Hotel Monopol

Well worn, but clean.

If you are arriving and departing Trier by train and have heavy luggage, this hotel makes sense. If you can't stand furnishings that are 20-plus years old, you should stay at one of the more updated hotels closer to the Porta Nigra. This hotel was very clean, the innkeepers were personable and helpful, and the location great. All of the furniture, decor, accessories, and plumbing is at least 20-30 years old...and it shows. But I could probably say the same thing about some of the rooms in my own house! If you are only staying in Trier one or two nights, this hotel will do. Spend the savings on dinner and wine.

If worn furnishings and fixtures bother you, then stay at one of the hotels about 4 blocks away near the Porta Nigra.

Unique Quality: The Gatzels went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. Since we were staying 3 nights during the slow season (February 2007), they gave us a quad room for the price of a double. The extra square footage was appreciated. The linens were clean and the bed comfortable. Like the rest of the hotel, the bathroom looked old. The fixtures were avocado in color, so they were probably installed in the 1960's!

On the day of our departure, we had to leave before breakfast but they insisted on opening the breakfast room early for us so we could have coffee. Even though there are signs on the breakfast tables saying that you can't take-away food, they insisted on sending food along with us. Their breakfast selection was more than ample and comparable to other small German hotels.

I would guess the hotel is full of backpackers and budget travelers during the summer. Since there were only 4-6 rooms occupied during each night of our stay, our experience might have been better than most.