My family is from Frankfurt, so I’m quite familiar with the area, and seem to have quite a few overnights there. Back in the day I’d just spend those overnights with family, though they all live a bit further from the airport now than in the past. So now I just stay at hotels.
My go to hotel for quick overnights is usually the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport. The location of the hotel can’t be beat (it’s literally a minute walk from the terminal), the club rooms are renovated, and the club lounge has one of the best spreads of any Sheraton I’ve stayed at.
That being said, I’m always looking to try out new hotels. In the past I gave the Hilton Frankfurt Airport a try, back when it was brand new. While it was a nice enough hotel, it wasn’t as conveniently located as the Sheraton, and the club lounge didn’t have as good of a spread either.
This time I figured I’d finally give the Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport a try. What’s interesting is that the Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn are connected to one another and share many of the same facilities. The Hilton simply has higher rates.
For whatever reason the rates for the one night I was staying were outrageous throughout all of Frankfurt.
The paid rate at the Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport was 489EUR(!!!!!!!). Since there was reward night availability for 40,000 Honors points, that was a no brainer. Not that I would have ever paid that much, but regardless it was a great use of points.
The Hilton Garden Inn is located in The Squaire, which is on top of the Frankfurt Airport train station. The area has a bunch of shopping, office buildings, etc.
From a branding perspective it’s sort of funny, since the entrance to the Hilton Garden Inn is located immediately to the left to the entrance of the Hilton.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport exterior
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport entrance
The lobby to the Hilton Garden Inn is fairly modest, with bright furniture and a reception desk immediately through the door on the left.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport lobby
The associate that helped me was friendly. She thanked me for having Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status (which I have thanks to spend on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card) and informed me I’d receive complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, etc.
I was assigned a room on the 9th floor.
The elevators are located at the opposite end of lobby as the reception desk, and when you take them up you get some cool views of The Squaire office space.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport view from 9th floor
Once off the elevator I turned left, and then took another left down the hallway towards my room, #9215.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport hallway
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room entrance
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport floorplan
The room was fresh and a decent size. Truth me told, it felt remarkably similar to the room I had at the Hilton right next door.
The room had a bathroom to the left and then the rest of the room further down the hallway.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room entrance
The room featured a queen size bed with four pillows.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room bed
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room entrance
On the right side of the room was a large desk, which is also where the flat screen TV was located. I appreciated that the desk had a “real” office chair, rather than just a random chair.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room desk/TV
On the left side of the desk was a kettle with instant coffee and tea.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room kettle
Then in the far left corner of the room was a chair with a side table.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room chair/side table
The room faced a forest. With airport hotels I’m always conflicted as to the view I prefer. On one hand I love a good view of the airport (as I had at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel London Heathrow), on the other hand I also love a view that’s a bit quieter.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room view
Back near the entrance was the bathroom, with a sink, shower/tub combo, and toilet.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room bathroom
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room sink
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room shower/tub combo
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport room toilet
My one major complaint is that the Wi-Fi in my room didn’t really work. It wouldn’t work from bed or the desk. Sometimes it worked if I literally sat on the floor by the door. I just ended up sitting in the lobby working for the most part.
In retrospect I absolutely should have asked to switch rooms, but I was just so exhausted by the time I got to the room that I just wanted to sleep, and later didn’t want to change rooms anymore.
The hotel has a rather large restaurant. I woke up early, so was the first person there when it opened. Upon giving my room number I was invited to sit anywhere.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast restaurant
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast restaurant
Not only was there a buffet, but just about everything (including coffee) was self service. There was a small menu from which you could select made to order dishes and specialty coffee, but that was it.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast menu
The buffet itself was reasonably good. Of course it wasn’t comparable to what you’d get in Southeast Asia or the Middle East, but for an airport hotel in Germany, it was quite good.
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast restaurant
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport breakfast buffet
In terms of the hotel’s other facilities, there’s a nice enough gym, which is shared with the Hilton (it’s between the two hotels).
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport gym
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport gym
In the morning it was off to the airport to catch my flight back to the US, after being gone for quite a while!
Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport bottom line
Aside from the Wi-Fi situation (which at least to some degree was my fault, since I should have asked to switch rooms) I was quite impressed. The rooms were nice, breakfast good, and all the staff I interacted with were friendly. I’d probably still choose the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport in the future for the location, club lounge, and that I value Starwood elite stays/nights more than Hilton stays.
And if I had to stay at one of the Hilton properties I’d probably spend the extra 10,000 points and book the Hilton for the club lounge and slightly larger rooms.
But for a Hilton Garden Inn I thought this was really nice.
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