ibis Hotel Köln Messe

It's about 800 metres from the S Bahn, and from there it's just one stop to the city centre. There was plenty of parking too. Our room was clean and very quiet, so most people should sleep well, and the staff were pleasant. I'd stay here again.

We ended up here after Ibis Budget overbooked us despite our reservation, though we weren't charged extra for the move. The water was perfectly drinkable, which was a plus, and the bridge with a good view is a 15-minute walk away. The hotel isn't near the cathedral, and the room felt overpriced. It was clean, but at that price I'd expected something fancier.

The parking arrangements were frustrating and poorly explained. They charge €16 for an open-air spot or €19 a day for the garage, while street parking just across from the entrance costs €5 for the day. Reception won't tell you about that unless you look it up yourself. The lack of transparency makes for really disappointing customer service. Better organisation would have made this a five-star stay.

There isn't much hanging space, but you can put luggage under the bed. The room is small, though it fit a couple and a child. The location worked well, with trams 3 and 4 within a ten-minute walk and a ride to the city taking about ten minutes.