A handsome Hanseatic hotel. (Hotel Jensen (Lubeck, Germany))

Member Name: kirlykird

Product:	Hotel Jensen (Lubeck, Germany)
Date:	14/01/09 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: child friendly, charming, good location

Disadvantages: a little dated,

When deciding to visit the beautiful German Hanseatic city of Lubeck, we obviously had to find accommodation that could do a number of things:

1. Offer parking as we were driving there
2. Offer a room big enough for two adults, two children and one baby
3. be in a good location in the heart of the city
4. Fit in with the typical Hanseatic style of the city

This had to be a hotel where we could relax and enjoy after a day of driving and that could provide us with the comfort of a good nights sleep to aid us in our long journey up to Sweden the next day too. This was one of the only parts of this whole journey that we had decided to splash out on a hotel rather than our tent so this had to be perfect!
When we came across the Hotel Jensen online after searching for the perfect hotel, I was very excited. I called through to the hotel to make the booking and spoke to a very friendly member of staff whose English was impeccable (as sadly the more Swedish I learn the worse my German gets!) and our booking was confirmed. All that was left to do was wait for the day of departure and our arrival at the hotel.

*Arrival and check in*

We arrived at the Hotel Jensen after 10 hours of driving from Dunkerque in temperatures from France to Germany soaring up to 40C! We had air conditioning in the car but we were tired, scruffy looking and in long awaited need of a leg stretch! After viewing hours of the autobahn it was a very welcome relief to arrive in Lubeck & immediately see how beautiful this city was. We were even more impressed when we arrived at our hotel.
We had seen photographs online but in reality the building was fantastic and the location couldn't be beaten! The hotel sits opposite the river Trave which runs through the city and stands very splendid in its Hanseatic style.
We were able to stop in the drop off zone in order to check in & acquire our car park pass to park our car. The reception area was clean and decorated well. There was a large amount of wood & marble which suited the style of the hotel. There was one person working on the desk who greeted us with a very welcoming smile and attitude. She gave my husband directions to the car park whilst myself and the three children took our bags up to the room.
We were very happy with our room. Although he décor was of a slightly dated nature, it was still in good condition and again, fitted in well with the style of the hotel. We were very pleased to find that we had a small entrance hall with a room off this for the children and a large room with a travel cot for us and the baby. The bathroom was very large with toiletries for us to use and was very clean, bright & fresh. The bathroom was of immediate appeal to all of us who were very hot & couldn't wait to freshen up following the long journey.
We also had a mini bar in our room which was stocked well with cold alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.
The beds had sufficient linen and pillows for a comfortable sleep and all of the soft furnishings were clean and comfortable.
By far, the best thing about this hotel room was he view. We were over looking the river and the historic Holstentor. We were very happy indeed!

*The bar, restaurant &dining areas*

As we chose to eat al fresco next to the river, we did not get to try the culinary delights from this restaurant though it was very busy and seemed to be a popular place to eat and drink. According to the hotel, the restaurant has won many national and local awards for its cuisine and boasts a very good menu and wine list with its specialty being seafood.
The bar area is much he same as the restaurant. Many people were sat outside the hotel enjoying their drinks whilst watching the world go by & I noticed that blankets were also on offer by the waiting staff if the evening became chilly which I thought was a very nice touch.
Breakfast ~ this was also served in the breakfast room which was wooden paneled and very traditionally decorated. The food on offer was a continental buffet with waitresses serving us with coffee.
There was a good range of buffet items such as breads, eggs, cheeses and cooked meats. There was also fresh fruit and cereals on offer. We found the breakfast buffet to be very nice and it filled us up for the day ready for our long journey.

*The hotel in general*

According to its website, the hotel was built in the Patrician style in the early 14th century & is one of the best known and regarded hotels in Hansestadt Lubeck. Its gastronomical tradition stretches back over 200 years. The comfortable furnishings of the house contribute to a homely feel which can be sensed throughout. As mentioned, personally I found the décor to be dated but still agree that it fitted in well with the style of the hotel and did not deter any of its appeal.
All members of staff in the hotel were friendly, all areas were clean and welcoming and we were very sad to leave at the end of our stay.


*Would we return?*

Yes & we did! On our way home, we decided to stop again for another night. We managed to arrive a little earlier his time & see some more of this beautiful city & thoroughly enjoyed our stay the second time around & I cannot wait to return again some day!

Summary: a good hotel well worth a stay