ibis Leipzig Nord Ost

The tram stop for Leipzig city center is close by, which is fortunate since this hotel feels far out in the middle of nowhere. On foot, there’s only a gas station and a McDonald’s within reach. I’ve stayed at about 40 Ibis hotels around the world, and this is among the worst I’ve seen in Europe. The rooms weren’t clean or air-conditioned, and the breakfast was very poor, below Ibis standards. My Accor Platinum membership wasn’t taken into account. The staff were rude and impolite, spoke no English, and didn’t speak clearly in German either. The Wi-Fi didn’t work. The reception and breakfast room window panes had been patched with cardboard. Getting an invoice was difficult. I had to ask four times because they said there was no internet connection or that they couldn’t use the system. I wonder why Accor and Ibis let hotels like this use their trademarks and compromise their brands.

The room door wouldn’t close because its lock was broken. At 159€ a night, breakfast wasn’t included either. The tram service is good, but the receptionist was the opposite of welcoming: rude and unpleasant, and speaking only German.

The receptionist was really rude. She wouldn’t even look me in the eye and pretended I had no reservation, even after I showed her my confirmation. Then she started speaking German and told me to leave. A cleaner ended up checking me in and giving me a room. It was where the trucks park and apparently sleep, so there was phone conversation, Eastern European Euro music, and a lot of traffic noise until late at night. Never coming back.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the tram stop within walking distance is a real plus for getting to the city. I’m not sure how often the trams run. The hotel is a typical budget place near the highway, which suited me as a traveler. There’s a 24-hour desk, though overnight it’s staffed only by a security person who isn’t really trained for the job. Still, it works. My room was clean and fine for a good night’s sleep, though a bit dated and minimally equipped. Unfortunately, it smelled like a smoking room. The manager took my comment seriously and said they would check it. The open Wi-Fi is fast. The parking lot is okay if people know how to park. When I arrived, at least three cars were taking up six spaces, though that wasn’t the hotel’s fault. I didn’t have breakfast, but it looked like a standard continental buffet and seemed a little overpriced. Overall, the price-quality ratio is good.