I mistakenly booked this hotel, confusing it with another we’d previously stayed at. Had I read the reviews first, I would’ve looked elsewhere, but with a non-refundable booking, we decided to give it a chance and arrived with open minds.
Unfortunately, things went wrong immediately. We arrived just after 8 p.m. on a Thursday to find reception closed, despite the hotel listing a 24/7 front desk. I called the number on the door and was told I had to pay an additional tourism tax before receiving the key. There was no mention of this tax on the hotel or Hotels.com site, and the listing clearly stated that any additional fees were due at check-out.
The exterior didn’t inspire confidence either—groups of men standing around smoking and drinking. I wanted to leave then, but my wife was exhausted after a long day of travel so I paid the fee and we got the key.
Upon entering the room we were hit with a stale cigarette smell and loud noise from what sounded like a party next door. With no real front desk support and the likelihood of getting no sleep in a smelly room, we quickly decided to leave.
We called the Delphi Hotel in Neu Wulmstorf and, within 20 minutes, were warmly welcomed into a fresh, modern room.
Hotel Neugrabener Hof may be cheap, but it offers little value. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.