BACKGROUND

Open since February, this is the first German property for Premier Inn, which has more than 700 UK hotels. The budget group plans to open in Leipzig and Hamburg by 2018, and Berlin, Munich, Cologne and Dusseldorf by 2020. It also has hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but is planning to withdraw the ones it operates in India and South East Asia.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

The hotel is housed in a modern development, wedged between the Hampton by Hilton and Capri by Fraser. With 201 rooms across seven floors, its most striking feature is the 430 sqm lobby – a homely space filled with stylish bookcases, brightly coloured armchairs and Chesterfield sofas. At its centre is a bar with an impressive selection of liqueurs on show. Behind this is a separate breakfast area with vibrant artwork and shelves of lifestyle books. Despite the lobby’s size, there are a number of private areas, with furniture arranged to provide seclusion – one has tables for working, plenty of plug sockets and screens that can be linked to devices.

WHERE IS IT?

Five minutes walk’ from Frankfurt Messe convention centre. It’s about a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive into town. Festehalle/Messe station is a ten-minute walk away. The hotel has a car park with 60 spaces (e15 per day).

ROOMS

These come in three categories (Double, Triple and Family), all 20 sqm. The only difference between the Double and Triple rooms is the option to have a single bed made up in place of the standard chaise longue. There are two Family rooms on each floor, located at the end of each corridor. These have bath tubs, while the rest have rainshowers. All come with free wifi, a 40-inch LCD smart TV, USB plugs by the bed and desk, an ironing board, and tea and coffee facilities, but no bottled water.

My Double room featured purple tartan carpeting and a teal leather chair. It felt spacious, with lots of natural light (which could be blocked out with black-out curtains) and a comfy bed, although sitting at the desk felt a little cramped, as there was not much space between it and the bed. I didn’t once feel I was staying in a budget hotel, although this might have been down to how new everything was. There were lots of plug sockets, along with dedicated space for storing luggage and shoes. A small hanging rack could hold a few shirts and a jacket.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

A hot and cold breakfast buffet is served in the dining area at the back of the lobby. You can order meals in the lounge the rest of the time, and there is a good selection of sharing plates, wraps, hot dishes and salads available, as well as delicious cold cuts and cheese boards of local Bavarian Blue, Butterkase and Bergkase. Lit by hanging baubles, the bar looked like a good spot for a drink, although I saw no one there during my stay. A Costa Coffee adjoins the hotel.

MEETING FACILITIES

A small room at the back of the lobby can be booked for free and seats six. The lobby can also be used for informal meetings.

LEISURE FACILITIES

None.

VERDICT

A comfortable budget option that is modern enough in design and amenities that you wouldn’t want for anything. Given its proximity to the Messe, it’s convenient for short conference stays, but a bit out of the way if your work is in the city centre.

PRICE

Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in November started from €57 for a Double room.

CONTACT 

Europa-Allee 44; tel +49 698 500 690; premierinn.com