Holiday Inn - the niu, Amity Potsdam by IHG

My sleep was the worst of the trip because the air conditioning barely worked and shut off at night. The room was missing even basic conveniences: no coffee, kettle, fridge, or phone, plus just a tiny desk and an uncomfortable wooden chair. To ask anything, I had to go down to reception. The Wi-Fi was absurdly slow. There was no fitness room, and they charged extra for the basement sauna. I didn't try breakfast because I wasn't willing to spend more money there. The location is decent, next to the train station and with plenty of grocery and food options nearby that deserve your money more. The hotel seems to get by on the absolute bare minimum, which made for an unpleasant stay. I don't know how it gets 4.1 stars here. After this experience, I also canceled my future reservation at the Niu holiday Inn by the airport.

That drainage smell was the major problem. It was in the lobby and pretty much every public area, and we had to air out our room regularly to clear it. The hotel is clearly geared toward function: small rooms, but with the amenities you'd expect for 80€ a night. It was fine for a business trip, with public transport and some good restaurants nearby. Parking was fine too, in the garage around back.

We'd chosen a single king-size bed when booking, but got two beds pushed together. When I asked about it, they said that's how all the hotel's king-size beds are made.

The hotel is simple but comfortable, with a great location and breakfast, just what you need for a short stay. But the start of our visit was ruined by a nearly hour-long argument about my rate. After a 10-hour flight with a one-year-old baby, the front desk made me feel like a fool and tried to charge double what I'd booked. I'm an IHG employee with a few years of front desk experience, so I knew what rate I'd reserved. I'd booked two rooms in one reservation, and they claimed the total price shown was for only one room. They changed it only after I said I'd cancel and make two separate reservations at the original price, which was still available on the website. I had to show them and email a screenshot. Seriously?