appreciate that few of the readers will ever be in the nowhereland in Germany along the Dutch border (can highly recommend that area though!), but I have to mention the Park Inn Papenburg (map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=papenb...chland&t=h&z=7 ) as a truly great Park Inn property. thus far, my Park Inn experiences in the UK and the Baltic states were always quite mediocre.

Park Inn Papenburg - http://www.pi-papenburg.de/gallery-de.html: Very modern property, with bicycle rental and pedal boat rental (!) (it is next to one of the plenty canals in Papenburg). Most rooms with views of one of the canals around. 5mins walk from station, directly in the centre. For 20Euro supplement we chose the Superior Room, which was quite large, and included a free minibar (3 100g bars of "Ritter Sport" chocolate, crisps, peanuts, 2 bags of Haribo sweets, 2 bottles of beer, Coke, Fanta, Sprite, 4 bottles of water, and a couple of bottles of juice). Nespresso type machine. Floor to ceiling windows. Free parking in the city centre. Free computers and internet, free printing (!). Whirlpool and fitness equipment. Arrived before checkin time, no room ready, got two drinks on the house whilst we waited.

Staff incredibly friendly and chatty, definitely very professional and efficient.

Impressed! Never would have guessed that a Park Inn could be a joy.

Any other Park Inns that are actually properties one would want to stay at?