Hotel Da Sseldorfer Hof

The second room still had a loose, transparent glass bathroom door with no lock, and we had to pay an extra 20 euros to move into it. We only got offered that room with two separate beds after we found a blood stain on the bed cover in our first room and told reception. At check-in, the receptionist had said no suitable rooms were available that day, though one might open up the next day for an extra fee. The first room was very cramped, with an equally tight bathroom made almost entirely of glass, so it wasn't suitable for friends or a business trip. We had no choice but to stay in it at first. We were disappointed by the unclean room, the extra charge instead of an apology, the receptionist's lack of friendliness, and what felt like dishonesty about availability.

For 40€, this was still worth four stars. The staff at reception and the cleaning team were very polite, and we felt safe inside. The neighborhood didn't feel very safe, though. We were approached several times on the six-minute walk from the main station, and the police seemed to gather in the subway instead of patrolling nearby. The bathroom and shower are behind a glass wall in the room, so you can see them from the bed. A board slides across the window as a curtain, and the window only opens a couple of inches. That was fine since it was cold when we stayed.

The room was clean, the bed was really comfortable, and the receptionists were kind and helpful. You can walk to pretty much everything from here. I took a star off for the location because it's on a busy street near the main train station, with lots of people around, especially on weekends.

The lift wasn't working, so I had to haul my luggage up the stairs. Staff were unfriendly and dismissive when I asked for help or basic courtesy, as if they didn't care about guests. The place felt dirty and badly maintained from the moment I arrived. Water from a serious bathroom leak spread into the bedroom, leaving the floor wet and unsafe. The tiles were cracked and stained, and there was no sense of hygiene anywhere.