne.

For BMX masters, if you are partying after the masters, then this hotel is OK because its not packed with families and like i said a taxi was no more than 15 euros. We didnt go to the parties and spent most of the time partying in other hotels with riders we knew. If you are riding to jugendpark i'd say it was a 10 to 15 minute ride. It is quite hard to find first time round so id recommend going a day earlier and printing a map from google and finding where it is. If you are walking it takes a longgg time and i think its about 10 euros for a taxi there. Jugendpark isn't far from Cologne centre. Short enough to ride there. I'd say 5-10 minutes.

The hotel is quiet and not alot of noise is made around or inside the hotel, but saying that we played our music quite loud and got in late. No complaints ever made.

So, clean rooms, cheap stay, not far from anything, shops, BMX, internet, food, pubs, i think i covered everything ?

Get back to me if you'd like to ask anything, I'll always reply.
Overall, TOP hotel. I loved it.