Hotel Martinsklause

We’ve stayed at the Martinsklause in Meckesheim three times while visiting friends in town, and since it’s the only hotel there, we had to book it each time. The rooms were fine, with furnishings, beds, and bathrooms that suited us. Our first room faced the street and was noisy at night; rooms on the courtyard side were quiet. The beds were good, too. Breakfast was good, with a wide choice of the usual things. The manager was friendly and nice to guests. But the place around the hotel looks chaotic. The courtyard is unkempt and full of junk, and the whole garden area makes a very poor impression. It takes away from the hotel’s value and makes it hard to feel comfortable from the start. If the owner did something about it, perhaps more people would book.

The shower was filthy, and the main road is really noisy. There’s no toilet in the room, just one in the hallway, and the internet connection is unreliable. The place is technically outdated, with antenna cables hanging loose in the room. Reception staff were very friendly, though.

The mattresses were good, and breakfast was plentiful and good, though whether the coffee was hot or only lukewarm seemed to be luck. That’s about the only bright spot. The whole place looks neglected, with dirt and clutter inside and out. The breakfast room was cold, damp, and musty, with dust piled up about a finger’s thickness. The bathroom was cold, and over my three days it wasn’t cleaned once. There was black mold in the shower and soap scum from previous guests on the outside of the frame. The room had plenty of lamps, but most were broken or missing bulbs. You might find someone there if you’re lucky, since reception isn’t staffed continuously. And they charge 70 euros for a double room. That feels like absolute highway robbery, as if they’re shamelessly cashing in on being the only hotel in town.

I haven’t stayed at the “hotel,” so I can’t really judge it from the inside. But I walked past twice today, and outside it looked completely neglected. Brown leaves and weeds seem to have been growing there for ages, and the balcony ceiling is ripped wide open. I wouldn’t accept that even from a cheap youth hostel, let alone a hotel.