Hotel Kölner Hof Refrath

We had a lovely lunch on the front patio, and dinner at the restaurant was another great experience, with good service and food. The hotel and staff were great, helpful, attentive, and nice. It’s an older, authentic hotel for the region, and it’s been kept up very well. You can’t get any closer to triberg falls. It can get a bit crowded, but the experience felt authentic. Loved it all.

We couldn’t get hold of any staff to speak with, and the hotel was very noisy. I’ve tried several times to email them since, but haven’t had a response. Getting in was a problem because of the key code, and we ended up with two rooms in separate buildings despite travelling as a family. Eventually we reached someone by phone. One grandparent has mobility issues and needed our grandson’s help getting dressed. Our other child was five. The room was very tired and had a broken chair. The towels felt like cardboard, so our child dried herself on the bedsheet. Breakfast didn’t start until 7, which was too late for us, and no alternative was offered. The stay was a disaster.

The location worked well for us, with a bus stop right outside and the tram about a 10-minute walk away. Getting into the building was easy, and reception staff were kind and helpful. It was excellent value and let us visit the Cologne Christmas markets on a budget. The room did what we needed, which was give us a place to sleep, but it got cold overnight. I’m not sure whether the heater reset itself to a lower setting or if I made a mistake, and we left early before I could mention it. Some loud guests made a racket in the hallway late at night, though they didn’t wake the kids.

We had two relaxing days in the saunas, and the room was very clean with easy access to the spa. The railway station isn’t far, and shops are nearby. The room and SPA area were very good for the price. A bottle of water was provided, and breakfast was included, though the selection was quite limited and there was no water at the buffet. The pillow wasn’t comfortable either. You have to call or email the hotel to book. There’s no online booking system, or it wasn’t working, and the hotel isn’t listed on reservation websites.