Limehome Köln Friesenplatz

They cleaned the room just once during my week-long stay. There weren't enough pillows, and the ones there were poor quality. The washroom soap was so watery it didn't clean at all. There was no maintenance service for anything damaged by previous guests.

Contactless check-in was easy, and we had a really enjoyable few days in cologne. The apartment was good value compared with a regular hotel or aparthotel, with a well-equipped kitchen, comfortable bed, and a shower we loved. It's a little farther from the train station and main sights, but still walkable. The area felt very nice and safe, with lots of shops, restaurants, parks, and cinemas nearby.

The building wouldn't let me in before 3pm, despite my early check-in request, and parking wasn't available at all. The system automatically says “parking full.” Around the entrance, a lot of homeless/junkie people ask for money, which made me uncomfortable coming and going. Don't be surprised to find human shit in the middle of the street. The window wouldn't close properly, so I was cold, heard outside noise, and felt there was a safety risk. The satellite TV didn't work, and most remote buttons barely worked or didn't work at all. In the bathroom, the sink tap was too low, the water flowed slowly but splashed a lot, and the shower gel and hand soap were watered down with no foam.

The location was great, 24 mins on foot to Cologne cathedral and 30 mins to the Airport. It was affordable and had a nice kitchenette and bathroom with everything needed. I stayed during a 35°c heatwave, though, and without air conditioning it was like a sauna. The fan barely helped. There's no human interaction at the place. The website gives all the information, but I would have liked a smiling welcome and a reception to call if I needed anything. My early arrival request on the website wasn't approved in time. I was waiting outside the room when the cleaners arrived, but they were quick and efficient, and I got in after about 15 minutes, at 14:45. The mattress wasn't very comfortable, probably because of the topper, and the pillows were too soft and large for me. The “lobby” on the 5th floor seemed to be just a room full of furniture, which was disappointing.