My car broke down this July in Siegburg and so I spent the better part of the week staying in the…read moretown and the Hotel Zum Stern was the best deal with the best service. This place had it all, a wonderful view of the square (with a mini balcony), functioning wifi Internet access (included, no extra charges), clean rooms (with pants press!), a good breakfast, and a great price. I had two nights here. The management and owners were very welcoming and saved me from my near nonexistent German language skills.

Cologne is a compact town, making it the perfect town for a short weekend break. It's aided by the…read moregood public transport links - U-bahn, S-bahn trains and buses make getting round a cinch The most expensive hotels are around the Kolner Dom (cathedral) area in the central area near the Hauptbahnhof station. However, these attract the highest prices naturally Expedia led me to the Best Western Premier Park with a good reduced price offer. It's located on the east bank of the Rhein, about 20 minutes by subway from Hauptbahnhof The hotel is in a modern building about 5 minutes walk from the closest U-bahn subway station. The decor and furnishings are modern and comfortable. I found a few English channels on the TV but found it more interesting to watch Sunshine, the movie in German to test out my very rusty O level German! Wifi was free and fast They have a gym and Finnish sauna, which I didn't brave as I wasn't sure it would be a European naturist style sauna! These facilities are located on the top floor and there's a nice sun terrace with a nice view here The buffet breakfast was lovely - choice of hot items, which was good for a continental hotel. The, there was the more usual cold meats and cheese as well as fresh fruit, cereal and yoghurt. It was a good start to the day There's an Aldi supermarket 2 minutes walk away as well as a few kebab shops. There's a decent restaurant at the hotel (judging from the menu and price) but I ate out for dinner at the excellent Poele d'Or restaurant This is a good quality, good value for money option in Cologne

Anachronistic place, reminiscent of German hotels I stayed at as a child. Some of the interior is…read moreclearly from the early 80s, perhaps even late 70s. As my dad always said - as long as the sheets are clean, which they certainly are here. The hotel is situated in a busy, and noisy, spot, so keep that in mind. Perfect if you're just looking to eat schnitzel and drink beer. I'm just passing through, so one night here will suffice on the German nostalgia front for a while. Do note that there is no elevator from the ground floor to the mezzanine. I was also put in the suite on the top floor, and again had to take some stairs after the elevator took me as high up as it could. Fine for me, not so much for elderly with baggage or others who might be physically unable to take steps. Great view of the river and the bustling area below, from the small balcony with table and chairs. A bit steep for the outdatedness, since it's not enough to be kitsch; but it is high season, and our stay is spontaneous. They are forgiven. So: nice staff, clean and pragmatic, nice location for partygoers, and a trip down memory lane regarding the decor. EDIT: had to take a star off, we bought some beer back to the hotel and the fridge was turned off and had moldy spots - YUCK.