The Arabella Sheraton Hotel Carlton opened in 2001 and hasn’t lost any of the sparkle of a newly opened establishment. Everything still seems and smells new and fresh.

The lobby is bright and on first sight appears larger than it actually is. The personnel are friendly and professional.

The room was all that the Internet site promised and more. The weekend rate on the Internet was Euro 120 including breakfast for any of the four non-smoking rooms listed. We therefore opted for the largest one - 38 square meters are pretty large for a German hotel room.

The room was spacious and avoided the cluttered look even after a baby bed was added to the ensemble. All lines in this hotel are straight - the only exception inside the room was the oval desk. The furnishing was modern and looked brand new. The bed was large and comfortable with ample light switches on both sides of the bed to control virtually all lights in the room. Closet space was more than sufficient for a longer stay with enough space for suitcases as well. Inside the closet was a pants press and a safe.

The bathroom was bright and modern. The bath was large and deep with ample toiletries and towels. The mirror was well lit and remained steam free. The shower and toilet were in separate rooms leading out of the main bathroom. The shower was particularly strong and the glass door kept the bathroom floor perfectly dry, even when the showerhead was directed directly at the door (no, I didn’t test that in the name of research, it was just a small price to pay to keep a child on the other side entertained after being forced in a stroller for umpteenth museum visits earlier in the day!).

The breakfast buffet was fairly standard, with nothing of particular note present or missing. The hotel seemed pretty quiet with very few people in the breakfast room on both mornings. Complimentary English and German newspapers were available outside the breakfast room.

The Sheraton Carlton is located a block from the city walls and less than five minutes' walk from the main train station. It is diagonally across from the Intercity Hotel, which has clear signboards from the station. The outside of the building is fairly unremarkable, but inside it is modern and chic.

Although fairly expensive for Nuremberg, the Arabella Sheraton is an excellent choice for its comfort and effortless elegance. It would be my first choice in future, if I could again get a good Internet discount.