Mercure Am Kurpark - Bad Oeynhausen, Germany     

Bad Oeynhausen is the heart-attack capital of Germany; it's where many of the leading heart surgeons practice and as a result, the town is an island of peace and tranquility. The Kurpark, adjacent to the hotel is justly famous and a great place for a stroll. The hotel is an ultra-modern 5-floor building, with a full height atrium in the reception area. Rooms are large and distinctive, with a kind of low-level room divider splitting the room into a sitting area and a bedroom, but retaining the feeling of space. Leaving the (massive) windows open at night was a pleasure, because the area is almost silent at night. TV limited to CNN for the linguistically challenged. Some nice touches; the sheep shaped jelly sweets on the pillow (my kids loved them) and the quality propelling pencils (I now have about a dozen). No trouser press or iron. The staff are all excellent with no language barriers. Nice little bar area behind reception with quality DAB beer and a nice range of spirits. The only disappointment, for business travelers if not “normal” people, is the lack of a restaurant. They serve a very good breakfast, but no evening meals. I appreciate the opportunity to explore the town, but occasionally, you just want to grab a late dinner and crash; no restaurant also means no room service. That atrium is lovely to look *up* into, but coming out on the 5th floor in the morning to a vertigo inducing drop while waiting for the lift is an experience I could live without. Small niggles, but it’s still the only place to stay in town.

Bad Oeynhausen is the heart-attack capital of Germany; it's where many of the leading heart surgeons practice and as a result, the town is an island of peace and tranquility. The Kurpark, adjacent to the hotel is justly famous and a great place for a stroll. The hotel is an ultra-modern 5-floor building, with a full height atrium in the reception area. Rooms are large and distinctive, with a kind of low-level room divider splitting the room into a sitting area and a bedroom, but retaining the feeling of space. Leaving the (massive) windows open at night was a pleasure, because the area is almost silent at night. TV limited to CNN for the linguistically challenged. Some nice touches; the sheep shaped jelly sweets on the pillow (my kids loved them) and the quality propelling pencils (I now have about a dozen). No trouser press or iron. The staff are all excellent with no language barriers. Nice little bar area behind reception with quality DAB beer and a nice range of spirits. The only disappointment, for business travelers if not “normal” people, is the lack of a restaurant. They serve a very good breakfast, but no evening meals. I appreciate the opportunity to explore the town, but occasionally, you just want to grab a late dinner and crash; no restaurant also means no room service. That atrium is lovely to look *up* into, but coming out on the 5th floor in the morning to a vertigo inducing drop while waiting for the lift is an experience I could live without. Small niggles, but it’s still the only place to stay in town.