Sleephotels Casino

The self check-in is manageable if you're comfortable with technology. There are quite a few steps, but the layout is easy to follow. The facilities are fine, and you get what you pay for. I found the neighborhood as safe as any German city and had no trouble there as a solo woman traveler. Still, know what you're booking: the hotel is on Reeperbahn, an area with brothels and strip clubs. The decor has a red room, sex dungeon sort of feel, which matches the street, so prepare yourself. There are clubs nearby, and people may bring ladies of the night back to the hotel, so bring earplugs. For God's sake, don't bring children. It's an experience, and what you make of it. Seems suited to young adults 18+, solo travelers who are ready for it, and couples. Just be realistic and brace yourself.

The only snag at check-in was the wall-mounted computer acting up, so we had to call to get it reset and complete the booking. On our departure day, cleaners woke us at 10am, which didn't feel like a coincidence. We stayed three nights and didn't have a car. There were a lot of homeless people around at night. I spoke with a few nearby, and most were decent people having a hard time. They didn't hassle us. The rooms were newly decorated, very quiet despite being central, and tidy, clean, and comfortable. Cleaners came regularly, and there was water and gummy bears waiting in the room. Rooms have names instead of numbers, and your room card only opens the door to each floor.

Joe, one of the evening staff, was an absolute gem. Joe The Goat. The self check-in took ages, and the queue was ridiculous. The location is great, right on Reeperbahn, though it seemed to attract a lot of questionable characters and homeless people. Our room was okay, clean when we arrived, and comfortable enough in size. But the electricity went out twice, leaving us unable to charge our phones one evening or before our flight home. Not ideal.

The rooms smell horrible, and there are lots of unhygienic people around the entrance. My stay at Sleephotels Hamburg was deeply disappointing because my refund request was ignored and management didn't respond to any of my attempts to reach them. The way a company handles complaints and refunds says a lot about how it treats customers. Sleephotels Hamburg needs to improve its approach urgently so future guests have a better experience.