Raphael Hotel Wälderhaus

Our requirements for the trip were to have a hotel slightly outside the centre of Hamburg, in a quiet area, easy to park the car. The hotel fulfilled these requirements very well. The city centre was about 12 km from the hotel, easily reachable by car or by S-bahn (commuter rail) which was a five minute walk from the hotel. For the rail trip, buy the EUR 12 ticket that allows up to 5 people to travel from 09.00 through to well after midnight, within a two-zone area. Reception staff were helpful and polite, room was spacious and clean, bathroom modern, and surrounds were a mix of residential buildings 3-10 storeys high (contemporary design with interesting/fun architecture), leisure facilities including a pool, and a small wooded area nearby. Expect a fair number of kids on field trips coming to the area, to learn about nature. Atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. There's a buffet breakfast available (not included in the room cost), as well as a cheap alternative - coffee and croissant - but if you want croissants, make sure you don't come too late. Parking is EUR 12 per 24-hour period, indoors or outdoors. We parked outdoors with a new car and had no problems. If youare looking for good accommodation cheaper than what would be available in the centre of town, and are prepared to travel 15-20 minutes to Hamburg centre by car or S-bahn train, then we highly recommend this hotel.