IntercityHotel Mannheim

Signora Federica at reception deserves a special mention. She was cheerful, incredibly helpful, and fluent in English. Our business room had plenty of space, including two chairs, and the beds were comfortable. We did need to ask for extra pillows. The hotel itself was excellent, but dinner there was a mistake for us: the food was very ordinary and not cheap.

Breakfast was okay, but there were several problems with the room and the morning service. I had booked the top category, a business plus room on the highest floor. It looked over the train tracks, and even up there the noise was loud. There were no slippers or large towels. The room wasn’t cleaned, but on the morning I was leaving, staff knocked and woke me at 8am, despite checkout being at 12pm. The hotel says cleaning is only done on request if you let them know the evening before, and it’s free. I hadn’t requested it either the night before or that day, so the early knock made no sense. Avoid it if you can.

The worst part was the train station noise that went on all night. You’ll need earplugs or a noise-cancelling device if you want a decent night’s sleep. At Intercity Mannheim, the bathroom, especially the shower, had a strong smell and visible mold and mildew. I couldn’t get the temperature to regulate, even using the room’s meter. They also provided just one towel, which wasn’t helpful for a stay of more than three nights. My experience was lackluster.

Our late check-in came after a train conductor strike, and the staff were friendly and helpful. From the room, the view over Mannheim train station was very nice, especially at night. I only had a couple of small issues. The water pressure was very low, so the shower took ages to get warm, possibly because the room was on the top floor. Also, my room was right behind the elevator shafts, and the irregular noise there cost me quite a bit of sleep. Still, it’s a very nice hotel.