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Sep 21, 2024 | 7:41 am

#12

FLYGVA

Moderator: InterContinental Hotels and Germany

Join Date: Oct 2002

Posts: 7,194

Holiday Inn – the niu Charly Frankfurt

What is your Priority Club status?
Ambassador Diamond

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
In general yes.

Those of you who follow me on Instagram account, might have seen it already in my story, but I stayed for just one night in Frankfurt and needed merely a room for the night. As the Holiday Inn Alte Oper was around 165 EUR, I spotted the Holiday Inn – the niu Charly which was 80 EUR + 18 EUR for 5k points. I thought I give it a try, knowing the area after the report by christianj . By tzhe way, you can walk through the underground passage from main station to the exit at Karlstraße, then continue for 100 metres on Düsseldorf Straße and turn right after the Manhattan Hotel into Niddastraße. This saves you from the area around Karlsplatz. but yes, it is not the nices part of Frankfurt am Main.

The check in desks are right opposite the entrance. Three desks are available to check in guest and all were staffed on this Friday afternoon. There was a small waiting time. The reservation was retrieved from the system. The hotel had pre-printed registration forms, as they were experiencing some issues with the printer at the front desk. I was welcomed as Diamond Member and asked if I like to have points or breakfast. A welcome drink was no option; I assume, as the hotel does not offer a bar but only a fridge and kind of self-service shop with beverages. I took the points, which posted immediately.

Two keycards were programmed, and I was on my way to the room. Elevators are behind the check in desk, as the hotel also spans over the block and has rooms in a backyard building.

First impression, overall friendly and kind of relaxed. It was busy and took some time, but they were explaining what they were doing, so there was not this silence while the member of staff was typing on the computer.

On the ground floor are some lounge chairs, bookshelf, a table-football. Nothing fancy and not a place to hang out. The breakfast restaurant is located on the 7th floor. But I skipped breakfast, as I had to leave before breakfast was offered.

(Breakfast is served starting at 06:30 till 10:30 on weekdays and 07:00 till 11:00 on weekends)

There is no fitness center.

Check-Out was friendly, but the printer issues continued, and it was not possible to print my invoice. The promised e-Mail never made it, but this was quickly solved by a call. Staff is friendly and helpful. They really try their best despite some issues during my stay (printing, not hot water).

Which room did you book, and which upgrade did you receive?
I booked the cheapest room a Standard Room on a fully flexible rate and was upgraded to a Premium Room at check-in. My room was facing Nidda Straße.

How are the rooms?

My room was located on the 6th floor.

The room does not follow the typical layout. One is right in the room. The bed was to the left-hand side along with an armchair with a small kind of bookshelf with a lamp. The bed were two single beds moved together, so no king / queen bed with a single mattress. Two bedside table with reading lamps. USB Plugs were at both sides of the bed as part of the regular socket. Lights could be switched on / off from the bed.

Opposite the bed was the large TV and an Teufel Bluetooth sound system, which could be connected to your smartphone or tablet. There was not desk but only a small part next to the tv. Definitively not a place, if you need a desk to do some real work.

What was different from the usual or standard room, was that one had to walk around to get to the bathroom. This led to a slightly narrow and cramped feeling. The rooms on the sixth floor are also set a bit back from the main façade.

At this part was also the open wardrobe with safe. No iron and ironing board.

The bathroom consists of shower, sink and toilet. Storage space next to the sink was nonexistent. Hairdryer was wall mounted next to the sink. Mirror was not heated. No bathrobe and slippers. No hooks in the bathroom and the shower door was not adjusted with the floor, there was a gap which means water running on the floor could not be avoided. At least there was a door. But there was a towel heater.
Only bath foam / shampoo was provided as wall mounted bottles, lotion was missing which caught me a bit by surprise.

Water pressure was very good, though there was not hot water in the morning due to some problems with the system. Staff apologized in the morning, and I did not push it further. And a cold shower might be not the worst thing after a short night.

No phone in the room, no minibar or fridge and no kettle are provided.

The hotel is not that old, and the rooms show a little bit of wear, but nothing serious. The design is modern and remembers me of a Moxy Hotel. Quality of furniture is good, design is nice (and more modern than in the average Holiday Inn).

What I somehow disliked is the layout. The room is small but makes good use of the space. Room was quiet, air condition was okay. W-Lan was good.

The advanced rate was 72 EUR / night; the best flexible 80 EUR and 5k bonus points were 18 EUR. This was booked five days before my stay. The hotel is available for as low as 65 EUR and sometimes even lower. This is a good value for money, if you only need a bed.

How is the exec. lounge?
N/A

What was good and what was bad?
Good
Good connection to public transport
Staff is friendly and helpful
Room rates
Design
Water Pressure

Neutral
Location close to red light district is not liked by everybody, I know Frankfurt and this area and okay with it.
keycard needed for power and room
No kettle
No lotion in bath

Bad
No space next to sink
No hooks in bathroom
No desk

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
The location is good, and staff is friendly. The room rates offer a very good value for money is very good.

Rooms are well maintained. Design is nice and modern, though the room are small and do not have amenities like kettle, phone or ironing board but a Teufel Soundbar and safe. The missing desk could be an issue for some business-travelers.

I will return, as it offers a good value for money and if you only need a room for the night arrive later, spend the evening elsewhere and leave the next morning and do not need the amenities, then this is a good option. To me, this would only be a hotel for one-night stays. If I stay longer, I would prefer a larger room like the Holiday Inn Alte Oper. In so far, the Holiday Inn – the niu ticks my checkboard in cases I would usually consider a Moxy (but do not need the social area of the Moxy)

For pictures click on spoiler below

Spoiler

I also made a video

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