Heikotel

Heikotel Am Stadtpark Review

Its not often I devote an entire post to a hotel itself often favouring to include them as part of trip reports however I feel this hotel deserves a post to itself for a couple of reasons set out below. The Heikotel was our home for three nights while in Hamburg.  It calls itself a premier three star hotel however to be totally honest this label does it a disservice.

Location

The hotel is located about 20 minutes from the central hub of Hamburg. Admittedly at first I was a little apprehensive staying out the centre of the city as travelling with kids can be often mean trips back to hotel for changes of clothes, forgotten teddy etc. However the hotel is less than 5 minutes from an U-bahn station which leaves you in the city in 20 mins.  The U-bahn is so efficient we rarely waited more than two minutes for a train to arrive. I was worried having no German I might find the transport system difficult to navigate – not at all. Is is so easy to follow the signs inside the station and the trains clearly announce each stops location well in advance.

The street itself which the hotel is located is a quiet residential area, which felt very safe.  Just minutes from the hotel were coffee shops, restaurants and a supermarket.  To the far side was the Stadtpark a huge park (over 350 acres) known as the green heart of the city. An ideal spot for the kids to burn off some energy before bed. Everything you needed pretty much on your doorstep when you returned after a days sightseeing.

The Hotel  

The hotel has 46 rooms, a small lobby, workout room, breakfast room and access to the bar in the sister hotel opposite Heikotel Stadtpark Residenz.

The first thing that strikes you when you walk in the door is the impeccable cleanliness. Its the fist thing I notice when I check in somewhere.  The reception is manned 24 hours.  Speaking of receptions, the staff on reception during our stay were very accommodating and helpful.  Upon check in we had an initial wobble with the room allocation which was dealt with swiftly and competently by a lovely girl named Jessica.  I think it says a lot about a place about how any issues are dealt with.  The reception staff were great offering suggestions for food places nearby or local attractions for the kids.  Kids loves the mice sweets at reception!

The Rooms

The rooms have a lovely calm vibe with warm neutral tones.  We had floor to ceiling windows which gave tonnes of natural light. Our room faced the front and we heard very little noise. The wifi was free and really good. The TV had sky (a plus for the kids!) there was a mini bar and coffee machine and the bathroom had underfloor heating.

The bed itself was so comfortable and adults and kids alike all slept really well.  The bathroom was a good size too, no bath in our room but a great shower with plenty hot water.

Breakfast

I had read a number of review of this hotel prior to arriving so I knew the breakfast had a great reputation.  I can safely say I was not disappointed.  The selection was great, the coffee tasty and both kids and adults ate their fill each morning.  The hotel was busy during our stay with a conference on yet the staff at breakfast were efficient in looking after guests so it didn’t pose any problems at all.  One lovely touch at breakfast was the lady who remembered each morning which coffee we wanted and brought it straight over. For me its little subtle touches like these that add that bit extra to a hotel stay.

Try the scrambled eggs! Honestly my mouth waters every time I think about them – seriously tasty. If you are considering staying here, just trust me on this, book the breakfast, worth every penny. Its €12 for adults and €6 for kids which when you consider the selection and quality in my mind this is really good value and a great way to set yourself up for the day.

Facilities

The hotel has  a small fitness studio, conference facilities and the use of ipads at reception. We visited the bar across the road in the sister hotel early in the evenings. Its not big but has a good selection of drinks. I understand from staff it gets busy during soccer matches and after 9 in the evening. We were there with kids so we were back in the room long before then! The hotel had no issue calling us a taxi or keeping our luggage while we had a last minute wander while waiting for our flight home.

 

Mamma Fairy Insider tips:

• Book breakfast – so worth it
• The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant however if you come out of the hotel and go left there are lots of options of places to eat.  We really liked Tieg Fabrik a pizza place so much so we went back 2 nights in a row!
• Ask the helpful staff for recommendations, they were so helpful to us especially Jessica
• The free WIFi is perfectly adequate I think you an purchase high speed but not necessary unless you are perhaps working on laptops remotely
• Dont fear the U-bahn! I know I did, it was a dream to use. We had the Hamburg Card which gave us unlimited travel and with the stations being barrier free this made the process very simple especially with no German and 2 kids.
• If you have a buggy/pram or need assistance walking be mindful the local U-bahn doesn’t seem to have any lift or escalator access.  This would make accessing the platform difficult as there are probably 20 or so stops up to it.
• Taxi from the airport isnt expensive if you didnt fancy braving the Ubahn with luggage. However do bear in mind if you have 2 kids you might need to consider bringing one car seat. A lot of taxis had one seat so thankfully we had one with us for the oldest.

Booking

Bookings can be made directly with the hotel for the best value including pre booking breakfast and early check ins.  Prices start at €79 upward for s double room excluding breakfast which is very good value for a hotel of this calibre.

For additional reviews of this hotel check out Diary of Jewellery Lover who also stayed here recently.

For a sneak peak into what else we did on our trip to Hamburg we have a short clip below.

 

Note: We were provided with complimentary accommodation as part of this trip as part of our participation in the Come to Hamburg Project. We retain full editorial control and all view are mine of my family where appropriate.