Garner Hotel Kiel - Akademie By Ihg

This hotel, originally designed as a training facility, offers a functional and budget-friendly stay, particularly appealing to business travelers attending seminars or short-term visitors and road trippers seeking a practical stopover. Its unique feature is its past as an academy, which influences its straightforward design and quiet surroundings, often described as having a school camp character. Guests frequently highlight the overall value for money and the generally friendly staff. While some rooms offer a pleasant view of greenery, the hotel's age is noticeable, with many guests pointing out the need for updates. To ensure a comfortable experience, guests might consider bringing earplugs due to potential noise from other rooms and a personal air freshener for occasional lingering smells.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel provides a range of basic amenities, including free Wi-Fi that is generally reliable, and a 24-hour reception for convenience. Most guests appreciate the ample parking available on-site, though some note a small daily fee. While an elevator is present for upper floors, some areas, like the breakfast room, are only accessible via stairs. Rooms may include a minifridge and a safe, though some guests reported these were not always functional or securely installed. The TVs are often described as old with poor picture quality and limited channels. Many guests noted the absence of a kettle in rooms for hot beverages and a lack of air conditioning, which can make rooms warm, especially on sunny sides.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Feedback on room cleanliness and comfort is mixed. While many guests found their rooms to be clean and tidy, a significant number reported issues such as dirty carpets with visible stains, dust on surfaces, and uncleaned bathrooms with yellowed toilet seats or black grout. Some guests even found hair or unreplaced towels. Room sizes vary, with some being spacious and featuring a unique mezzanine level, while others are described as small or minimalist. Bed comfort also receives varied reviews; some found the beds comfortable and conducive to good sleep, while others experienced hard mattresses or saggy beds, with double beds sometimes consisting of two single beds on wheels. Noise levels are a frequent concern, with rooms often described as hellhörig (noisy), allowing sounds from neighbors, hallways, or even renovation work to be easily heard. A recurring complaint is the presence of a cigarette smell in rooms and corridors, despite the hotel being non-smoking.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining options primarily revolve around its breakfast service, which receives varied feedback. Many guests describe it as simple, basic, or having a youth hostel style, often served in a canteen-like setting. While some found the selection sufficient and the food acceptable, others felt it was overpriced for the quality and variety offered, noting limited choices, lukewarm coffee, or issues with food replenishment like boiled eggs or fruit. Specific complaints included tough bacon and poor quality bread. The hotel does not feature a full-service restaurant for lunch or dinner, and guests often mention the lack of nearby dining establishments, requiring travel to find other options.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel is situated on the outskirts of the city center, making it a quiet location for some, particularly those with rooms facing green areas. It offers easy access by car and boasts ample parking. While not central, it is well-connected by public transport, with bus stops nearby providing a direct route to the city center and main train station, typically a 10 to 20-minute ride. However, some guests noted that public transport connections can be less frequent at night. The surrounding area is described as an industrial area, with limited immediate amenities, though some reviews mention a supermarket and pizzeria within walking distance. Some guests found the location convenient for specific events or as a transit stop, while others felt it was too far from tourist attractions.

Staff & Service
The hotel staff generally receives positive comments for being friendly, helpful, and attentive, with many guests appreciating the 24-hour reception. However, there are notable inconsistencies in service quality. Some guests experienced quick check-in and efficient assistance, while others reported long queues, slow systems, and communication difficulties, including language barriers. Housekeeping is a frequent point of contention, with numerous complaints about rooms not being cleaned daily, sheets not being changed, or basic amenities like towels not being replaced. Issues with booking and billing, such as unacknowledged emails or incorrect invoices, were also reported by some guests, leading to frustration.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that the hotel is an older building, originally a training facility, which contributes to its functional, no-frills design and somewhat dated appearance. Some areas of the hotel, including certain rooms, have been undergoing renovation, which occasionally caused disturbances like noise from drilling during the stay. Certain room types feature a unique mezzanine level with a table and chairs, accessed by a steep internal staircase, which may not be suitable for all guests. The hotel does not offer air conditioning, kettles in rooms, or washing machines for guest use, which can be an inconvenience for longer stays.