We stayed at the Paulushof recently. My feelings are neutral.

The plus points: Clean, tidy, good size rooms. Powerful shower, good hot water. Easy access to the hotel from the large adjoining car park. Pleasant position. A good room rate including buffet breakfast. Busy hotel. Not unfriendly staff.
The neutral points: Not friendly staff. Restaurant closed for a la carte dinner due to chef having 'broken bone' (buffet offered instead for flat 16 Euros). Slightly tired decor majoring on shades of brown and off white. p.s. - I don't think they knew we were there!
The irritating points: General noise from rooms above including crystal clear 'ones and twos' bathroom sound effects and (ok out of the hotel's control admittedly) - the weather and the fact that the 'tide was out' in the lake opposite during the few days of our stay spoiling the 'overlooking the lake' vista somewhat due to lack of water.

I've tried to be objective in my view. For what we paid it was ok. Efficient, perfunctory, going through the motions. Ample continental breakfast. There were no characters there though and thus little charm. The lack of restaurant service wasn't explained to us as a problem, we were simply offered the buffet on arrival which we declined and subsequently drove back into Simmerath every night (15 mins) and ate in a 'good find' restaurant there. Next day we noticed an A4 paper 'broken bone' sheet on the hotel board outside and with an almost full hotel; why hadn't they hired in a replacement chef? The hotel majors on it's food and hospitality in its publicity and must have lost quite a lot of custom and revenue with the restaurant in all but 'closed' mode.

Maybe we just hit the Paulushof during a bad time with grotty weather and low lake water. It's worth a try if you're a 'glass half full' type. Wi-fi would be nice and a means of making tea or coffee in the room - oh and some better soundproofing.

In general terms, we were there for a purpose but if you had been on holiday the hotel would not have lifted your spirits. A couple of the other local restaurants and a bar were either closed or for sale. There is a useful and friendly modern tourist office opposite but despite the hotel being busy there weren't many people around considering it was mid July.....