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Hotel Monaco Munich

I know Rick Steves recommends this hotel, but I suggest that Rick Steves stops recommending a this hotel. It was by far the worst experience I've had at a hotel Rick Steve's recommended.

I have stayed at 8 hotels he has recommended, they were fantastic. Only hotel Monaco was awful.

Overpriced, lying staff pretending they don't take credit cards, terrible accommodations. Hot and noisy in summer!

There are many better options for Munich, I would recommend they Courtyard Meriott or chain hotel for Munich, they give the best value and quality for price.

Posted by
125 posts

I hope your bad hotel experience did not ruin your visit. Thanks for the heads up. Please also post your experience on TripAdvisor.com to warn other travelers. Thanks.

Posted by
7209 posts

And why does a chain hotel offer the best quality/price ratio?

Posted by
4045 posts

A good rule on RS-recommended hotels: verify through a second source such as Trip Advisor that they are okay. As I planned for my first trip to Europe, I noticed that there were a lot of negative reviews for some of the hotels he recommends. Since then, I don't even look at his recommended hotels when planning a trip.

Posted by
4045 posts

BTW... for Munich... TripAdvisor directed me last year to Pension am Jackobplatz, where I paid 90 euro/night for a great room just 3 blocks from Marienplatz in a decent area of Munich. No walking past sex shops or strip clubs required!

Posted by
1221 posts

If you're okay with ultramodern, my German friends say good things about the Motel One chain- newer, reasonably priced, very clean. Also little known among Americans if you want fellow travelers who are from different places than you are. Several Munich locations and often convenient to mass transit.

https://www.motel-one.com/en/

Posted by
4045 posts

I've stayed at Motel One in Vienna, Berlin, and London and will stay in one in Stuttgart in December. The chain offers a great product -- clean, inexpensive (though small) rooms with sleek design and friendly service. BUT... my preference is always to try to stay in a small, individual/family-owned pension/hotel/B&B, if possible. For me, it makes the trip more fun and meaningful.

Posted by
5430 posts

There are many better options for Munich, I would recommend they
Courtyard Meriott or chain hotel for Munich, they give the best value
and quality for price.

And yet the most frequently recommended places to stay on this forum are NOT chain hotels, but small, family run hotels and Pensionen. Of course value and quality are often in the eye of the beholder. For some, only an American style hotel will suffice.

It's too bad that you didn't check out previous reviews of Hotel Monaco on these forums before you left. It has been discussed before. Also, the TripAdvisor reviews are practically unanimous in noting that it is hot (no AC) and noisy (located above strip clubs, noisy street).

Posted by
293 posts

I totally support the suggestion to use Tripadvisor to reinforce your choice.

Posted by
1221 posts

Given the love that Premier Inns get over on the UK boards, I think there is some appreciation here for the third path of European budget chains like that one, Ibis, Motel One, etc.

Posted by
16895 posts

My family's experience at Hotel Monaco was excellent in October of 2014, not in summer, so air conditioning wasn't an issue. Clean, comfortable, large triple room, good breakfast, and friendly welcome. We paid cash as planned, knowing their preference. I'm sorry that it didn't go as well for you.