McDreams Hotel Essen-City

We had a really nice stay and enjoyed the room. The parking confused us at first, but we found it behind the building, and it was free. The check-in system looked confusing too, though following the instructions step by step made it straightforward. I'd definitely recommend the place.

There's no reception desk. They send you a WhatsApp link to open the door, and you can chat if you need something. If you need a staff member, you'll be waiting and getting frustrated.

The rooms feel modern and really comfortable, and there are plenty of shops nearby. Check-in takes a little figuring out, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy. Free underground parking too. Hard to ask for more!

The location is handy, right in a plaza between Aldi and a small, lovely Edeka grocery store. The rooms are very basic, though, with no fridge or microwave. I also wouldn’t count on seeing staff: the only people I noticed were a repairman, along with robotic vacuums in the hallways. Check-in was a hassle. There’s no staffed reception, just a touchscreen, and trouble connecting to WiFi made the process difficult. Getting into the room could take several minutes too. You have to enter a six-digit code, and first you need to press the keypad’s power button. If that doesn’t work, you’re stuck outside trying to get in. I wouldn’t stay here again.