Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais - Dresden, Germany     

This was a rather more expensive hotel than I'd usually opt for but I was impressed with the place and ended up very pleased that I chose it. It felt like the smartest and most expensive place in town (not sure if that's literally true but it gives off that aura) and my fellow guests mostly dressed accordingly. It is to their, and the hotel's, credit that I never felt uncomfortable or out of place. [My observation has been that this is the mark of good hotels everywhere, and I write as someone who has tested the theory quite thoroughly.] My room was spacious and very nicely furnished. There was a turn down service each evening. Breakfast was a mix of buffet and waitress service and I can't imagine that anyone would be disappointed by it. Though it sounds (and indeed probably is) rather unadventurous, I ate in the hotel both evenings: once in the bistro and once in the 'pub'. Again, I was very happy both times: excellent food, well served at what - by UK standards - was something of a bargain price. The pub in particular seemed to be popular with locals so, even if you're not staying at the hotel, it's worth considering for a meal. If you're interested in cars or engineering or manufacturing or architecture, go and see the VW Phaeton factory which is about a one mile walk from the city centre. [The hotel, incidentally, is about as close to the city centre as you could wish.] There is a tour, which you're recommended to pre-book. I suspect that tech doesn't get much higher than this. If nothing else, you'll get to learn how Phaeton is meant to be pronounced.