I’ve been waiting anxiously for a couple of years now for the Element Frankfurt Airport to open. Not because I was necessarily excited about the property, but rather because I was curious.
I’ve reviewed many of the other chain hotel options in Frankfurt, including the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport, Hilton Frankfurt Airport, Hilton Frankfurt, Le Meridien Parkhotel Frankfurt, Westin Grand Frankfurt, and InterContinental Frankfurt.
Well, the Element Frankfurt Airport finally opened in late August 2014, so I was keen to check it out with this visit. While the hotel wasn’t at all convenient for where I needed to be, I figured it was worth going out of my way to stay at it for a review. My rate was about 120EUR per night, which isn’t cheap, though isn’t horrible either.
For what it’s worth, this is a Category 4 property, making a free night redemption 10,000 Starpoints per night, or a Cash & Points reservation 5,000 Starpoints plus $75 per night.
The first thing worth noting (which I knew going in) is that the hotel doesn’t have an airport shuttle, free or paid. How a secluded airport hotel doesn’t have a shuttle is kind of beyond me. I brought it up with the front desk, and they mentioned apparently they were working on getting a permit for a shuttle.
The cab ride wasn’t very expensive — about 8EUR — though the issue is that the taxi driver was literally yelling at me for the entire five minute ride, about how I was wasting his time by giving him such a short ride, etc. Apparently there’s a paid public bus that stops at the hotel, but I didn’t figure that out prior to my stay.
Anyway, the hotel is located just a few minutes from the airport, and is actually quite nice from the outside, in a sterile way. From the outside it actually kind of looked like the building wasn’t yet done, as there was a lack of outside furniture/plants. Then again, it’s winter in Germany, so… 😉
Element Frankfurt Airport exterior
Element Frankfurt Airport entrance
Once through the entrance the reception was located to the left, while the lobby seating was located to the right. There was tons and tons of seating, with both dining tables and couches — it was kind of like a huge living room.
Element Frankfurt Airport lobby
Element Frankfurt Airport lobby
Element Frankfurt Airport lobby
There was also a small business center in the lobby.
Element Frankfurt Airport business center
Once I got to the reception desk I was promptly helped by a friendly associate who went through all the “correct” motions. She thanked me for being a Platinum, offered me late check-out, asked what I wanted as my amenity, informed me I had been upgraded from a studio to a one bedroom suite, explained breakfast hours, etc.
I took the elevator up to the second floor, where my suite was located.
Element Frankfurt Airport hallway
I was assigned suite 201, which was kind of sandwiched in the middle of the hotel (which is in a triangular shape).
Element Frankfurt Airport room entrance
Element Frankfurt Airport floorplan
The room was large and well furnished. Element properties are intended to be extended stay properties, so at the entrance was a large kitchen with a dishwasher, fridge, stove, etc.
Element Frankfurt Airport lobby
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite living room
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite living room
Then the living room featured a comfortable couch, which overlooked the console with the desk and flat screen TV.
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite living room
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite living room
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite desk
Even though I selected points as my Platinum welcome amenity, there was a small amenity consisting of a bottle of beer, two bottles of water, and some chips in my room. Nice touch!
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite welcome gift
Then between the kitchen and living room was a large closet, which also contained a Nespresso coffee machine. That’s kind of impressive for an Element.
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite Nespresso coffee machine
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite closet
Since I was on the second floor I had a direct street view. There wasn’t much traffic at all on the street, so it felt really peaceful from the room — I heard virtually no street noise.
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite view
A door connected the living room to the bedroom, which featured a comfortable king size bed.
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite bedroom
The bed faced a flat screen TV.
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite bedroom
Then next to the bedroom was the bathroom, which felt kind of small for a suite. It had a sink, toilet, and walk-in shower. The issue with the shower was that it was literally separated from the rest of the bathroom by half a glass shield, so all the water would get over the entire bathroom floor. I kind of wonder whether the people that design bathrooms have actually ever used them before, or…?
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite bathroom
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite toilet
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite bathroom
The shower featured two “heads” — one attached to the wall, and one handheld one.
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite shower
As is the norm at Element properties, toiletries were in refillable containers. I can appreciate that it’s better for the environment and cheaper, but there’s something that kind of grosses me out about the whole thing.
Element Frankfurt Airport one bedroom suite toiletries
Wifi in the room was fast and the curtains were almost like blackout shades, so all things considered I was thrilled with the room, including the proactive upgrade.
In terms of the hotel’s other facilities, there seemed to be coffee in the lobby throughout the day, which is always much appreciated.
Element Frankfurt Airport coffee
Near the reception desk there was also a small pantry where you could buy basic items. That seemed nice in theory, though they didn’t even have still water for sale (there was none in my room and none in the gym).
Element Frankfurt Airport convenience store
The hotel has a restaurant called Limones. In my experience Element properties in the US usually have a complimentary evening happy hour, though this one didn’t. I did end up having dinner in the hotel’s restaurant one night, since I was tired and there was nothing in the immediate area.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant
The restaurant is cute, and it surprised me that a lot of non-hotel guests seemed to be eating there.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant
The restaurant had a prix fixe dinner menu, which read as follows:
I had a salad to start, which was excellent.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant salad
I had fish as the main course. The fish itself was somewhat bland, though the veggies and rice were surprisingly tasteful.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant main course
Then for dessert I had rice pudding with cinnamon, which was light and tasty.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant dessert
The hotel offers all guests complimentary breakfast, between 6:30AM and 9:30AM on weekdays. The breakfast spread was fantastic, not even taking into account that it’s complimentary for all guests.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
To drink they had juice, tea, coffee, etc.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
Then they had a buffet with fresh pastries, bread, croissants, danishes, etc.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
Then there was fruit, yogurt, and several kinds of cereal.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
And then there was a hot egg dish.
Element Frankfurt Airport Limones Restaurant breakfast buffet
In terms of the hotel’s other facilities, there was a small gym on the basement floor. It’s very basic, though I was the only one there when I used it. I was a bit puzzled by the fact that they didn’t have any water in the gym. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.
Element Frankfurt Airport gym
Element Frankfurt Airport gym
And since I live in hotels full time I should note that the hotel also has laundry facilities, which is awesome.
Element Frankfurt Airport laundromat
Service at the hotel was excellent, and I was impressed that when I checked out I wasn’t just asked how my stay was, but was also asked what they could do to improve. Now that’s how you actually get guest feedback. Interestingly that question is one of the things that most stuck with me about the stay.
Element Frankfurt Airport bottom line
Aside from the disappointment of them not yet having an airport shuttle (which for me is a major hangup for an airport hotel), I was pleasantly surprised. The rooms were beautiful, the staff were excellent, the elite treatment was great, and the breakfast buffet was among the best “free” breakfast buffets I’ve seen.
Would I return? Well, probably not. That’s simply because there are two excellent hotels connected to the terminal at Frankfurt Airport.
As a Starwood Platinum you really can’t beat the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport. You’re in your room five minutes after leaving the terminal, the renovated rooms are nice, and the club lounge is top notch. So unless the price difference is huge, it’s tough to justify hauling out to another hotel that isn’t connected to the airport, without free snacks and drinks all day.
But if I didn’t have status and the rate was reasonable, I’d be much more likely to return.
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