Ideally situated for transport links next to Koln Sud station.Double glazing keeps train noise down to unobtrusive.U bahn Barbarossaplatz easy walking distance. Room large clean comfortable.Sauna etc available on request-read the hotel info in the room! Breakfast excellent.Staff friendly and helpful.Could do with hot drinks facility in rooms.

Having often referred to review sites to get an idea of standards the following is a outline of my experience at the Hotel Mado. We booked direct with the hotel on line and was offered a weekend deal which included a superior room with whirpool spa bath and tkts to the chocolate museum and dinner for 2 for one night. It was a 3 night stay. When we arrived we were given a standard room which was cold and dull with no extras. I went and complained and after several conversations between themselves, we were given the room with the ameneties we had expected. Having moved rooms we took up the offer of the free meal. It was nothing spectacular and it was in a restaurant off-site because they only serve breakfast, which was a bit dissapointing. The menu choice was extremely limited and we did feel like the poor relations in the restaurant, given the basic menu and least used tables, nearest the kitchen. But like I said it was free. The location of the hotel was reasonable and it was only a 5 minute walk to the excellent tram service in Bararosaplatz. I was warned in the reviews of the proximity of the hotel to the railway track. In view of this I did insist on a room as far away as possible from the trains. Good idea!. They were extremely noisy but at least we were a decent way from the noise. The breakfast was excellent with lots of choice. The spa and health area was very dissapointing with no one to ask for assistance and everything seemed to switched off. Immaculately clean but not surprising really because no one seemed to use it. However, the one thing that really annoyed me about my stay at the Mado was the departure day. Having asked for the bill and paid the due amount with no extras on the very expensive room service and mini bar, the chap on reception did not acknowledge our leaving nor even thanks us for our stay with them. He carried on a conversation with another member of staff as though we were not even there. He printed out our bill and ignored us without even a good-bye. Now call me over sensitive but as we both walked out of reception, we considered our treatment as complete rudeness on his part. We have seen Cologne and enjoyed the sights, but thankfully we will not have go to back to the Mado.

Yes, the trains run right in front of your window, and there are quite a few of them - freight trains, ICEs, S-Bahn ... but if you close the window it is not too bad. Noisier was the fan in the bathroom! Room 414 was an especially nice corner rooms with two "wintergardens" (conservatory, well, a kind of glass niche). The bathroom was new and clean, the towels old and shabby, no shampoo and cheap shower gel in a little plastic sachet. That wasn't really up to 4 stars. Breakfast in a basement room with a very friendly look, silver candlesticks on each candle and smoking prohibited. Breakfast choice quite alright. Funny: Order fresh-pressed orange juice or champagne or fried eggs and pay for it at check-out. Easily reachable with public transport (not just train, also tram and bus), not far from center. At EUR 73, I thought it was fine!

Stayed at the Hotel Mado in Koln a couple of weeks ago on a weekend visit. Found the hotel value for money and well located.
Never found the railway line beside the hotel to be a problems and certainly didn't see any drunken students.
Would agree the hotel is not in one of Koln's best area but I didn't feel intimidated walking back to the hotel late at night, in fact I stopped off for a few more beers in the local pubs.
You get what you pay for and I would say its value for money.