Black Sheep

When my travel plans changed, I asked to cancel, but they returned just 10% of what I’d paid. I never stayed there, yet they kept the rest citing expenses. What expenses could there have been? I really dislike the way they treat customers and wouldn’t recommend this place.

The lack of management made basic problems hard to deal with. There’s no reception, just keys stuck to a desk for self check-in and an emergency number that nobody answers. I met a guest who’d been trying to find staff for three days. A bathroom sign politely says to contact them if there’s a mess, but that’s not possible. One tap leaked badly, one ladies’ toilet was always locked, and once all the ladies’ toilets were locked overnight. The kitchen itself is nice enough, but sheets were left on drying racks outside it for days. With nobody around, who knows what other guests might do to them. The towels were like old bath mats, maybe even from my last trip to Cologne in 2004. The location is handy for several U-bahn lines, though that means hearing light rail screech around the junction at all hours. The rooms don’t ventilate well, so shutting the windows against the noise leaves you in a humid, stuffy room. I can put up with a lot, but the price for virtually no service is ridiculous.

BEDBUGS!!! I was bitten on the first night of our three-night stay and ended up sleeping on the floor. The owner said they’d sent a cleaner, who changed the sheets and hadn’t seen bugs, then asked what they were supposed to do. We asked for another room and for the place to be thoroughly cleaned, but they said they couldn’t find anywhere else for us and made us stay another night. They offered to refund only one night. This was irresponsible and unbelievable. I doubt they took it seriously. I had to throw away all my things and deep-clean our whole place.

The kitchen, bathroom and toilet were all clean, and there’s a REWE right across the street. Good spot for startup founders or guys travelling who just need to sleep over. With the windows shut, it isn’t too loud. I wouldn’t suggest it for families or groups of women who expect a lot of service and perfume.