Mercure Hotel Potsdam City

You can expect not only grumpy staff, but also a musty bathroom. The price-performance ratio is not justified for a hotel that is partially stuck in the nineties. The bar service is so inflexible. A large group of drinkers leaves thirsty - with the hint: there is a vending machine in the lobby. Nothing against nostalgia, but a 'Good morning' or 'How was your stay' existed in the past as well. The service at the celebration was not exactly motivated, drinks only upon request.

The Mercure Potsdam can be seen from far away – a high-rise building from the 1960s that dominates a huge, otherwise empty concrete square like a foreign object. Nevertheless, the location is good, because you are quickly in the touristy old town and have access to the Havel directly behind the complex with various offers for boat tours. However, the hotel itself lacks any charm, not only on the outside, but there is also none of it to be found inside. In the entrance and reception area, there are exactly 6 chairs for guests – two at each small table. So, hanging out here comfortably while waiting, or groups who want to chat – no chance, you just stand around. The rooms are small, but practically furnished. The dominant color is a soulless gray. In the entrance area, a small shelf with a storage space and a few clothes hangers. Under the large window front there is a small desk, lighting is varied and individually controllable, the bed is quite comfortable and there is also a power outlet right by the bed. It is regrettable that there is no mini-fridge in the rooms – you can buy a small selection of drinks at the reception, but you cannot keep your own purchases cool anywhere, for example. There are also no other small extras like a kettle or accessories for coffee or tea. The sanitary area is a complete disaster – the term wet cell is to be taken literally here. Right next to the bed is a very narrow niche with a mirror and sink, without any privacy screen, behind it a frosted glass door to the toilet. To get into the tiny shower, you have to go through the toilet cubicle. Nowhere is there even the slightest possibility to put down clothes or dry a towel – all of that takes place in the room itself. Even if you bring a high level of tolerance to long-term relationships, something like this is just not okay. Certainly the structural conditions are not generous - nevertheless, it seems like an improvised private rental, while this hotel advertises with 4 stars. The breakfast buffet is extensive, is attractively presented and quickly replenished, unfortunately unhappily arranged. You only have access from one side, and really all dishes from the bread at the beginning to the fruit at the end are lined up one after the other in a line. Because of this, long queues occur more frequently, because even those who only want a little something from the middle or the end line up at the back again. There is also nothing exceptionally good to say about the general service. Check-in and check-out are professional and friendly, in the breakfast room individual items are cleared away now and then, but tables are not cleaned and reset quickly during peak times. Room service is only provided upon request. The parking area is very tight and costs 24 euros per day. Weighting all points including the price in the overall package unfortunately only reaches lower mediocrity.

Our stay at the Mercure Hotel Potsdam was unfortunately disappointing overall. A positive point to highlight is that the rooms were clean. We were there for a birthday party that took place in a conference room. Around 10:00 PM, we were asked to continue the party at the hotel bar. There, we were then told as early as 11:00 PM that there was no more beer and that it was therefore over. For a hotel of this size, we found that very unprofessional and disappointing. Unfortunately, the bathroom in our room also smelled unpleasantly of a sewer. The breakfast was fine and the rooms were clean. Overall, however, the stay did not convince us. Based on our experiences, we would not visit the hotel again.