Hotel Mercure di Mannheim

I've stayed at this hotel 9 or 10 times over the years, often with my wife. After this latest experience, never again! The problem started at check-in. The lady at Reception appeared to speak little German or English! I was tired after travelling all day and enquired about the Restaurant. She told me that it was unavailable due to a Group booking. Excuse me but I'm a paying guest at a supposedly 4-star hotel! As an aside, I wasn't even offered a ”Welcome Drink” which to which my status with my Accor Loyalty Card entitles me. Reception gave me a menu from an external Italian restaurant who would deliver - I phoned them but they were closed on a Sunday. So, she then gave me a menu from a Greek restaurant - I phoned them but they did no deliveries whatsoever. I went to see the Restaurant Manager who informed me that they have had a staffing problem for the last 3 months and, in any case, there was no food - i.e. a Restaurant with no staff and no supplies! So, I went hungry that night. I tried to have a shower before retiring but there was no hot water. So, hungry and unwashed! This is how Mercure treats its guests. Next morning, I wanted to have a shower before breakfast. There was still no water pressure, just a trickle of cold water. I phoned Reception and was told there was a technical problem in the boiler room but an engineer had been called - it wasn't fixed by the time I checked-out. I complained to Mercure Customer Service who were sympathetic and wrote to me that the Manager would resolve the problem and give me the refund I'd requested. Despite 3 reminders, I've had no contact from the Manager and no refund. This hotel and, more so, its management are ”not fit for purpose”. Mercure need to get their act together.

The Mercure Mannheim Rathaus is a bit dated but still OK and very practical / functional for a stay in Mannheim. Centrally located. Friendly staff. Clean. Access with public transit is a bit tricky, either a 25-minute walk from the main station or a combination of tram / walk. Arriving by car is much easier, they have a garage (do not know about the cost though). One nice things for a stay during the summer period: you can open the windows at the hotel for fresh air. Downside: there was no vault in the room.