3
Giovanni Rota -
3 weeks ago
We've stayed in the Imperial Hotel at least twice a year since 1994 when it was associated to Best Western, and it was really a 4 star, but it has declined in the last few years, specially after the Covid pandemic.
We were three times in Frankfurt in the last two months, and stayed there twice, in July 15 - 17, and July 28. Then we found out that the A/C was not working, so we were provided with a fan. Fortunately the weather was not bad, so it was O.K., but we had to sleep with the windows open. Then, we had a reservation from August 1st, to the 5th, but since the forecast was for very hot weather, we had to cancel and book with the Best Western Premier at Friedberger Warte.
When we arrived in July 15th, we were disappointed because they don't even have a trolley any more to carry the luggage, which ours consisted of two large suitcases, plus two carry-ons that we had to wheel them by hand in two trips because the elevators are small. We travel with large suitcases because we go to Europe for three - four weeks every time, so we can't travel light. Then we found out that they don't have the coffee/tea kettle in the rooms any more, and of course no coffee, sugar, tea, that was always there before. Only a mineral water for Euro 4.00. There are also no appointments in the bathroom any more, like body lotion, Q-tips, etc. that were always there until the last time which was in October and November 2019. We didn't travel in 2020 and 2021 because of Corona virus.
The rooms are very spacious, clean, comfortable, but a little dark at night even with all lamps on, but that is passable, however the lack of A/C is unacceptable, and surely that's why it has degraded from 4 stars to 3.
We like that hotel so much because the location is excellent, very close to two U Bahn stations, Bockenheimer Warte and Leipzieger Strasse. There is a very good supermarket next to Bockenheimer Warte, and Leipzieger Strasse has a lot of shops, restaurants of different nationalities, like Italian, Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Thai, etc.
It is also excellently located for the Messe (trade fairs), as you can take the tram or U Bahn to get there in no time.
According to two different gentlemen of the front desk, both older people, said that they were already retired but that they were asked to work because young people no longer want that type of work.
One mentioned that they couldn't find a technician to fix the central air conditioning system. The other said that they couldn't find the parts for the system.
I really doubt that that would be the case in a country like Germany, as air conditioning is not rocket science. I live in Ecuador, and maybe even here it wouldn't be a problem, so it seems that Novum, the hotel operator doesn't want to invest in keeping up with the previous status, which is a shame to let such a convenient hotel run down.
Breakfast is not great, but is very good, and the gentleman and girl that attend it have been there for several years are very nice and courteous.
Novum should put it back to it's original status.
We will be there again in October and November, and we intend to stay there, but we hope that the heating system will be in good woking condition, so they won't have to hand us a coal stove to keep warm.
