Pension am Messegelände

I came back for a second visit, two years after the first, and was glad things were just as good. It’s probably the best hostel I’ve stayed in. I didn’t get to spend much time there this time, but I hope to return. The staff are really nice and helpful, and the kitchen and living room are great. It’s clean, the neighborhood is quiet, and I felt safe at night. People are respectful, so sleeping well wasn’t a problem.

I had booked two more nights for the following week, but couldn’t bring myself to go back, so I booked another hotel instead. The place was unbelievable. The building is badly run down, with paint peeling outside and interiors that look like they haven’t been painted in at least 20 years. Carpets, including the stairwell, were filthy. I saw only one bathroom with a shower among what looked like about 40 rooms over two floors, and it was dirty too. The toilets were in another room one floor below. The whole setup felt like the 1950s. There was no visible service. A woman was there at first, but later you had to use a key box and turn a knob until the right key came out. On my first night back after dark, I had to use the side entrance. Its motion sensor worked at first, but the hallway lights went out while I was standing in the middle, leaving me to find my way with my phone flashlight. To get upstairs, you also have to know where the switches are. That’s completely unacceptable with motion sensors and all. The room had been vacuumed, but the carpet was so dirty I’d put bath towels down. Fortunately, there was a double bed, so I could put two towels on the floor.

We used the lockers provided to leave our things and explore the city without worrying about them. The staff were charismatic, and you could tell they love their work. It’s a unique place, and I wish we’d had longer to try all the entertainment options. Highly recommend it, and I hope I get to return.

Never again. The room was filthy and run-down, and calling the bathroom a suite is a joke. There isn’t a bathroom, just a shared toilet and sink for all the guests, and the kitchen is shared too. It’s a dilapidated shack inside and out, not a hotel. Every star is too many.