Hotel Alpina

We had booked well in advance through a platform and confirmed the reservation with the hotel directly, but only learned on arrival that our room wasn’t available because of “system overbooking.” No one had warned us. We were told to arrange our own transport to another place, far from the city center. I later saw several travelers describe similar last-minute changes, and some mentioned cleanliness problems at the replacement hotels. If you’re considering staying here, I’d factor in the chance that your booking may not be honored and make a backup plan.

We arrived with our luggage and were met at the desk with, “We’re overbooked. You’ll have to go elsewhere.” There was no apology or help. We were left in a foreign city to look for a room at the last minute, without any warning or support. This was especially upsetting because I’d called to confirm the booking directly a few days earlier and was told everything was fine. The replacement hotel they offered was far from the city center and nowhere near the standard I’d booked. Later, I read reviews from many others describing the same thing. It was one of the most stressful and disorienting hotel experiences I’ve had. If peace of mind and basic respect matter to you, I’d avoid this hotel.

The location near the train station was a big reason I chose this hotel, and it was great. My room was small but stylish, with useful things like a kettle and coffee machine. The single bed, though, was much too short for me at about 190 cm, so my legs hung off the end. Sleep was difficult for all three nights. From my second-floor room, I heard loud noises around 2-3 AM each night, as if someone upstairs was dragging furniture or doing something similar. Earplugs were provided, but I still struggled to sleep, and I worried I might miss my alarm if I wore them. It wasn’t a restful stay.

The room was simple and old-fashioned, but clean overall, with hot water, a heater and a kettle. They left earplugs in case of nighttime noise. I was woken by noise twice during my three-night stay. The hotel is about a 200-meter walk over flat ground from the train station. To check in, you go a few steps next door to monopol. There isn’t a staffed reception, but you can call if you need something and the call connects to monopol.