Motel One Basel

The rooms were comfortable and clean, though the single room is a little small. It would be even better with a kettle and, ideally, a small fridge. Everyone we met at reception was friendly, professional and helpful, especially Tamer and Danielle, who went out of their way to answer our questions. Maika in the lobby was lovely and helpful too. The hotel is cozy and welcoming, right in the heart of downtown among shops and an amusement park. The river is about a 15-minute walk away.

We booked our standard king room almost a YEAR ahead for CHF334 (about $420) for two nights, without breakfast. Good thing, since prices only went up after that. We were doing a train Christmas Market tour, and the location was EXCELLENT, right in the middle of one of Basel's markets. The other main market is another 10-minute walk away. The train station is 10-15 minutes on foot, and there’s a shopping street nearby with fast food and other things to do. The lobby has a lively atmosphere, a big bar and plenty of seating. There’s no proper restaurant, though, so breakfast guests sit in different spots around the lobby. The staff were nice at check-in, and our room was clean and basic, about what you’d expect from a 3-star hotel. No coffee, tea kettle or other morning drink in the room, and none free in the lobby either. That felt a bit cheap. Otherwise, the shower was hot, the bed comfortable and the room quiet. As a nice surprise, they emailed me a FREE city transit card before we arrived, valid for the whole stay. The city provides it, but getting it ahead of time was super convenient. This place really has the location.

For sightseeing, the location is great, right in the centre of things, and there’s a nice bar for evening drinks. The room was a decent size, but purely functional and without frills. No coffee or tea setup, no fridge, and just a bottle of room-temperature water at check-in. The TV had mostly local and national channels, which made the hotel feel dated. Who doesn’t have smart TVs these days? The graffiti-style art in the lounge was cool, the staff were polite, and they stored our bags for a few hours on departure morning. We did hear some street noise from our room.

Everyone at reception was friendly and helpful, especially Daniel and Tamer. Maiko in the lobby was welcoming and kind as well. The hotel feels cozy and comfortable, and the rooms were clean. It’s in a great spot right in the heart of Bassil. A mini-fridge or coffee and tea maker in the room would have made the stay even better.