OttawaDave

I've been trying to decide on a hotel in Munich for 4 nights in May. I want something comfortable and reasonably priced.

I've read that Marienplatz is where it is at. I've found a few properties in that area that seem to fit the bill, but then found some others that may be nice hotel outside the area with good transit.

Here is the short list of hotels I'm considering:
Hotel Mercure Muenchen Altstadt
Hotel Blauer Bock
Hotel Splendid-Dollmann
Design Hotel Stadt Rosenheim (seems to be nice area with good transit)
Schiller 5 Hotel & Boardinghouse (not sure about area, but walking distance to pedestrian area)

Anyone with experience with these hotels, possibly more than one to offer comparison. How about the areas that they are in? I plan to do one day trip while there and another day touring outside the area, so perhaps being close to Marienplatz isn't that important, I could just spend half a day there to check it out.

I would like some place with a few good restaurants within a short walk.

sandralist

I normally don't give recommendations for hotels that I don't stay in, but on my trip to Munich, where I stayed at a Marriott, I happened to notice next door a Motel One, which is a budget chain, that looked to me to be really quite nice. I've noticed other people on Fodor's who travel through Germany regularly recommend the chain.

I think they have multiple locations in Munich, but if they only have the one I saw near the Ostbahnhof, it was easy to get around on public transportation. Not only are the trains and underground right there, but there is a bus (No. 100 as I recall) that stops right in front and take you straight to the center of Munich is 10 minutes, past all the museums.

For what it is worth, I didn't really care for the area around the Marienplatz. It's perfectly fine and safe, but it is touristy-kitsch. Other areas of Munich also had interest and charm, and one had a better insight into how the people of Munich live (quite well!). There are restaurants EVERYWHERE in Munich, in all price ranges and cuisines, so don't worry about that .

Dukey1

Sorry, but having stayed within a block of the Marienplatz on numerous occasions I do not necessarily agree that "it" is there any more than "it" is in other parts of the city.

The glockenspiel is a big attraction as are the nearby market and the various restaurants and shopping opportunities. However, there are many other areas n Munich including that one with the Marriott that some find equally as enjoyable.

The Marienplatz is inevitably jammed with visitors as is the area around the (very) nearby Hofbrauhaus.

A great deal depends on what you really like. Gays, for example, prefer the area around Sendlingor Tor and students used to head to Schwabing.

Munich has excellent transport as you have read and we've done a lot of walking within the city on our numerous visits.

OttawaDave

Thank you for the feedback. I think I will stay outside the Marienplatz and just visit it. We're in our 40's and not looking to party. My budget friendly we're looking at 200 euro per night. Part of our issue is that we will be there during trade fair week which increases the prices.

Given that, what about these choices all in different areas?

Design Hotel Stadt Rosenheim (from the original list, seems like a very nice area)

Marc Munchen (very well reviewed and looks very nice, but I think the area is not very nice and more of a get out as quick as possible)

Hotel Kriemhild (appears to be a nice residential area, but doesn't appear that convenient for transportation.

Melnq8

We like the Munichen Ost Residence Inn, walking distance from the Ostbahnhof, from where you can get just about anywhere.

Melnq8

There's a Courtyard by Marriott attached to the Residence Inn, but we prefer the amenities offered at the Residence Inn. They share a restaurant and breakfast room.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...ich-city-east/

OttawaDave

The Residence Inn is just down the road from the Stadt Rosenheim and looks very nice. It falls in a bit less expensive and includes the breakfast which is a bonus.

Have you stayed in a room that faces the street and if so what is the noise level like, both from the street and the trains?

My only reservation is with staying in a large chain hotel. In other cities I've been leaning towards hotels that are more boutique in nature to get a little more authentic experience. Of course, I really only plan on sleeping in the hotel so a good sleep it what really matters.

Dukey1

IMO it all depends on what you consider "authentic." I usually stay in a fairly authentic larger hotel in Munich (the Platzl) but it has air conditioning which you may or may not need even in the summer and other than the staff I didn't think the experience was any more Munich-like than other hotels I've stayed in.

If I were you I'd stick with my gut reaction. Chain hotels aren't any better or worse than the specific location you are using; they can be awful there and great elsewhere.

Melnq8

Dave -

Yes, we have. One year we stayed in such a room for five nights, but this year (December), we stayed for six nights and after the first night we asked to be moved. One side of the hotel faces the train tracks and a busy street. Although the windows are 'sound-proofed' and the hotel has AC (so no need to open the windows in the summer), as a light sleeper, the rooms that face that side are a bit noisy for me.

They moved us to a courtyard room which was perfect and had a large patio, a bonus, although we never used it.

I suggest asking for a quiet room when you book.

Location-wise it was ideal for us - quiet neighborhood (other than what I've mentioned above). Not a whole lot of restaurants, but a few pubs, and just a train ride away from all that Munich has to offer.

I understand completely what you mean by authentic. We prefer to stay at independently owned smaller/boutique establishments ourselves, but occasionally we cave for the sake of convenience (or in this case hotel points). We really like this place. It caters to an international crowd, business and leisure travelers alike. English is widely spoken. Good breakfast.

sandralist

I stayed in the Marriott for five nights, facing the street and the tram tracks, and I had no problem, but I sleep with ear plugs when I travel. Rooms are quite large, with coffee-making facilities, a refrigerator, etc. I actually found plenty of restaurants nearby in a kind of enclave a few minutes away from the hotel, like the Lisboa Bar and the Haidhauser Augustiner. Around the corner there was a gourmet pizza place -- L'Angola della Pizza -- that was fine (I live in Italy, and I've had worse in Italy).

Caveat is that, since I live in Europe, I prefer to stay in modern business-type hotels with all the mod-cons when I travel in Europe. Also, I think a modern hotel like the Marriott in Munich IS authentic. It had a multi-lingual staff of immigrants from all over the EU and German cleanliness and efficiency. This is what Munich is today.

As mentoned earlier, the Motel One is right next door, so you might check that out for reviews (and ask for a back room if you fear noise).

sandralist

Just to be clear -- the only Marriott I stayed in while in Munich was the Residence, near Ostbahnhof.

sandralist

Also -- it just occurs to me to add -- that the last time Angela Merkel was running for office, she was asked during a debate what she thought was the best thing about today's Germany, she replied: "No other country can build such airtight and beautiful windows." And she was re-elected by a wide maergin. So if you are looking for authentic in Germany, pay attention to those windows...

Cowboy1968

LOL - sandralist is spot on. Not only with the windows.

Mainhattengirl

Big fan of Motel One. Large, comfy beds. Great showers, and good AC. Decent breakfast buffet. It is a no frills place, but have used them 3 times in Munich and Berlin.