I am looking for a cheap hotel for one night in Hamburg, Germany that is extremely convienent via public transportation and the airport. I am arriving by plane late in the day and intend to depart by the Hauptbahnhof early in the next day. Basically, I need a functional place to sleep that does not have to be gemuetlich or near any sights. Just cheap, clean, and easy access by public transportation between the Flughaven and the Hauptbahnhof.

Any suggestions based on experience?

The Ibis is a five-minute walk from the main train station and directly across the street from the more expensive and upscale Kempenski Atlantic.

Actually, believe it or not, it looks like I could get a good deal on Priceline.com. They are hinting to me that I could get a 4 star hotel for 52 dollars or so.

This would actually be more reasonable than IBIS, although I would not know what I'm getting. Are there any other ideas out there? I still may book the IBIS since it is so close to the train station.

Priceline will likely give you the 4* Le Meridien in Stillhorn, which is some distance out of town. Priceline 5* bidding will almost certainly give you a central hotel.

Suggestion: Check www.biddingfortravel.com before you use PL. Scroll way down to Europe Hotels, open Germany hotels and find out which hotels you're likely to get in Hamburg and the amounts of recent successful bids. If PL flashes a screen back to you that your bid has almost no chance of being accepted, just blast right past that screen and bid according to prior bids that you found on BFT by doing your homework.

Good luck and please report back here to let us know what you end up with.