Econo Motel Goelzer

We lost €120 because the owner refused every option I suggested after I told him straight away that my husband, my minor child, and I would arrive after 21:00 because of our flight. I’d paid for a non-refundable booking, expecting some understanding and a human, customer-focused response. He replied in German, although I had written in English because I don’t know German. The next day, he spoke to me in a very arrogant, patronizing way, saying check-in after 21:00 wasn’t possible and tourists should read the booking conditions. I contacted Booking, but they said they couldn’t intervene without the property’s approval. The owner then stopped communicating altogether. He wouldn’t agree to a cancellation without a fee, even though I’d contacted him right after paying, or to any penalty I proposed. I was willing to lose the first night’s payment. Nothing worked. I even said our child would have to spend the night at the airport if he closed and refused a late check-in. I tried to appeal to his humanity, but he cut off contact, as if punishing us for not reading the check-in rule carefully. It felt like our money had been stolen. This is a motel near the airport, where flights commonly land late in the evening or at night. It’s 2024, and you’d expect self-check-in in a digital world where someone doesn’t have to be physically present for the formalities. But that isn’t how this place works. The owner chose to punish me for not reading the rules. Booking, as the intermediary, didn’t do anything. This has never happened to us before. Avoid this property and don’t use Booking. It feels like the owner thinks he sets the rules and everyone must obey, and you pay dearly if you don’t. We’re not living in a world of masters and servants, though I guess he’s still in the Dark Ages.

We called to say we’d be 10-15 minutes late, and were told that was fine. But by the time we arrived, the owner had already closed up and gone home. He was very rude when we called again. The place looked run down anyway, so I’d avoid it and stay somewhere else locally.

The rooms are adequate and the price is cheap. You don’t pay €100, so don’t expect the same as a hotel at that price.

Good price and friendly staff. It’s about a 40-minute walk to the airport.