Booking

I’d been wanting to visit Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg again for a while. When a good flight deal came up, I took the plunge — and that meant finding a hotel in a decent location. The Crowne Plaza Hamburg Alster stood out as the best fit. I booked through the IHG Rewards app, going with the cheapest available option, a King Guest Room, since I was only planning one night in Hamburg.

Crowne Plaza Hotel with brick facade and entrance area

Crowne Plaza sign with flags in front of hotel building

Location

From Hamburg Airport, the hotel can be reached by public transport (bus), car, or with a transfer. Unfortunately the connections aren’t quite ideal at the moment, as ongoing road works have shifted several bus stops around.

Crowne Plaza hotel building with many windows and entrance area

Check-In

As I arrived in the afternoon due to a delay, I wasn’t prepared for the volume of guests checking in at the same time. After a considerable wait, I finally made it to the front desk. The staff were very helpful and friendly — I was assigned a suite on the top floor, which was a nice touch. Unfortunately, drink vouchers for status members are no longer offered, something I’d always appreciated in the past.

High-floor hotel lobby with suspended sheep and orange pendant lights

Room

The first impression of the room was quite good. The entrance area doubles as a living room with a sofa. The bathroom, complete with bathtub and toilet, is remarkably bright. The usual essential toiletries (shower gel and shampoo) were available as expected.