Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Frankfurt, Hotel Kempinski Gravenbruch

The hallways looked like the (Marriott) Renaissance in Westchester (White Plains) NY.

Great report so far, Ben.

Sorry for hijacking, but your comment about the back-to-back longhaul flights has me a little concerned. I got in on the SQ A380 C class reward, and will be going JFK-FRA-SIN straight through in one shot. Yeah, I'll be in business class but I'm a little concerned that I'll still be ready to pull my hair out by the time I land in SIN. Any tips or suggestions to be able to manage the two flights back-to-back? I think it's two red-eyes (which kinda sucks). Hopefully I have enough time in FRA to at least visit the lounge and take a shower...

I've done east coast - Europe - SIN many time, on the "double red eye." It's not really that bad as long as you're in C or F and can shower in the a lounge during the European stop-over. By the second flight you're pretty numb, and don't feel much 🙂 You arrive in SIN in the morning, so I then take a few-hour nap, and by early afternoon am feeling pretty good.

What are the rules for getting a comp. dayroom? For passengers arriving in LH F, or only departing in LH F?

Also, is there anything similar for overnight layovers < 24 hours?

Thanks!

@David see:
http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/Arrival-Services#ancAbT2

Now, I had always understood this benefit to be for Lufthansa ARRIVING first class passengers.

You present your first class boarding pass stub at check-in.

So I was surprised to see Ben taking advantage of this benefit -- he arrived in Singapore first. But the rules do not say it is for arriving passengers. I suppose it's just implied, since you need a boarding pass stub from your first class flight.

Though I suppose if you are already checked in for an upcoming Lufthansa first class flight it must work...

@David for overnight layovers there are "paid hotel rooms" =)

The beer garden at this hotel is wonderful. Maybe you missed it but there is an annual blond asparagus festival that is pretty neat. The food is excellent and the beer better.

I'll admit the rooms are dated but the grounds are great. You really feel like you are in the countryside. If you pass this way again and have the time take a meal on one of the patios.

@DiscoPapa-- What wxguy said. I did SFO-FRA-ICN in LH C and was pleasantly surprised. Slept like a baby on both flights and was ready to sleep again by bedtime in Seoul. There are also nap rooms in select Senator lounges in FRA (plus showers) if you're so inclined.

@ DiscoPapa -- I'm booked on the same flight, so worry not. It's still perfectly enjoyable, especially on the A380. Given the flight times assuming you're usually a night owl I recommend staying up from New York to Frankfurt (keep yourself entertained with the entertainment selection) and then sleep most of the way Frankfurt to Singapore. You should arrive perfectly well rested that way in Singapore, since you'll arrive early in the morning after a (hopefully) decent night of sleep.

@ DAVID -- I've never heard of anyone having an issue either way as long as they have an arriving OR departing boarding pass. They don't seem too strict about it. There's no such benefit for an overnight layover, however.

@ HeatherC -- I'm not a college student anymore, though in this case it was a travel friend of mine.

@ Remus -- Good to know, thanks!

Who do you bring with you on these international trips? Maybe I'm being nosy, I just wondered since you are a single college student, who you choose to bring on your adventures!

Too bad you didn't try the Kempinski Restaurant, which is excellent! If you fly to/from FRA again, give it a try...

Dear "Ben",

thank you very much for your constructive feedback about your stay at Kempinski Hotel Gravenbruch Frankfurt. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the stay in our hotel and want to thank you for publishing the nice pictures above.

We hope you will be our guest again during your next trip to Frankfurt, to give us the opportunity, to show you once more that we can be your first class business- and leisure hotel.

With kind regards and best wishes

Kempinski Hotel Gravenbruch Frankfurt - Your City Resort

Can you get this benefit (free hotel) on an award in F, or just on paid F?

Yes, Reid, you can get it on award F. I currently hold a reservation for the Kempinski in both MUC (going) and FRA (coming), and it's an award ticket using United miles.

@ Just Me -- As Reid said, all first class passengers qualify, even with miles or upgrades.

Do you need to make reservations ahead of time? Or do you just show up upon arrival. This is for the day room.

Haha! Ben, I can tell you that I had a room even more hideous than yours at that place. I stayed the night there before my flight the next day and I don't think I've ever experienced such a disparity between the exterior, lobby and the room itself although a couple of other places way past their best (in Germany too, actually) have come close...Happily I can vouch for the pool - they have too, a nice one indoors and an outdoor (heated) one with a sauna cabin next to it. I tried all of these and they made up for the room - as did the excellent food in the restaurant. Also it's kind of nice to be driven at 170 km/h down the autobahn in classic German style by the taxi driver from the airport, I'd forgotten that about no speed limits on the motorways...

Just a heads-up. There apparently there is NO shuttle to the Kempinski, you are now forced to pay your own way by taxi, which is about 60 euros RT. I found this out the hard way, after asking the FC lounge staff to book me a room. They said there would be a shuttle or a phone to call them outside. There isn't (anymore?). After checking with several LH staff, one woman called and confirmed: no shuttle!

Dear Ben,
I can understand your disappointment with your stay at Kempinski Gravenbruch from your pictures.
But give it a second try, if you get a confirmation on a renovated room. I stayed in one (a "green" one) in Nov 2013 and wholly loved my stay - also the pools and saunas!
But the Hotel is ony recommendable for its renovated rooms!!!

Yours buzz