where to stay near Frankfurt airport

I guess it depends on how early. Twice I have stayed in Mainz, across the Bahnhofplatz from the Bahnhof, a short walk in the morning and a 267 min S-Bahn ride to the station (the S-Bahn run every half hour, arriving at FRA at 29 and 59 after. The S-Bahn arrives in a station underground across the street from Terminal 1.

The place I stayed is called Schottenhof, but the last time I was there I passed Königshof on my way down the street to the station, and I think I would like it better.

We stayed at the IBIS since we had a early morning flight. They had a shuttle and got us there in plenty of time. (We shared the shuttle with a Canadian Air Force member who was transferring back to Canada. He knew our neighbor in Michigan who used to be in the CAF!! Small world, eh?)

We also stayed at IBIS, once coming in and once going out of Frankfurt. It was small but comfy. The web site says it is climat controlled so, I would guess that means a/c. It is going to be in July so you might need it.

Ibis' website is very vague about AC. The term "climate control" can mean anything from actual AC, to a heat on/off switch, to windows that open. The only way to know for sure if there is AC is to check reviews at tripadvisor.com

I'm pretty sure it had a/c when we were there four years ago. It is a modern building, inexpensive and convienent to the airport. Someplace for a quick stopover, but I wouldn't want to vacation there.

Note also that the price of Ibis does not include breakfast (unheard of at a legitimate German hotel). Althought this might be considered an advantage if you have to leave very early, if you want breakfast, it's €9,50, almost $15 pP more.

I have spent a total of 6 weeks (~42 days) in Germany around Labor Day +/-wk, and on only 2 of those days (5%) did I feel a need for air conditioning (remember, Germany is like Seattle).

Hmmmm...what's a ""legitimate" German hotel?" The Steigenberger Hotel doesn't offer free breakfast!

I've spent 84 nights in 29 separate establishments in eight years in Germany, and every one has included breakfast with the price. I have considered countless more, and they have all included it too.

It seems that the big hotels (foreign chains, mostly) have adopted the American "free market" ruse of misrepresenting the actual price by leaving things out so they can charge extra for them, just like airlines are doing today.

Hotels Königshof, Schottenhof, and Hammer, all of them near the Hauptbahnhof in Mainz, include breakfast with their prices, which with breakfast are "competitive" with Ibis's without-breakfast price. I imagine any of them would give you a reduction for no breakfast.

Motel One is nearby, very comfortable and the staff is friendly and helpful. I believe breakfast IS an extra charge, but not outrageous and the breakfast there is very good. A cab to the airport is about 15 or 16 Euros and it is only about 15 or 20 minutes to get there. Sure it doesn't have the ambience of a B&B, but sometimes convenience has to win. :-)

The BestWestern Atrium in Rüsselsheim includes breakfast with the room rate.

Motel One charges an additional €6,50 (about $10) per person for breakfast.