Boppard hotel - states we need a PCR test - true??

It’s not unusual that a business has requirements that go beyond the government/country standards. On my cruise last week only fully vaccinated travelers were permitted and a covid test less than one day before departure - no exceptions. Similarly the theatre that I attend for Broadway productions has covid protocols that exceed the state requirements. Additionally, my state has very relaxed mask mandates but individual businesses especially medical facilities still require masking. You may encounter other exceptions along the way.

tremoss2, do you think it's possible that the language in the check-in information is old and came from before Germany changed their requirements? The hotel may not have changed the language.

I am leaning towards cancelling this hotel reservation. I cannot believe in it being outdated. If I arrive and I really have to have a PCR test, I will be liable for the cost and have to make arrangements on the spot. It is not like being tuned away for that from a museum where I can just not go in.

Last September, yes when we were there. Our hotel required it. So did the country for entry. We were in Berlin a month ago since the rules changed. CDC card accepted everywhere. No hotel even asked for card let alone a test. Maybe they haven't updated their website.

Change hotels. There are lots of good choices in Boppard. If this one is unresponsive on this topic, it may be unresponsive on other issues.

Russ makes a very good point - I think I would go ahead and cancel.

We are going to cancel this hotel booking.
I do not care if the info on the hotel site may be outdated. I do not want to arrive and find I need a PCR test. Yeah, right, I just arrived, perhaps 3pm. Now I have to find a PCR test in Boppard and wait for results. Don’t think this is the right way for me.
I have masks, am vaxxed, I do not want to get tested at the whim of a hotel. And, their policy has no date of PCR test. That is all pretty vague. This needs to be done before hotel cancellation date is reached.
We will cancel.

We are staying at Hotel Bellevue in Boppard and communication with them has been prompt and professional. Good luck!

Pat, that's where I'm staying in a little over 2 weeks.

This hotel Rehienhotel Lilie is the only hotel we have noticed that has policy of PCR test in order to check in.

Unless I have misse something, there is no such indication on the hotel's website any more. It is also completely inconceivable that under the current conditions a hotel would require a test that costs the client about €60 per person, which would amount to doubling the price of the room. No one would ever book there.

However, it is quite rude of them not to respond to your email and that alone is reason enough to cancel. My favorite hotel in Boppard is the Bellevue mentioned above. It is also more conveniently located to the train station. I would pay a little extra and book one of the beautifully art deco renovated rooms with a view of the Rhine. There is also an indoor pool. If you pre-book the - recommended - dinner, you get it at a reduced price The wine list is excellent.

Also we have noticed that proof of essential travel is a requirement at some places. What is that?

This is absolutely outdated information. That was a (long ago abolished) rule in the first phase of the pandemic, when there was a complete lockdown of hotels and you could only stay when travelling for professional reasons.

I have cancelled the reservation.
I cannot count on info that is expressed on the website to be outdated. The info was on booking.com under hotel policies. Such info is not present on other hotels I have booked on booking.com, including the alternate one I have booked.
When there is conflicting info I have to defer to the worst side of it. Otherwise I am unprepared.
The hotel should have at least replied to my messages. They have not. They lost me as a customer. The hotel was Rheinhotel Lilie.
I am 29 days in Germany with 10 hotels booked, after finding this glitch on this one hotel, I went back to all the other hotels to confirm that there was no policy of having a covid test before check in. None had that requirement.
I find that almost all websites, country or other, tend to obfuscate the info about entry unnecessarily.
They should put that if you are full vaxxed you can enter, if that is the case. Then move to the “OR” situation. Instead they seem to put all sorts of covid tests, post covid letters, and such up front and you have to scroll and scroll down until you find, gee, if I am vaxxed then all is OK.

I've been looking for your hotel, Rehienhotel Lilie, on Google Maps and can't find it. There is a RHEINhotel Lilie, but you couldn't mean that one.

Boppard was one place recommended to me if i should stay in a town on the Rhine, especially in the Mittelrheingebiet. I've never stayed in any of these small towns along the middle Rhine, only in the city of Koblenz.

This hotel has piqued my interest, will certainly have to check it out since it sounds as a good possibility.

perhaps they did reply to you and it wound up in your spam filter.

Perhaps you wrote your email in English and their English speaking email correspondent doesn't work every day and they will answer you when they can.

Perhaps it was actually booking , com who were slow to update the rules and conditions.

Perhaps a small business is suffering from the cancellation through no fault of their own.

Small businesses don't always have the number of staff that a big business has.

Nigel, all of the above could happen but I don't think you can blame the OP for cancelling when she had nothing else to go on. She said she tried to contact the hotel several times and there was no response. I don't blame her for wanting to get it settled before she gets there.

Now that Nigel has weighed in, one wonders what Nigel would do in the same circumstances.

I would have telephoned. Two minute conversation and questions answered.

I never contact a hotel or Pension in Germany using e-mail to make a reservation, totally unnecessary. Not all establishments have that piece of luxury anyway.

Either I call the hotel up directly talking to them in their language, make the reservation, deal with the details on the phone, single room, price, duration, etc., (this gives it the personal touch), or I use the website of the hotel itself, thereby avoiding booking.com.

Sometimes i write a short letter in German to confirm as a courtesy. But not by e-mail. I don't expect them to give prompt attention if the correspondence is an e-mail.

Booking.com is generally for bigger establishments, certainly not the small family-run two star places.