Hotel Waldhaus-Langenbrahm

The hotel "Das Lola" is located in a pretty residential area in Essen's Bredeney district, surrounded by old trees and houses designed and renovated in the Wilhelminian style. The guest arriving in the afternoon will not find a concierge or receptionist, but a pin pad at the entrance portal and a box which, after entering the reservation number and payment by credit card, promptly spits out the front door key, which also unlocks the room door after measuring the elegantly decorated hallway. My room was small but modern and nicely furnished, with framed art sheets on the walls, with desk and equipped with ample outlets. Around my bed was beech wood panelling. The bathroom had windows to the garden, where snowball hydrangeas shone with their lush cream inflorescences at this time of year. The dark blue curtains are lightproof. Fortunately, there is no air conditioning, but windows to open to let in fresh air. There were no mosquitoes entering through the open windows. Shower gel and shampoo, marked with capital letters, were available in the shower, taking into account demographic changes (with ever older, myopic guests). Since there is no bar, the guest will find a lounge with seating groups with colorful armchairs and pillows in the modern entrance area, as well as refrigerators with cool drinks of all kinds to have a drink. A firm mattress and the quiet surroundings ensured good sleep and the breakfast in the adjoining modern new building with many glass surfaces and beautiful floor tiles was sumptuous with fine fruit salad, an extensive selection of bread and tea, as well as vegan spreads, jams and egg dishes. Upon check-out in the morning, the reception office was manned and the responsible employee said a friendly goodbye to the guest. The concept of staffless reception in the afternoon is understandable. Because nowadays, it doesn't take a concierge or a charming receptionist to answer the guest's questions, to give them a detailed street map or to provide information about where the best restaurant is or where the nearest tram stop is. The digitally experienced guest will find the answer to such questions via Google, Wikipedia, Trip Advisor, public transport app or Google Maps. etc. However, it is a pity, because with it the personal contact, the interpersonal interaction is eliminated.

We were looking for a hotel in the Gelsenkirchen area for a concert date and chose this small private hotel although it did not meet all our criteria (no carpet, gladly with balcony, small breakfast possibility). We are happy to book directly through the respective hotel page, which unfortunately did not work out well in this case and caused considerable time loss and trouble on arrival: Although we had booked online, provided credit card number and received confirmation for our booking, when we tried to obtain our room key at the check-in machine via our booking number, we were completely unknown and, since the reception was no longer manned from 3 p.m. and no one could be reached by phone, had to book again at the machine and pay by credit card at a significantly higher price, which was time-consuming on the one hand and also raised the question whether we had now paid twice for the room on the other. Our room we found to be quite small and very stuffy in the prevailing temperatures. I don't think we'll ever be friends of carpeting. The decor was quite tasteful, clean and nice. The bathroom was clean, technically fine, towel quality very good but overall very small, unfortunately without windows and there were far too few storage facilities. As a small extra there were two small bottles of mineral water in the room (still water would be more versatile). There was no bed-hopping. The mattress we found to be very good, the unfortunately meanwhile used in very many hotels allergy bedding with hotel closure we did not like at all - we unfortunately sweated a lot at night. Breakfast we have not booked, as we both can not eat much in the morning and therefore it is unfortunately not worth it for us. Kindly we were allowed to get a cup of coffee in the breakfast area. Here it would be nice if for guests who are in a hurry, or who cannot eat much in the morning, there would also be the possibility for a small breakfast (coffee and a roll or croissant). Basically, it's nice that you can take drinks from a trustworthy fridge inside, next to the hotel entrance, but unfortunately the choice is very small. Also the possibility to prepare a coffee or tea in the entrance area is nice, only a description of the coffee capsule types would be helpful - not everyone knows the manufacturer and can tell by the color of the capsules which coffee type it is. As a smoker, I unfortunately had to stay standing in the entrance area, at a very impractical standing ashtray. Here a small seating area or at least an indication of where you might be able to stay a little nicer would make sense. That there is a bench (not covered/protected) at the side entrance and another ashtray, we unfortunately only discovered on our departure. The hotel parking is spacious and well located. For our inconvenience at check-in we were offered two free drinks. Overall, we rate the friendliness of the staff, the overall impression, the location of the hotel and the parking facilities as good/very good. Negatively, we found our stay to be very impersonal. Staff on site, to whom you may be able to ask a question, a bed-hopping, better and faster visible indications where you can stay as a smoker, where there are other or additional bed linens, would be nice - so you had to laboriously “work” this and many others yourself or discovered many things too late. Unfortunately, to become “repeat offenders”, at least we, have disturbed or lacked too many little things.

This small hotel is located on a side street in the Bredeney district. Opposite, we go straight into the forest. Villa Hügel and Krupp Park are only a 15-minute walk away. The fair and Gruga Hall are only a 15-minute walk away. Light rail nearby, motorway connection also. The hotel is quiet, the rooms cozy. Great breakfast, nice service. Free parking on site. Recommended !