Mercure Stuttgart Sindelfingen an der Messe

The hotel has the potential to be much better in very basic amenities. Rooms were clean, but uncomfortable. Although it may seem trivial to some, it would be nice if the AC actually worked. I stayed for one night with 2 children, and slept in 26-27C, about 80F which isn’t comfortable by any standard. When asked about it, the staff just suggested opening the window. I found their lack of understanding to be dismissive. I understand the AC isn’t easy to fix, but at least a knowledge the problem. We’re in the 21st century and if you’re going to accommodate international guests, the hotel must come up to standard. Hopefully they will realize this very basic improvement and fix it.

I'm a member of the Accor/All rewards scheme, so when I was looking for a room and the Accor website gave me a choice of a "Long stay" or "Long stay - bed & breakfast", obviously, I went for the latter. I drove 200km to the hotel, was met with a 10-minute queue at reception (Friday evening check-ins), and was then happily told that my "Bed & breakfast" rate, errr, doesn't include breakfast. And she wanted to know which website I'd booked the hotel with ? Errr, your own website.... And I showed her the confirmation email from "ALL - Accor Live Limitless" which says I have a Bed & Breakfast rate.

I went back later, when reception was quieter, he asked for my booking code, and sure enough, it says my "Bed & Breakfast" rate doesn't include breakfast. And he asked me to *email* the hotel with my confirmation number (which he'd just looked up on his computer) and send him a copy of the Accor confirmation email... which I did. This is never a good sign of a professional hotel company....

Basically, the Accor website itself is misleading. In the T&Cs popup for the "Stay longer and save - Bed & breakfast" rate, it says "The longer you stay, the more you save, daily breakfast included"... but further down on the same webpage, "** Breakfast not included", and says it would cost 25 Euros per night.

I went for dinner in the bar/restaurant, but it seemed to have a very limited selection. A few flamkuchens, pasta, a speghetti carbonara, or Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (which actually wasn't bad) and that was it. There's a fridge opposite reception with some soft drinks, beers, etc, so you can buy a few bits there. There's a shopping centre 6-7 minutes walk away.

My hotel room itself was soul-less. Immaculately clean, fairly good size, but it was a depressing place to be. It looked like my room used to have a fridge in it, but it was removed, and now just the ventilation holes remain. I did get a bottle of water, a Nespresso coffee machine (and capsules) & a kettle. It's hard to describe, but it's like staying in an office block, rather than spoiling yourself with a hotel stay (does that make sense?) However, it does have air conditioning which seems to work okay, but it's loud. The sound proofing was excellent, I was next to the road, but I heard almost nothing. Just, don't ever bring a date here. You might not get a second date, if you do...

I can't comment on the Pool or Spa area as the place was always full of kids. And, 8.50pm on a Friday evening, reception was packed again, with lots of families waiting to check in. For English readers, this place is more like a Travelodge than a Premier Inn.

Oh, and whilst writing this review, at 10.10pm, all the electricity in my room went off for about 10 minutes. And then it was fine again. Apparently, one of the other rooms on my floor blew their fuse, so all the rooms lost power for a while. Good luck, if you're coming here with children.

Would I recommend this place ?

Short answer: No, never. I actually paid for 2 nights, and checked out after the 1st day. The receptionist didn't even notice, nor tell me that I had 30-Euros of food/drinks on my bill to pay, I had to come back into the hotel, and tell her that.

Oh, and after sending two emails to reception, they did allow me to have breakfast for free. I was there at 6.40am, and even by then, the warm food was miserable and lukewarm. Definitely not worth 25 Euros per day.

I drove home trying to think of anything positive to say about this hotel, but I drew a blank. Avoid.