ĮSPŪDŽIAI IŠ VIEŠBUČIO:

When Big IS Good

Marriot Hotel KÖLN (Jesterstrasse 9)

On a flyover from Vilnius, en route to Mallorca, with my Better Half, for the first time ever in the fair city of Köln. Arriving at the main train station from Dortmund Airport. It’s late in the evening, it’s gloomy dark, it’s raining, it’s pissing rats and dolls. We spasmodically reach out for a taxi to the hotel. The ever courteous driver with a Turkish smile jumps out into the rain, grabs our suitcases, ever so courteously hides them in the trunk, jumps back behind the wheel. Whence I venture to produce the written address for our hotel. The driver stares at me as if I am a Wookie. For a moment, honestly, I even thought he was going to ask for an autograph or whether the Millennium Falcon has a toilet or do I do it like a cat. Then he courteously swears. Points in the direction down the street, where sure as red neon can be, approx. 56 meters away I see MARRIOT over the entrance. Driver out; we out; luggage out; driver in and away. We’re legging it. “Like a madman laughing at the rain…”

In through the door at MARRIOT, 9 Jesterstrasse, and the first thing that greets us at the reception is not only one of the fastest, efficient check-ins I have ever experienced, but also one of the politest and genuinely happy. In through the door of spotlessly clean room 120, and the first thing we feel is the pleasantly cushy carpeting. Very well appointed space. Remarkably comfy bed. My special compliments for the truly well thought out design of the bathroom and the soft, mellow, flattering lighting there – a rarity in hotels, especially to my potato face.

And then BANG! I open the mini-bar… Now this is something, which, I’m sure, works fantastically well for both the hotel and the guest: it was empty. On and running, yet empty! Ergo, the hotel spares itself the care and the guest (like yours truly) spares himself the hassle of taking all of the contents OUT in order to fit IN that bottle of wine or champagne one has bought in that shop at the airport. And don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about. But wait! It gets better. Right beside the concierge there’s a tiny handy self-service MARRIOT RECHARGE shop for most emergencies for women and men, and with TWO fridges full of all kinds of alco, non-alco and snacks. Operating hours: 24/7. Obviously. ATM: in the shop. Obviously. Ice cube machines: on every floor of the hotel. Obviously. Someone knows what they’re doing. For sure. For a change.

Marriot Köln Jesterstrasse, you and your staff are a convincing example of how a truly well run hotel, albeit in a mega-chain, should look and feel like. Thank you. Really. And good night. And what a pleasure it will be to see you again. Even on the rainiest of days 🙂

The author of this text was not remunerated in any way whatsoever.