Crowne Plaza Frankfurt Niederrad

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.

I stayed here a couple of times during 2024, but as the last report is now over a year old, I thought I give an update.

The tram stop “Bürostadt Niederrad” is next to the hotel, S-Bahn Station Niederrad is a seven minute walk. Parking is during the weekend possible at the street next to the hotel. Some of the reasons for me to stay here

I booked a Fully Flexible Standard Room. Was upgrade to a Premium Room on the top floor.

If you enter the hotel, you are right in a big lobby with the check-in desk opposite the entrance and the bar to left. The bar is open to the lobby and not separated, thus making the lobby and the bar a bit noisy, especially if a bigger group is arriving. Right hand side is the restaurant, which is only open during fair and by higher demand. At all other times the bar serves also as restaurant

There are three lifts to reach either the pool and the garage in the basement or the floors with the rooms. On this day only one of the three lifts worked adding to the waiting time. During the morning of the second day, another lift became available. I was told this were scheduled maintenance, but no workers were seen.

Located in the basement are sauna, steam bath, whicg are open in the morning and from 16.00 to 22:00. The pool is still closed (for over a year now and I doubt it will reopen anytime soon). There is a gym connected to the pool with machines from the time when this was a Sheraton. The number of machines are reduced if I am not wrong and two were out of order. Small towels and water were provided in the gym. The gym is open 24 hours; the door is no longer locked, so you can access the gym 24/7..

Check In was quick with not waiting time on a Thursday early afternoon at 14:00. Two agents were on duty. Status was partly recognized as I was told that I received an upgrade. I was asked about my choice of Diamond Amenity and I took the beverage voucher as I was not in the mood for breakfast.


I skipped breakfast. From earlier visits, it is still the same. The selection was okay, though the quality has not improved. Coffee is provided in small thermos jugs on the table, Tea was available from a Samowar. Different juices (including tomato juice): The selection of fruits was average as was cheese, salami. Humus and cut cucumber and tomatoes were available. I missed Salmon during my last visit before this one. Staff was attentive, but if they are busy, it could take some time before used plates are cleared.

Hot items were scrambled eggs, potatoes, small burger, sausages, ham. Also, you get eggs prepared by a chef (but they do not make poached eggs).

I had dinner in the restaurant. The restaurant was not very busy and the service very attentive. I opted again for a Cesar Salad and the waiter recommended a different wheat beer than my usual choice and tasted good. He was attentive yet not to obtrusive.

It was this time not possible to use the food credit as milestone amenity. The agent was unable (or unwilling) to assist. IHG told me, that the folio was not yet processed. As I approached the desk, I asked about the milestone amenity and the agent told me, she could nothing do. I had noticed that they had already charged the stay during check-In. The agent was also unable to produce a folio with everything on it. In so far, I say unwilling, because I am under the impression, that the staff can apply it as well from experiences during a number of other stays. The f&b voucher has a validity till summer 2025 so not that big problem.

Check out was okay, though the – imo – unwillingness to support with the F&B voucher. Late Check out of 14:00 was granted without problems.


Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Standard and received Room with Free Minibar on top floor overlooking the parking in front of the hotel (i.e. not city views)



How are the rooms?

My room was located on the top floor (13th floor) away from the elevator.

Next to the entrance was the small bathroom.

The rooms are very small. If you stay in the room with two persons, the space to move is very limited.

The bathroom could be reached from the hallway. It has bath, sink and toilet. Nice, the shower is separated by a wall rather than a glass panel, but the wall is a bit short, and you cannot avoid water dripping on the floor while taking a shower and the floor of the bathroom can become slippery quite quickly. Water pressure of the shower was good. The showerhead was okay. The pug however was blocked, so that it was not possible to take a bath. The heater in the bathroom did not work (this was the second room, so I think I was either both times unlucky or they simply turned them off)

The wash basin is okay.

The room had a small place to store your luggage along. The closet offers enough space to store belongings. The room was re-done. There is an ottoman in front of the window with a reading lamp. Opposite was a small desk. Tea and coffee facilities. The French press is no longer available, though still advertised.

The minibar is placed at the desk. If offers only still water and a coke. Two bottles of sparkling water was placed net to the amenity, which was Christmas themed.

The space is limited as mentioned in other reports. It is difficult to work and if you need papers it will be difficult to place them next to a laptop. But this was already the case during the time the hotel was a Sheraton. USB Ports are available at the desk along with a power outlet

The mattress of the bed was okay. The two bedside tables are rather small.

Windows could be opened, but there could be some street noise.




How is the exec. lounge?
N/A

What was good and what was bad?
Good
Good connection to public transport
Windows could be opened
rates are cheap
Sauna, and steam bath
Welcome Amenity


Neutral
Cost cutting measures regarding quality breakfast buffet and minibar
location
Lobby and bar could be noisy
Not very supportive staff this time
rooms and gym begin to show lack of maintenance


Bad
small rooms
Unable to redeem f&B amenity
pool closed without announcement on homepage


Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
The location is good, especially if you want street parking. Downtown Frankfurt is a 15 m minutes tram ride. The rooms are of smaller size.

The Room and gym begin to show the lack of maintenance. The upgrade to a room with a free minibar as part of the upgrade is nice. Rates are often below 80 EUR, especially during the weekend

Food is still okay.

I will return, as it still offers a good value for money, but as frequent guest you notice some cost cutting measures and the lack of proper maintenance.

A video is linked in this post in the master thread.