a&o Köln Hauptbahnhof

Our team visited Cologne for Trade Fair and explored the hotels around there. Finally we found this hotel match our need with quality , location and budget set. Our score for this hotel 1). Room cleanliness : 10/10. 2). Location : 9/10. 3). Breakfast : 9/10. 4). Staff service : 10/10. 5). Value of money : 9/10.

The hotel seems to heavily lean towards minimal staff, and that works most of the time, except I rented the garage for 2 days, but they don't have an option for you to open the garage yourself. Instead you ring the bell after arriving and someone will come to the hotel during their off hours, which is stressful and you would have to circle around in the meantime. There is a park outside the hotel and it attracts drinkers like a moth to a lamp. Combine the shouting with the train station noise and you have a recipe for exhaustion. Not recommended

The hotel is situated at around 5 minute walk from the Train Station. We arrived the hotel by a late ICE train at night, there is no problem regarding safety or ease of access. The reception is 24 hours manned, and has a self-service drink kiosk which you find rare to be free on European budget hotel chains. Overall lovely staff and big hotel. Note this hotel has only stair access, but to be fair for the price we paid for it is totally acceptable.

Location was nice but there was no ac when it was 35 deg. But the staff were really friendly and gave us the small fan

Overall, my experience at this hotel was a little disappointing. The self check-in process was not very convenient, especially for travelers who expect a reception desk where they can receive assistance and have any issues resolved upon arrival. Unfortunately, our room was not clean when we checked in. Even after requesting housekeeping several times, the only thing that was done was emptying the trash bin. The room itself was never properly cleaned. The rooms are little and furnished very sparsely, and the furniture is not particularly practical or well suited to the space. There was no wardrobe or clothes hangers, no luggage rack, and only a round table with two stools, which did not provide much comfort or functionality. The rooms do not have air conditioning, which made sleeping quite difficult during the hot nights. The only solution the hotel offered, upon request, was a small electric fan. Another inconvenience is that the hotel has four floors but no elevator, which can be challenging if you have heavy luggage. The duty managers were always polite and helpful whenever they were present. However, they were only available for a few hours each day, and for the rest of the time the reception was unattended. One positive aspect was the bathroom. Although it has no window, it appears to have been recently renovated, and the finishes are up to standard. I would recommend this hotel to travelers who are comfortable with very basic accommodations, similar to camping. However, for guests who are accustomed to the comfort and services typically offered by hotels, this property may feel modest. Since this was my first visit to Cologne, I cannot compare it with other accommodations in the city.