Radisson SAS Hotel Erfurt - Erfurt, Germany 

The Radisson in Erfurt is in quality as far from normal Radissons as can be imagined. It is an old Socialist Interhotel, the 2nd-highest building in Erfurt, and something like a warning finger in the sky over the Old Town that these days are not completely over yet... or not in any way. Thus, the rooms have great views, especially those overlooking the Old Town. But they are furnished in a - to me very annoying - 70s design that isn't retro but just old. The rooms all seem quite worn. Hardly any closet space, no safe. Windows open in a way that easily can damage your knuckles. The halls were really bad, covered in grey plastic imitation marble sheets, and the elevators had on some floors entrances that were just 6'2 tall, with no warnings for those taller (and 6'3+ is not exactly bizarrely tall) so that they are almost certain to hit their head on the steel beams. The worst regarding the rooms was the bathroom, shower, toilet, and sink area, which are openly, and with no separating door or even threshold, integrated into the carpeted room. Optically, this is a dumb idea, but technically, it's worse - if one showers, there is hardly any way not to flood the bathroom, which means that the room is flooded as well. (Actually, one needs to build a system of towel dams in front of the shower door, but that one realizes only after the first deluge.) It also makes for very bad air, because the ventilation in the bathroom is no good. My individual worst experience was, however, that the wall-anchored, heavy TV set started to fall down and into my lap when I opened a curtain. In the end, I was able to let it glide on the floor unbroken, but it was quite an event. When I informed the staff, they first asked whether the TV set was still working and only then whether I was okay. :-) However, there is a bright aspect to the Radisson Erfurt, and that is the really excellent, sumptuous breakfast buffet, really outstanding: nice bright space (only no view, as it is on the 2nd floor), large variety of food incl. local products, all of high quality and well prepared, etc. Eggs and waffles made to order. Really a very nice brunch rather than a normal breakfast. And the breakfast room had excellent staff throughout (Reception staff was about 50% very nice as well.) The If this hotel would be renovated and brought up to Radisson standards, it would still be no so nice because of the low ceilings, room size, etc., but one could discuss staying here. As it is, I recommend any visitor to Erfurt to stay somewhere else (and there are plenty of choices in the same area and price range), especially the Sorat IBB Hotel (if one takes the better rooms there). The Radisson SAS can unhesitatingly be recommended, however, for breakfast.

We stayed at the Erfurt Radisson for just one night and really, if there is more than one of you, that is enough. We booked a standard room, given the short length of our stay and it was tiny. There is very little room around the bed and the bathroom is miniscule - if you want any privacy at all, I wouldn't stay here. We specifically requested a double bed, and were assigned a room with twin beds with bed side table in between. The hotel lobby was obviously a smoking zone and the hallway walls were covered in a strange grey plastic material rendering the whole floor extremely dark. On the plus side, the hotel is well located and close to the town centre. There is free broadband access (although connectivity is a little unstable) and parking is on site for 10,50 Euro per night. We also enjoyed a nice breakfast the following morning with heaps of variety. The hotel was really not of the standard that we're used to with this type of international hotel brand. If you do decide to stay here, I'd recommend upgrading to a suite, if you're accepting of everything else.