Hotel Pieper - Trier, Germany 

Avoid this place! Despite being recommended by R. S. this was the only low point of our entire three week trip to Europe. I reserved a room six months in advance. Being just a tad OCD, I reconfirmed frequently. Yet, when we showed up after a 12 hour travel train day the owner said "my computer deleted your reservation...sorry". Arggh. Needless to say, I can't describe the accomodation. I can tell you this. It is not that close to the train station (20 minute walk), and is also not on a public transportation route. The neighborhood is full of graffiti and garbage; with bars on all the windows of every establishment. In any location the need for that kind of security is worth a thousand words. When we arrived, the procedure for check-in was most confusing. We finally discerned that we needed to go the next door restaurant to check in. After three weeks in Europe we were used to smoke; but the tiny room that passes for a restaurant had the thickest tobacco cloud we encountered anywhere. The (apparent) owner told me "We have a little problem. My computer deleted your reservation. We can give you one night in a single room, and that is all. Let me try to help you find a room for another night" He then proceeded to use the phone, and was rejected. My fried brain was scrambling, but I finally asked him where the nearest Internet cafe was thinking we could find somewhere else online. He said he didn't know, but directed us to the Tourist Office. (which was already closed, and as a local, he would have known this) Fortunately, my husband had his GPS with him and it brought up several options. We went to the first one listed, and it proved to be so good that is was one of the highlights of our trip. (Römischer Kaiser,read that as a separate post). Let me repeat. Avoid the Hotel Pieper at all cost. No matter what promises you are given (my email correspondence was cordial and welcoming) you run the risk of having no reservation when you actually arrive. Considering that Trier is "out of the way" for any sort of transportation the risk is not worth it. Now, check out my posting about the Römischer Kaiser.:)

The hotel is very nice and the staff is very helpful although not many speak English. The rooms have a shower, TV, and hairdryer. The street is generally quite so you can get a good rest. There is a gourmet shop/deli right next door to the hotel. Breakfast (included) was very nice - cheeses, cold meats, fruit, yogurt, cereal, soft and hard-boiled eggs, tea, coffee, juice, breads - quite filling. Within walking distance of the bus/train station. Also a short walk to the Porta Nigra and the pedestrian zone of Trier. It's a 3-minute walk from the hotel to St. Paulin's church, which is a lovely baroque church not often visited by the throngs of tourists in Trier. Take a moment to enjoy the beauty and peace of this nearby church. Another thing to do in Trier, in addition to seeing the lovely city squares, cathedrals, and Roman ruins, it to take a hour-long cruise on the Moselle river (7 Euro pp) and enjoy some of the regional wine - I recommend taking the cruise in the evening after a long day of sightseeing.