Leonardo Hotel Eschborn Frankfurt

My corporate reservation was confirmed, but when I arrived, I was told the hotel was overbooked. Rather than finding me a nearby option in Eschborn, where there are many hotels, they tried to send me to their sister property in Offenbach, more than 30 minutes away on the other side of Frankfurt. That’s not acceptable for a business trip. A confirmed booking should mean a room, and if the hotel can’t honor it, the replacement should be close by, not in another city. If you need a dependable stay, look elsewhere.

The new hotel was really impressive, and the staff welcomed us at check-in and supported us throughout the stay. Karim and Ali were especially courteous. I’d like to stay here again on my next visit to Frankfurt.

Breakfast was a mess: dirty dishes and barely any bread. I tried raising these problems with the hotel manager, who was wandering nearby, but I came away thinking it was clear where the root of the issues lay. At the bar the next night, I paid cash for a drink and deliberately didn’t ask for a receipt, to see whether one would be offered. Nothing was entered into the system or processed as a payment, as far as I could see. The staff member put the cash straight into his wallet. Later I clearly saw him go into the room near the bar, take the money out, and slip it into his pocket. Unbelievable. I stayed in July, but work kept me from writing this review until now. At check-in, there was a long line and only one receptionist. He tried to charge the whole stay even though I explained several times my company had already supplied a card for payment. He said it was only for the room guarantee. After a call to the office, they finally sorted it out. This was after he had told me ten minutes earlier that I couldn’t go to my room unless I paid the full stay upfront. Not great after a ten-hour flight, with my patience running out and me still not checked in. Honestly, Leonardo Eschborn felt like a den of thieves.

The noisy neighbors in our connecting room started around 2 a.m., and it was awful. The nice guy at the front desk was clearly concerned, apologized, and said they were there 24/7 and could move us as many as ten times until we were comfortable. It wasn’t really the hotel’s fault, though I didn’t want to get dressed and come downstairs at that hour. He also said they were working on letting guests contact reception from their rooms, and that it should be possible in January. That’s why I changed my mind from three stars, and I’d definitely come back. The hotel looks brand new, is cozy rather than industrial and cold, and was nicely decorated for Christmas. It was easy to find. Parking costs money, but there are many nearby streets with free parking. The rooms are big enough, the price is very good, and the cancellation terms are friendly. Staff, whether on the phone or in person, really seemed concerned about our well-being. The TV had no internet, so we couldn’t watch Netflix, and there was no way to contact reception from the room. Avoid a room with a connecting door if you can. I’d originally wanted to give three stars, but the receptionist made such a good impression on November 30 at noon.