We stay at a grand old hotel, across from the Frankfurt hauptbahnhof (train station), named the Hotel Monopole - high ceilings, wide hallways and a huge bathtub. It’s rated at four stars, but I would rate it at three stars.
There are numerous sights within walking distance. Plus all the city's short-distance transport services (express train, subway, tram, and bus), are situated in front of the hotel. Since they try to attract business travelers they offer many services for free – local phone calls, personal computer, including Internet access, and printing in the business center and free ironing. They also offer a complimentary breakfast and snack buffet during the day as well as a free, lightly stocked minibar, containing basically water, soft drinks, and juice.
Our last night there, we decide to eat at the hotel to save time. The dining room is empty when we sit down. I go to the desk to see if we can order some food and the clerk says, "Of course." After a few minutes, a very rumpled man shows up to take our order. We order beer and wine and after he serves the beverages, he disappears for about 20 minutes. Turns out he's the cook as well as the waiter and the busboy too. Management sent him over from their sister hotel, The Europa, to take care of us. Fortunately, we ordered a light meal, or we might have waited a long, long time for our food. He explains the situation. The Europa down the street is for tour groups and the Monopol for individual bookings, which explains the crowd at breakfast and the absence of fellow diners at dinner. The food was actually pretty good and the price was reasonable.
I must leave early in the morning for Rome while Pam is staying until noon before flying to Hong Kong. Unfortunately at 5am, the hotel front door is locked and as I am trying to find someone to open it, a guest returns from his all-night wanderings and opens it. At this point, the desk clerk mysteriously appears and starts to freak, thinking I'm running out on my bill. I try to explain that my wife is still in the room but he's in such a state of excitement and confusion that he doesn't understand. I finally yell at him to cool it and then explain that Pam is still checked in, our rooms are prepaid and he also has my damn credit card. I’m not sure he ever really gets it, but I don’t wait to find out. I might have avoided this hassle by letting the desk know I was leaving early.
Except for the above misunderstanding, the staff is very helpful. I would stay here again, especially for a one night stay and/or I was arriving and departing by train. It's a good value, too.