ibis Bochum Zentrum

I’d consider this a good option if you arrive in the middle of the night and have nowhere to stay. The staff who helped me, on both the night and day shifts, were extremely kind and attentive. Since I don’t speak German, I appreciated that they spoke English without hesitation, unlike staff at some other places. I’d give it five stars, but I’ve only stayed once, for one night.

For the location, the price is really low, and I’d recommend it if you’re not too picky. Our room did have the two single beds we ordered, but they were touching, and there wasn’t enough room to move them apart. There’s no lock on the bathroom door, and the amenities are sparse: no room safe, no kettle and only two outlets. If those things don’t bother you, it’s a great hotel.

The staff were friendly, and being close to the station is useful if you’re staying while visiting nearby cities. But this was a very basic stay for a high price. Our room was clean, small and a bit worn. The bathroom was so tiny that your knees hit the wall when sitting on the toilet. The toilet roll holder was loose, and the paper kept falling because you couldn’t avoid bumping it. We went for Euro 2024, and the hotel had more than doubled its price, making it far too expensive for such a basic place.

The room has an air conditioning unit, though it’s a bit noisy. I didn’t need to open the window for cool air and could avoid outside noise. I only needed somewhere to sleep and shower, so the small room and bathroom didn’t bother me much. The bathroom is tiny and may be uncomfortable for bigger people. I was initially disappointed by the shower pressure, but the second of its two spray settings gives better pressure, even though the spray is narrower. I really dislike low pressure! The hotel is right by the train station, which makes connections easy. Parking is available for 9€ a day, handy if you’ve driven in and want to use public transport. The room is small, but there’s enough space to unpack some clothes. I skipped breakfast, so can’t comment on it. Checkout until 12:00 was nice with no morning rush. Afternoon check-in was easy, and the woman at reception was friendly. I came back shortly after midnight from a show and was greeted happily by another guy at reception. Before going to bed in the early morning, I sat at one of the tables outside with a cold beer I bought at reception, even at that hour. For a Friday night, it was calm and not very noisy outside.