Lindner Park-Hotel Hagenbeck

"I have given this hotel a one-star review despite the hotel being very comfortable and clean, and the staff (with the exception of a couple of reception staff) being lovely. Food for breakfast and dinner was amazing. The reason for the one star is that despite paying in full at the time of booking, in January, the hotel took unauthorised charges from my credit card whilst we were staying with them. This happened numerous times. One amount was well over £1000, which made a difference to my credit limit. All times, these charges were eventually cancelled. Our visit was in May, and this was not sorted out until August. We have suffered a bereavement and had other commitments, hence the late review. All payments have been settled, but due to the time it's taken, I paid the correct amount, but the hotel has benefited from a change in exchange rate, so my account should should be in credit and they have not refunded that!!!"

"We had a truly pleasant experience at this hotel. The staff were exceptional—always kind, considerate, and attentive to our comfort. What impressed us most was how they remembered the small details of our preferences, especially at breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, it was excellent. The variety and quality of food were top-notch, and the spread included something for everyone. The fact that they even provided toys for toddlers was a thoughtful touch—although, at times, it could be a bit distracting for kids. We stayed in the family room, which was huge, cozy, and very comfortable. The only minor issue was the pillows—they weren’t ideal, and while replacements were available, we didn’t request them. One notable drawback was the lack of a smart or customizable TV. We were limited to a few German channels, and with kids in the room, not being able to stream content like Netflix made things a little trickier. On the plus side, the espresso machine in the room, with its selection of premium blends, made for a perfect morning coffee moment without having to head down for breakfast. The hotel also offered a 20% discount on entry to the Hagenbeck Zoo, which was a lovely surprise we only learned about during our stay. Location-wise, it’s just steps away from the train station, making it super convenient—even if it's slightly removed from the city center. Still, it felt peaceful, cozy, and just right for a family trip."

" Nice enough but could do with a few little tweaks. Check-in was nice and easy. The gentleman on the desk (December 1) was very helpful and very friendly. He even recommended some nice things to eat. My room is nice and big. (I have one night left in this hotel) The shower is nice and hot and powerful. Housekeeping is amazing. They clean the room so well. In fact, I'll even say they are probably one of the best I have come across. Fresh towels, fresh sheets, hoovered floor. Everything is always perfect. The only downfall to the room is the lack of nice smelling soap. The soap smells terrible. I'm so glad I brought my own shower gel. The bed is very comfortable. I've slept very well every night, and the sheets are also so comfy. Breakfast is fabulous. A huge selection and very tasty. The bacon is so tasty and crispy and there's a huge selection of everything. Even the self-service coffee machine is good. Now for the not so good. The restaurant. The food is sub standard for what it costs. I have eaten here 3 nights in a row and everything was a disappointment. The salmon with sushi rice was just over cooked salmon served with very wet soggy rice. Sushi rice is not wet and soggy, it's sticky - there's a difference. The second night, I chose pumpkin gnocchi. These arrived as huge stodgy pieces of pumpkin in a very weird tasting sauce. Not very tasty at all. Tonight (my last night eating here) I ordered the carbonara. This was very salty. I was starving so I ate what I could and the waiter taking my plate away asked if it was too much, I said no, it was salty and he said oh you should have said something. I asked for the bill and he came back and after speaking to the chef he wanted to convince me it was the pancetta in the sauce which makes it salty. Ok, I was not born yesterday. I could count the number of tiny pancetta pieces in my pasta and this was not the reason it was salty. When I challenged him, he proceeded to say, the pancetta is mixed in the sauce too. Ok this is when I stopped listening and politely paid and walked away. Let me talk about the restaurant service. I can only think of one lady (evening), she seems to lead the team who is very good. Very polite, very attentive and in my opinion provides great service. The other two I encountered were not so good. They seemed to focus more on who they thought was going to leave the biggest tip. My advice to these people especially the gentleman tonight is, never judge a book by its cover. Focus on providing the same service to all. When I asked for 2 bottles of ginger ale, that is what I should have been served. I did not appreciate you giving me a glass of ginger ale and telling me there's two bottles in there. Also, when I asked for butter for the tiny pieces of bread, it would have been nice if it was served as it was the night before instead of throwing 3 bits of wrapped frozen butter on a plate. All in all the hotel is good but you really need to get another chef because the food in the evenings is terrible and overpriced. I was told two nights in a row the special was duck with dumplings and red cabbage. How can that be a special if it is served two nights in a row? There is also a gym and a spa. I did not use the spa but I used the gym each day and it is sufficient but could do with being open in the mornings. Apparently it is only open from 5:30pm. "