Kameha Grand Bonn

The spacious room had a more pleasant design than the rest of the place, a big LED TV with a good channel selection, and plenty of power sockets. But there was no welcome water or chocolate, and the floor-to-ceiling glass looked out at the river and offices opposite. The curtains were just a few inches too short to close fully, so people outside or in those offices could see into the room. One window panel slid open, though it took effort. Mornings were noisy around 5 am when hotel staff delivered fresh linen outside. The electrics were confusing: opening the window started the ventilation, and the bathroom ventilation switched on and off unpredictably. Some lights only worked centrally, not from their individual switches, and the shower was dim. The glowing moon above the bed was a nice touch. The room notice said slippers and a bathrobe would be on the bed or in the wardrobe for the spa, but there were none, apparently they’re supplied at the spa, which I didn’t use. At the gym I was told I could only use it for 20 minutes, even though it was due to close in an hour. It was just two small rooms on separate floors and wasn’t well equipped. The TV program guide didn’t work, and mirroring only worked with Android, not Apple. The door switches for housekeeping had no effect, so staff could wake you on weekends. There were signs for “make up my room” and “watch out for the dog,” but no “please do not disturb” sign for the door. I spent a week in a Superior Deluxe Room at this Grand Hotel at the Bonner Bogen, a newly developed area by the Rhine. It opened in 2009 and has a striking modern look with design and art touches inside, though the dark lobby wasn’t inviting. Receptionists sat at small tables with notebooks, and could be mistaken for guests. They didn’t actively approach or welcome arrivals. They were polite but not particularly friendly or sympathetic, and didn’t offer luggage help. I usually handle my own bags, but I’d expect better service from a Grand Hotel. The elevators were very slow, and the blood-red corridors are a matter of taste. Overall, it worked as a business hotel, but didn’t feel or serve like a Grand Hotel.

The air conditioning barely worked. Our room was 27 degrees Celsius, and the unit blew warm air. Nobody could fix it, and the hotel had no fans, so we had to leave and switch hotels. We’ll never return.

The hotel staff did everything they could to make the stay great, and the rooms were hyper clean. It’s a wonderful place by the Rhein, with a swimming pool, sauna, and hamman to enjoy. There’s also a cigar lounge if that’s your thing. Big thanks to Jean Baptiste for helping me find a good puro.

We had a really good vacation here and I’d recommend the hotel. It’s super luxe, with a very nice, large room. The problem was the parking charge. The listing said 25 euros per day, but we had to pay again each time we went out. We paid the first night, complained, and then were charged the full amount for the other two nights, but they couldn’t refund what we’d already paid.