IntercityHotel Hildesheim in Hildesheim

After the so-called overbooking error at the Novotel (as described in a previous review), we were redirected about 0.5 km away to the Intercity Hotel. From the outside, it presents a rather cold façade that blends in with the surrounding buildings — quite a contrast to the park-like setting of the Novotel. The hotel is located near the train station, which comes with the usual questionable crowd at certain hours, and a well-advertised nightclub visible on the far side of the station.

Parking was not intuitive and limited to only 14 spaces behind closed doors. However, upon entering the hotel, the atmosphere changed entirely — the interior was modern, clean, and stylish. The redirection due to the overbooking was immediately recognized, and check-in was handled smoothly with key cards in hand within minutes.

Our room made a very good first impression. It featured plenty of outlets (some with USB ports), a television, refrigerator, safe, and electric kettle. The bathroom design was particularly striking — modern, with a step-in shower enclosed by a half glass wall and a frosted glass partition toward the bedroom, complete with a curtain for privacy.

Unfortunately, functionality did not fully match the aesthetics. Adjusting the room temperature was impossible — the only working button was “on.” The frosted bathroom wall, while stylish, illuminated the entire room when the light was turned on at night, disturbing sleep. There was no visible outlet in the bathroom for an electric shaver or hair dryer.

Using the shower required some trial and error, as none of the controls were labeled clearly — resulting in alternating blasts of hot and cold water until we figured it out. The slope of the tiles did not effectively drain stray water, leaving parts of the bathroom floor wet. The exhaust fan, seemingly placed inside the shower, did not function properly.

Other minor frustrations included a poorly placed bedside lamp switch hidden on the side of the headboard, loose lamp fittings (likely from other guests’ attempts to operate them), and a missing coffee setup beside a well-used kettle. We also noticed a few dust bunnies and some soap residue in the shower grout.

Overall, the room looked great at first glance but fell short in practical usability. Considering the short-notice transfer from the overbooked Novotel, including breakfast as a gesture of goodwill would have been appreciated — instead, it felt like we were simply expected to be grateful for a nearby alternative.

Fortunately, we were only staying one night and enjoyed excellent food and company elsewhere in town. If I find myself in this area again, I’ll make sure to drive a few extra miles to the next larger city.

Very poor service, no change of bed sheets