HOW MANY ROOMS? 168 guestrooms and suites, of which the latter are the largest in Frankfurt. There are eight categories: deluxe, deluxe studio and skyline deluxe rooms and junior, skyline junior, deluxe, senator and presidential suites.
ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The expansive view of Frankfurt, elegant design, comfortable ambience and huge bathtub with L’Occitane amenities
PRICE The best available rate for a Deluxe Room King is €300 (US$380), inclusive of VAT and complimentary broadband and wireless internet.
CONTACT Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz 2, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, tel +49 069 297 2370, www.jumeirah.com
VERDICT A superb location, stylish décor and outstanding service really make this hotel a memorable choice for the business or leisure traveller.
BACKGROUND Über-luxury hotel group Jumeirah opened this property in October 2011, its first in continental Europe. It has since opened two other properties in Europe, Jumeirah Istanbul and Jumeirah Mallorca.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? On arrival I was struck by the elegance of the reception area, set within an intimate space which avoids the hectic arrival experience of some hotels. The blend of grey and black marble floors, crystal chandeliers, soft, velvet furnishings and the stylish outfits of the reception team all work together to present a notable first impression.
Check-in was swift and efficient and I was offered a cold towel (plenty of which are conveniently placed on all the three reception desks) hot tea or water, a choice of morning papers (complimentary and paid for) and a wake-up call.
This is a comfortably sized property, with easy access from the friendly reception area to the lifts and then up to the rooms, restaurant, meeting spaces and ballroom and the fitness centre.
WHERE IS IT? Located in the heart of the city and via taxi, without traffic, an easy 20-minute drive from the airport or 20 minutes (18km) by train to Frankfurt-am-Main station which is around 2km from the hotel. Jumeirah Frankfurt is opposite Thurn and Taxis Palais, next door to the “MyZeil” shopping centre and just five minutes from Messe Frankfurt exhibition facility.
ROOM FACILITIES I was checked in to a deluxe room on the 22nd floor, the entry level category room at 35 sqm. The décor is contemporary and it is in a non-open plan layout, so the entrance and wardrobe area are separate from the bed area. The desk is conveniently located between the two and I had a splendid panoramic view of Frankfurt.
There is a Nespresso machine in the room. The television had plenty of channels in a wide range of languages, but only a few in English. Nevertheless, some of the channels had dual-language capabilities. The room is also equipped with complimentary high-speed wifi (sign-up and login takes seconds), well-placed A/V, A/PC, HDMI, USB and UK sockets at the desk and an iPod dock by the bedside.
There are main panels on both the left and right-hand side of the bed from which you can control all the lights, as well as the curtains and do not disturb/make up room sign.
What I was quite impressed by was the decent-sized bathtub, set in the backdrop of a gorgeous, well-designed bathroom. A light marble interior, a well-lit large vanity mirror, a huge bath, separate shower and toilet cubicle, with L’Occitane Olive amenities, are the finishing touches for this stylish and airy bathroom.
The only point I would make is the air con would only go down to 18 degrees and although I set it on the highest fan setting, the room remained rather warm. Also the minibar is the “pay-if-you-remove-anything” model, so don’t let curiosity get the better of you.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS Max on One, located on the first floor, is the all-day dining outlet with peaceful and pleasant colours and ambience. Breakfast consists of all the continental offerings as well as hot dishes. I also had dinner here and the atmosphere was noticeably more posh and upscale. The menu consisted of specialities from Austria and Germany prepared in innovative ways, and they were all full of flavour.
The hotel also has Le Petit Palais bistro and the Ember Lounge & Bar.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The hotel offers a total of 730 sqm of meeting space with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and a flexible design. The Cristal Ballroom is one of the most stunning function rooms with 364 sqm of space and natural daylight.
LEISURE FACILITIES The Jumeirah Frankfurt spa is a Talise Spa with seven treatment rooms and an insightful menu. I chose the “Forget Jet Lag” treatment which has a 60- or 90-minute option. My therapist Lisa was wonderful, friendly and professional. This treatment includes a circulation massage and finishes with a full-body massage which I enjoyed as Lisa’s skilled and industrious fingers worked to release the tension and knots incurred from hours of business travel. The spa uses Sonakshi products, an organic range made in Australia.
Jumeirah Frankfurt does not have its own fitness centre and pool, but the shopping centre adjacent has the globally renowned “Fitness First”, which is available for all hotel guests.
Charlotte Bliss
