Pleasure and Business – IBIS Budget St Pauli, Hamburg
In this adventure…
- Pleasure and Business Mixing things together (again)
- Off to Heathrow
- Cathay Pacific Lounge and the American Airlines Lounges
- AA47 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare, Main Cabin Extra aboard a 787
- US Immigration Adventures
- Intercontinental Chicago North Michigan Avenue
- Deep Dish Pizza fun
- Travel Technology: Canon 40mm F2.8 STM with a Canon 100D
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Back to O’Hare, British Airways Terraces Club Lounge
- BA294 Chicago to Heathrow Airport in World Traveller Plus
- From pleasure to business, BA Galleries South
- BA962 London Heathrow to Hamburg in Club Europe
- IBIS Budget Hamburg
- Currywust Nacht
- Back to Hamburg Airport, Hamburg Airport Lounge
- BA967 Hamburg to London Heathrow in Club Europe
- Pulling it home
- My calf muscles hurt…
With me off the plane, it was time to go to clear immigration, and head into the Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
Non-Schengen Area.
To the Ausgang.
Heading through the German Border, my passport was inspected, and I was waived through. With no luggage to pick up, I was through the secure area within a few minutes.
With my body off the plane, I needed some water – and thankfully there’s an Edeka in the airport. And that’s a good thing – it’s good to have a reasonable value supermarket at the airport.
Edeka!
I also passed the tourist information spot at Hamburg Airport – and there were some very sad-looking Air Berlin aircraft – rather appropriate considering the state of the airline…
Oh dear. A bit deflated.
With some change in hand, I headed down to the S-Bahn and paid for a day ticket – always useful for the first day when arriving at a destination (especially when I have to be active in the evening).
S-Bahn platforms
With a 30 minute ride into town, all one can do is kick back and relax whilst the S-Bahn heads to the Hauptbhanhof.
With a reasonably quick ride into the city, I switch to the U-Bahn to complete my journey to St Pauli, and my seemly traditional home – the IBIS Budget St Pauli, Hamburg.
Why? £80 a night says why.
Hamburg Dom in full swing.
Outside the hotel
Paying rack rates? Rather you than me… (and that bottom digits weren’t exactly working correctly)
Although the IBIS next door was a touch more expensive.
The IBIS Budget
I was welcomed and my details checked. With the stay pre-paid, there was only one thing left to do – issue keys.
Last year, you’ll remember that I had a door code to remember to get in to my room
Last years door…
Well – good news – THEY’RE GONE! And they’ve been replaced with normal hotel proximity key cards.
Words cannot express how grateful I was to see keycards this trip.
In addition, the receptionist informed me that the rooms had been through a minor re-fit, with the beds replaced with…. proper beds.
Has someone been spending money on the quiet here? Let’s see. I took the elevator to the 5th floor and headed to my room
Yes. A normal proximity reader on the door! What wonders will never cease!
Beeping the door lead me into my white and green room.
The first thing to note is the main bed – yes they have changed it from the chipboard before to an actual base and mattress that you can’t feel the base in. Top marks for having an actual bed.
I still like the bunk bed. Good for storing clothes.
Extra duvet and pillow on the top bunk if you’re cold.
Bedside lighting controls. Yes. I bumped my head on them more than once.
TV and workspace….
Although If I’m honest, the bed makes a better workstation.
There’s also places to wash and clean.
Sink (apologies for the person in the photo)
Toilet
Shower area.
So the bed itself – it’s a major improvement over the old bed. It’s actually comfortable as a bed now, rather than a mattress on a board.
Wi-Fi in the hotel room was variable – it was enough to edit, watch some videos, but good luck doing any serious file uploading.
Still, it was better than nothing,
The rate I selected also had breakfast included. Which considering how badly I was eating this trip was not a bad thing at all.
The breakfast is a continental style help yourself buffet.
Yoghurt.
Cereals.
Cold meats and cheeses
Cold salad items and butter
Signs you’re in Europe. ALL THE NUTELLA!
Packages of lemon juice. What will they think of next?
Many people wonder how Economy Class and Beyond operate. Is it research? Photography? Lots of time on the Internet? Trade shows? All of that – and coffee. Ideally in Espresso shots.
There were a variety of seating areas so one can relax and enjoy breakfast before the madness of a trade show.
Overall: Again – a very reasonable performance by the IBIS Budget. It delivered a reasonable experience at a price point I was willing to pay. Whilst I would love all the amenities in the world some days, having a crash pad you can return to and work in peace and quiet is highly rated in my book.
And the IBIS budget delivered that in spades this trip. Whilst it won’t be on everyone’s shopping list for a hotel, it meets a market – the budget traveller – be they travelling for themselves, or for corporates (and I saw a LOT of corporates at this hotel) who want to save money.
Next: Currywurst Nacht.
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