We're traveling via train from Munich to Frankfurt AM one day prior to flying home, so we need a hotel for one night only. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has stayed at either a hotel near the Bahnhof (our flight doesn't leave until afternoon, so we'll have time for a short train trip)or one in the vicinity of the airport. If the latter, how did you actually get to the airport? Was there a shuttle bus? If anyone has done it both ways, of course I'd love to get their appraisal of which situation is the best! Thanks!
I find the area around Frankfurt Hbf. (main station) unappealing. The airport hotels are more convenient, most with shuttles, but they are airport hotels. The best spot to overnight IMO is Mainz. Mainz is about 20 minutes from FRA by train versus about 10-15 minutes from Frankfurt Hbf, but it's just a great place to stroll, dine, shop, etc. on your last evening or morning in Europe. There are several hotels near Mainz Hbf.; I usually stay near the train station called "Mainz Römisches Theater". It's a short walk from there to the old town and pedestrian zone, the river, and the city park. The Ibis is only one block from this station; purchase tickets (about 3.50) to FRA from a machine on the platform. Upper end choices are a few blocks further.
The MRT station got its name recently from the Roman Theater being unearthed there at the rear platform - peek through the fence and have a look.
Try the IBIS hotel Frankfurt Centrum. It's only a 5 mins walk from the Hauptbahnhof but is down by the river front with plenty of restaurants and bars around. It's a short walk along the embankment to the city center. All rooms come with AC.
We had leased a car with AutoEurope and the place we returned it to in Frankfurt was the Holiday Inn Express near the Airport. The Holiday Inn has a shuttle that will take you to the airport. In addition, we took the shuttle the previous night to catch the train into Frankfurt from the airport for dinner. The cost for 2 adults with 2 children for the night was less than $100 euros per night.
The easiest way to spend the night in Frankfurt and then get a flight out of the city is to stay at the copious amounts of local hotels that cater to business travelers near the airport. They are all within a 10-20 minute drive of the airport.
But that won't help the train traveler. Best to stay somewhere close to the line. The area between Frankfurt and the airport is nice to look at, sort of, but nothing all that special. Just find a cheap hotel near a train stop and that should be fine.