EL COMPROMISO DEL HÉROE: EL ATENTADO DEL 20 DE JULIO

appointed five-star hotels to avant-garde designer hotels, from low-cost chains to classic pensions providing excellent value for mo ney. Some hotels have their own

Terrace of the café and restaurant Alex in Alsterpavillon (see p191)

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Pleasant, relaxing lounge area of Henri Hotel (see p176)

but rather a loose association of hotels. It consists of nine hotels located around the Alster. Each is distinguished by its intimate atmosphere, and each can be counted among the city’s most attractive hotels. This small hotel group considers itself an alternative to inter national hotel chains.

Ship Hotels

You can also stay overnight in the very place where Hamburg is at its most quintessential – in the harbour. The passenger cabins of the museum ship Cap San Diego (see pp98–9), which has been anchored in the harbour since 1986, were reno-vated in the style of the 1950s;

they still exude the charms of the glory days of sea travel.

A former lightship, Das Feuerschiff (see p89), is also enjoying a second career in tourism just a few ships away.

Even these hotels with their magical ambience do not have to be expensive.

At the other end of the price spectrum are the simple, sparse rooms that usually are furnished with a television and telephone but the bathroom might be down the hall. This kind of accommodation is popular with tourists who spend their time sightseeing and taking in the town, returning just to sleep.

Hotel Chains

When you stay in a chain hotel such as Best Western, Dorint, Mercure or Ramada you can usually count on a high degree of comfort and clean liness.

Guests here know what to expect if they’ve stayed in any other of the chain’s branches;

even between countries amenities are similar. The majority of these hotels cater to the needs of business travel lers, and offer con ference rooms with the necessary equipment. Chain hotels often have attractive weekend deals to fill up their rooms; it can pay to look into these offers. Also check to see if the hotel has a bonus programme if you travel to Hamburg with an airline or in a rental car. Many chain hotels have agreements with airlines and car rental com panies, and you might be eligible for a reward such as a discount or bonus air miles.

Hamburg kleine Hotels (Small Hamburg Hotels) is not a hotel chain in the usual sense,

Pure modern style at the boutique hotel East (see p177)

Here guests are gently rocked to sleep in the former captain’s cabin and the cabins where the crew slept. The space in these

“floating hotels” is a bit snug, but it is also very cosy.

How to Book

As in other countries, you can book your Hanseatic accom-modation at your convenience directly by telephone, by fax or online. A good way of learning about the features of a hotel – and what it will cost – is to visit the website of the hotel you are considering. In the hotel listings on pages 176–181, contact information (including websites and phone numbers) has been provided for every hotel that appears. You can also book rooms in practically every hotel in Hamburg through the Hamburg tourist office, Hamburg Tourismus GmbH.

It is a very good idea to book ahead, especially in summer, when important trade fairs are being held, and during the Port’s Birthday at the beginning of May (see p85). At such times it may be difficult to find a room at short notice.

Of course, many hotels may also offer last-minute discounts for rooms that have not been reserved. A number of hotels catering to business travellers offer special discounts at weekends, making staying in these hotels from Friday to Sunday cheaper than on weekdays.

Hotel Rates and Discounts

Several hotels offer interesting discounts, often combined with the purchase of tickets for musicals or other events.

These discounts also often include the much sought- after – and therefore quickly sold-out – tickets for boat tours during the Port’s Birthday Bash. All-round packages that include transpor t ation, shuttle from the airport to the hotel, an overnight stay and one or two events are increasingly popular.

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charge. Children’s cots are usually available and can be placed in your room as needed.

Some hotels offer special family packages such as two connecting rooms or one large room with a separate sleeping area. Of course, self-catering flats offer more room for the entire family.

The package tour operator Happy Hamburg Reisen, which belongs to Hamburg Tourismus GmbH, offers special deals for families who travel to Hamburg by train. The package includes train travel and accommodation at a reasonable price.

Another family-friendly and budget-conscious option is the A&O Hostel. Just 400 m (0.25 miles) from the Hauptbahnhof, this hostel offers single, double and multi-bed rooms (all with bath). There are three more branches of this hostel chain in Hamburg.

Private Homes and Self-catering Flats A good yet relatively inexpensive alternative to hotel rooms are rooms in private homes; they often include breakfast. Aside from the price, their attraction for cost-conscious travellers is the chance to stay with local families who usually provide valuable tips and information on sightseeing.

The agency bed & breakfast specializes in renting simply furnished rooms in private homes. Some of their package deals are unusual, such as the one offering a two-night stay, breakfast, and a 1-hour intro-ductory sailing course. The Modishly furnished wellness and spa at the Grand Elysée (see p176)

Hidden Extras At some hotels, the cost of the room does not include breakfast. There is often an additional cost for parking.

Charges may be incurred for using fitness centres and spa facilities.

Telephone calls made from your hotel or hotel room can be very expensive. You may well pay a steep price for drinks and snacks from the mini-bar.

Tipping is usually expected only in the largest and most expensive hotels.

Disabled Travellers Many of the larger hotels offer rooms with wheelchair access and services tailored to disabled visitors’ needs. Often this is not the case in smaller hotels, pensions, and bed-and- breakfasts, which may not even have a lift. Before you book, if you or a travelling companion has special needs, contact the hotel and discuss your requirements, such as lifts or doors that are wide enough for wheelchairs.

The Senatskoordinator für die Gleichstellung behinderter Menschen der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg pro duces a brochure with in formation for the disabled. You can also find out more information through Behinderten-Ratgeber, who run a comprehensive website for people with special needs.

Travelling with Children In many hotels, young children can stay in their parents’ room for free or for a small extra

Cosy sitting area in the library at Hotel Smolka (see p178)

agency tailors its offers to your needs and also helps you plan your stay in Hamburg.

The online community airbnb offers a wide range of rooms and flats in central Hamburg.

Bedroom foryou rents elegantly decor ated rooms in the homes of well-off middle-class Hamburgers.

Ideal for families or for longer stays are self-catering flats.

Completely furnished, and well-located near transit routes, they provide accommodation for up to six people. They can be booked through agencies such as Hamburger Ferienwohnungen. Private rooms (some with private baths), suites and self-catering flats also are available for rent in several Hamburg districts by Zimmer Frei Hamburg.

Budget Accommodation An inexpensive way of spending time in Hamburg is to stay at one of the city’s many youth hostels (Jugendherberge). To be eligible, you must be a member of the IYHA (International Youth Hostel Association). You can purchase a membership in person at any affiliated hostel or through a YHA website.

The Jugendherberge auf dem Stintfang is a very pop-ular hostel located just above the Landungsbrücken. All the two- to six-bed rooms have a shower and toilet. There is a fantastic view of the harbour

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for sailboats and motorboats.

Almost just as far to the northeast of the city centre (about 35 minutes by car) is the idyllic camp site Cam pingplatz ABC am Gro ßensee. Here visitors can enjoy the charms of this landscape with its many lakes formed by glaciers during the Ice Age.

through the huge lobby windows. Another popular youth hostel is the Jugendher-berge Hamburg – Horner Rennbahn, located a few U-Bahn stations away from the city centre. More budget options are recommended in the hotel listings on page 181.

Camping

For a city, Hamburg and its environs offer an astonishing number of camping sites.

Directly on the shores of the Elbe at Blan ke nese – in the extreme wes t of Hamburg – stretches the camp site Elbe Camp.

Approximately 25 km (16 miles) southeast of the city centre (about 30 minutes by car) is the well-equipped camp site on the Elbe Campingplatz Sto ver Strand, which has a flat sandy beach and a marina with 100 berths

Novum Hotel am Holstenwall (see p180), which houses Bar 509

Recommended Hotels The hotels in this guide are included based on two main criteria – quality and value for money, irrespective of the price bracket. In each area of the city a highly recommended hotel has been high lighted as the DK Choice. It may be set in a historic landmark building or have excellent facilities and service.

Hotel Chains Hamburg kleine Hotels Cap San Diego Überseebrücke. Hamburg Tourismus GmbH für die Gleichstel lung behinderter Menschen Osterbekstr. 96.

Tel 428 63 57 25.

Travelling with Children A&O Hostel Amsinckstr. 2 –10.

Tel 644 21 04-56 00.

Hammer Landstr. 170.

Tel 57 01 06 93-55 00.

Private Homes and Self-catering Flats

Airbnb

∑ airbnb.co.uk bed & breakfast Markusstr. 9. Tel 491 56 66.

∑ bed-and- Ferienwohnungen in Hamburg Giffeyweg 1.

Tel 643 14 34.

∑ hamburg ferienwohnungen.de Zimmer Frei Hamburg Steilshooper Str. 186.

Tel 27 87 77 77.

∑ zimmerfrei hamburg.de

Jugendherberge auf dem Stintfang Alfred-Wegener-Weg 5.

Tel 570 15 90.

∑ hamburg-stintfang.

jugendherberge.de Jugendherberge Hamburg – Horner Rennbahn Rennbahnstr. 100.

Tel 570 15 90.

∑ jugendherberge.de

Camping Campingplatz ABC am Großensee Trittauer Str. 11.

22946 Großensee.

Tel (04154) 606 42.

∑ campingplatz- abc.de

Campingplatz Stover Strand

Stover Strand 10.

21423 Drage.

Tel (04177) 430.

∑ camping-stover-strand.de Elbe Camp Falkensteiner Ufer 101.

Tel 81 29 49.

∑ elbecamp.de

DIRECTORY

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