Altstadthotel Harburg

Quiet and cozy, and really good. Very nice.

Breakfast had plenty of choice, and the staff were good. The rooms were clean and comfortable, though the shower room was a little cramped. It's a small, tidy hotel close to Harburg Rathaus station, and a good fit for a shorter stay. There are lots of restaurants nearby with different kinds of food, since the hotel doesn't serve lunch or dinner. It sits by a highway and railway, so a room facing that way could be a bit noisy at night. I didn't find it too loud, though my colleague did. A good hotel overall.

The place was spotless, from the bath and linens to all the surfaces. There was no heavy smell, though the tray for the mug and instant coffee had stains. That's about the only positive I can offer. For a business trip, this was probably the worst choice I've made. The carpets and hallway walls were stained and discolored, giving everything a very cheap feel. There’s no elevator, and the stairs are steep, so heavy bags would be a problem. I asked for a quiet room because I had an important meeting the next day and needed time to prepare and get some sleep. Instead, my room faced a gas station and was beside a busy road and a cargo railway. When I asked about changing rooms, the staff didn't seem interested in helping. The only room mentioned that faced the inner courtyard was a double, and I wasn't willing to pay for that. If you're traveling alone for work, you'll definitely need very tight earplugs. There wasn't usable internet for me. The hotspot registration page was blocked as insecure by both browsers on both my laptops, even after I tried to add an exception, so I had to rely on my phone's data plan. The reading light didn't work. The ceiling light was that harsh blue hospital-like energy-saving light, and the wall light over the bed was barely better than a candle. There was no light on or around the desk either. I can't recommend it, and I would definitely never stay here again.

The service was good, and the hotel sits very nicely across from a street full of restaurants. The rooms were all right, but the carpet left a cigarette smell. Parking spaces were a bit small.