Hotel Review
Location:
The hotel is located in a central yet peaceful location in the Innenstadt district of the city, just an easy 12 minute walk from the central railway station.
Arrival and check-in:
The spacious entrance lobby is bright and airy with modern furnishings. Check-in is from 3.00 p.m. and it was shortly after this time that we arrived at the hotel. The staff on the reception desk were very polite and handled our arrival smoothly, offering us light refreshments before we went up to our room.
The Room:
We had requested a room on a high floor and were pleased with the 7th floor superior room to which we had been allocated. Our spacious room had a corporate feel but at the same time felt comfortable with its modern, stylish furnishings.
In addition to a king size bed our room came equipped with bedside tables with USB sockets, a desk/dressing table unit, large wall mounted television and two armchairs. A hospitality tray and complimentary bottled water were located on top of the mini bar / fridge which had plenty of room to fit in the carton of milk and cold drinks we had bought in the supermarket.
The modern bathroom featured a bath with rain shower over. We used the bath but it was quite small and not really suitable for a long soak, the only advantage being that it filled very quickly. However, the shower head was powerful so after the first evening we just used this. Alongside thick white towels and high quality toiletries were a pair of matching towelling robes and slippers. There were some good views over the city centre rooftops from our bedroom window.
Dining:
Meals are served in the DLight restaurant where we enjoyed a buffet breakfast on both mornings. This is served from 7.00-11.00 Monday-Saturday and until 12.00 noon on Sunday allowing guests a well deserved lie-in.
The lavish buffet selection included a wide selection of fresh fruit, salad, cold cuts of meat and cereal whilst a chef was on hand at the egg station preparing omelettes, eggs and waffles to order. On the first morning he suggested returning in five minutes to collect our orders but as it was quieter the next day he brought the prepared dishes to the tables. Eggs were cooked to perfection and I accompanied mine with mushrooms, tomatoes and slices of freshly baked rye bread.
Dinner is also served in the restaurant with snacks available in the ground floor coffee shop / cafe.
The Facilities:
This large hotel features 275 rooms including 11 suites over 12 floors. There are three lifts, one of which has glass walls offering some stunning views as guests are transported to the rooftop cocktail bar.
On both evenings we made use of the leisure facilities which comprise a fitness centre and spa. We didn’t use the gym but enjoyed relaxing in both the spacious sauna and steam rooms.
There’s also a relaxation room with French windows leading out onto an outdoor terrace for when the weather is a little warmer. It was pleasing to find a complimentary refreshment table stocked with green tea, lemon juice and water plus a selection of dried fruits and wasabi nuts to nibble.
The hotel also offers a business centre and useful web corner from where we were able to print out our return boarding cards. In addition to an attractive bar, complimentary newspapers (including some English ones) are available in the lobby lounge where we also came across a small library book sharing facility,
The Pullman has secure underground parking at an additional cost but as the hotel is centrally located guests are unlikely to have need for a car whilst visiting Cologne.
Out and About:
Cologne has much to offer and undoubtedly its main attraction is its UNESCO listed majestic cathedral which is free to visit with its vast interior containing some spectacular stained glass windows.
For culture lovers, the city boasts numerous galleries and museums including the two local Eau-de-Cologne companies of Farina and 4711 and with both the Olympia / Sport and Chocolate museums at Rheinau harbour there’s something for everyone.
Altstadt (the old town) is a vibrant area overlooking the river filled with quaint, pastel coloured buildings now home to many pubs and restaurants. One can also enjoy walks along the Rhine Boulevard taking in the splendid views looking across the river towards the cathedral and old town.
Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the city’s Botanical Gardens and delight in viewing exotic plants and lush vegetation in its wonderful Palm House.
Last but not least no visit to Cologne should take place without sampling a glass or two of the local Kölsch beer accompanied perhaps with some local sausage or a schnitzel in one of the city’s traditional, wood panelled beer halls.
Overall:
We enjoyed our two night stay at the Pullman Hotel and despite it being a large corporate hotel, we were made to feel very welcome by the friendly, professional staff. Our room had been perfect for our needs coupled with the hotel’s vast buffet breakfast selection which set us up for the day. Centrally located yet tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city centre life, I consider it to be an ideal place to stay whilst visiting Cologne as room rates are affordable.
Details: The Pullman Hotel, Helenenstraße 14, 50667, Cologne, Germany.
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