Munich- hauptbahnhof hotel?

If your parent are staying multiple nights, I would recommend looking at the Europäischer Hof (www.heh.de). It's right across the street from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof). It doesn't look like they will book a room for less than 3 nights.

Otherwise, check out Hotel Royal. It's only a few blocks walk from the main station. The neighborhood might be offensive to some, but it is not unsafe.

Kim,

I'm also in my '60s and usually stay at Hotel Royal as it's such a convenient location (I was there again last September). The street outside the hotel is a bit "colourful" but as Lee mentioned it's not "unsafe", and inside is an oasis of tranquility. The rooms are comfortable, the staff are great and they serve a great breakfast. There's an elevator up from street level, if that's important.

In that area (109 yards from the train station) is an elegant 4 star hotel that is amazingly cheap. It is centrally located (they could ride the rail from the airport), is air conditioned, has a solarium and fitness center, restaurants, comfortable large beautiful rooms, and reduced mobility offering if they need it. It is near the things they would likely want to see. It is called Mercure Munchen City Center Hotel. www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-0878-mercure-hotel-munich-city-centre/index.shtml
Have a look at the rooms here- www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-0878-mercure-hotel-munich-city-centre/room.shtml

The Eden-Wolff hotel is directly across the street from the Hauptbahnhof (Arnulfstr. exit).
English-speaking staff at reception, quiet and pleasant, good breakfast and an excellent restaurant for lunch and/or dinner.

I would definitely NOT recommend Europäischer Hof. IMO it's a pretty run-down, old hotel.

The problem with the Munich Hbf area is that none of the hotels really NEED to invest - they're fully booked all year round anyway. If you want to book a hotel with very easy access to and from the station go for the Le Merdien.

Please also note that the area is not very pleasant. You'll find all the social problems the Balkans and Eastern Europe bring upon us right there, from drugs to prostitution.

There are two hotels that are in a surprisingly nice neighborhood, only a 7-10 minutes walk or 1 tram stop from the station in Dachauer Str.: The budget (yet very nice) one is called IBIS Munich City, the other one is just across the small street from it, Augusten Hotel. Both are right by the tram stop "Karlstraße" which, again, is 1 stop from "Hauptbahnhof Nord"...

Thank you! I will check in to all of those.

Yes I am a bit concerned about the area being a little sketchy - but they are only there one night, and then next day they will be staying near the airport for an early flight. So since they are not super mobile, I thought maybe a hotel very near the station would be good. They will arrive around noon, drop bags and go out. Probably back to hotel after dinner. Tout the next day and leave maybe late afternoon for the airport hotel....

kim

so when I am looking at a map, where exactly would they exit the station (coming on a train from Garmisch)? Trying to gauge the walking distance...

Or if they stay further out - it is easy to get a cab at the station I suppose? If they do that, is there a cute area to stay one night in?

Hi,

Before I "rediscovered" Munich in 2009, I hadn't been there since 1992. True, the first thing you notice is the gritty area around Munich Hbf., not really bad, not unsafe but not really great either. It's hard say which is less appealing Hamburg Hbf or Munich Hbf. "They" should play classical music at Munich Hbf, something which done at Hamburg Hbf.

I stay in a Pension reachable by the under ground passage. The suggestions made above are also good if you want some luxury and be close to the train station.

Kim,

According to Google Maps, Hotel Royal is only about 280 metres and a 4 minute walk from the station (I'd allow 5-10 minutes with luggage and not knowing the way). You can see the details on the Hotel Royal website.

One other suggestion......

If your parents can afford a splurge, they could also look at the elegant Sofitel Munich which is right AT the station and only about a one minute walk out the side door (with the tracks at your back, exit to the right side). It won't be cheap, but I'm sure they would be VERY comfortable!

Despite the allure of the Sofitel, I am in favor of the Mercure mentioned above. Here is the link to its location and directions:
http://www.mercure.com/en/hotel-3709-mercure-hotel-munich-altstadt/location.shtml.

It is so centrally located that it might offer greater freedom to come and go. I have stayed there twice. While it was not brimming with old world gemütlichkeit, it was very comfortable and accessible, and the location in the Altstadt was a real plus for me as I was visiting the Christmas market in Marienplatz, the Viktualienmarkt, etc.

The train to the airport (S1 or S8) can be boarded at Marienplatz.

"The train to the airport (S1 or S8) can be boarded at Marienplatz."

Be careful when taking the S-Bahn from downtown to the airport. At most stations there are trains going to the airport in either direction. Generally, they are one platform stations with trains going in different directions on either side of the platform. Which ever train comes by first going to the airport will get you to the airport soonest. That's good. But, the S-1 on one side is going to the airport; on the other side it's going to Weßling or Geltendorf. On that side the S-8 goes to the airport; on the other side it stops at Ostbahnhof. So make sure you read the signs on the train or over the track, not just the train number.

Marienplatz is different. It has two levels for the S-Bahn, one in each direction. From Gleis (track) 1, on the upper level, the S-8 goes to the airport. The S-1, on the lower level, also goes to the airport. However, there is only a one minute period out of 20 minutes when the S-1 would get there sooner; the rest of the time it gets there later. So, unless you know exactly what you are doing, go to the upper level (Gleis 1) and take the S-8.

"an elegant 4 star hotel that is amazingly cheap."

More amazing than cheap.

I found the cancelable price at Mercure Munich City Center, from their website, at 184€ per night for a standard double for 3 nights in August. Booking.com matched that price, but indicated that breakfast was 19€/pers and day, or 220€/night, total. The package with breakfast from the hotel was 212€/night.

Royal's price for a double with breakfast is 94€/night. Last year I stayed inside the old town between Karlstor and Sendlingertor for 80€, DZ. Breakfast was extra; I don't remember how much, but it was under 10€.