Hotel North

After I arrived, I cancelled the stay within minutes of completing payment, but I wasn't given a refund. That practice goes against basic consumer protection policies. Customer service was extremely poor. Reception had no staff after a certain time, and calls went unanswered during some hours. At night, the area by the entrance felt very unsafe, with drug users and homeless people nearby.

I was a bit worried when I arrived and saw a group of pavement dwellers outside, but checking in was a breeze. The room was tiny but functional, with a good-sized comfortable bed and a little bathroom fitted into the space of a large shower cubicle, with a shower, sink, and toilet. My front-facing window blocked most street noise when closed. The TV remote didn't seem to work, though it didn't bother me much. There's no breakfast at the hotel, but a little Kebab shop a few doors down sells pastries, filled rolls, and coffee for reasonable prices. Plenty of places to eat nearby, and it's a great base for exploring the city. Messe is a 20-minute walk if you're here for an exhibition. Beer lovers have BrewDog about 50 metres away and Baby Goat brewery tap about 200 metres away.

The interior feels a little worn, but it was clean and comfortable enough for the price. It's a simple stay without extras, and a refuge right in the middle of the busy Reeperbahn. Expect noise in this area, so bring earbuds. There are no fridges, though you can get hot water from a machine downstairs. There's no elevator, and reception is open only limited hours, but checking in is straightforward.

The room had a nice view, the bed was comfortable, and both it and the bath were clean. Check-in and checkout were easy, and the hotel is right opposite Stage Operettenhaus. There are quite a few stairs and no elevator, and it was a bit noisy. There aren't facilities like a fridge or hot water for drinks. The neighbourhood might feel a bit freaky at night. There's a small supermarket nearby, but don't buy anything there unless you want to pay 2.5 Euros for a 50-cent beer.