Boardinghouse Bielefeld

The weak Wi-Fi was almost impossible to use, and in the small rooms ending in -02 the kitchen is nearly useless. The shower design in those rooms is poor too, water gets everywhere even if you’re careful. The lights are badly placed, either shining straight at you or too dim to be useful. This is a fully automated hotel, so you’re on your own after arriving. Use the passcode from your reservation to get your key, then find your room yourself. There’s no reception service during odd hours. The washer and dryer are tucked into a small room on the fourth floor and are in high demand on weekends. The non-covered visitor parking entrance is hazardous. The ramp gets slippery when wet, and the two entry bars can close before a car gets through, trapping it. I suggested repaving the ramp for better grip and fixing the bars. We managed to get through all of this, fortunately.

We’ve been here for five months and counting. It’s not a hotel, but it works well for both short and longer stays. The place is nice, clean and safe, with onsite parking, and the staff are remarkably responsive when you need something. AltStadt Bielefeld is right in the middle of great restaurants, cafés and shops, and Sparrenberg castle and Teutoberger Wald are still an easy walk away.

It can get a bit loud in summer, but the rooms are comfortable and the staff are very friendly and cooperative. The location is the best in Bielefeld, right on the old market and in the center of the city’s activities.

A cozy spot right in the middle of the Christmas market. The nearby churches are the downside, with their bells ringing every hour.