For my two nights in Mainz, I selected the Hilton Mainz. The location close to Old Town seemed ideal for my plans, which mostly involved exploring the walled city. While not exactly fancy, the Hilton Mainz fit the bill perfectly for a good price. I paid €118 per night for a “Twin Deluxe River View” room. Note: Hilton operates two hotels near the Mainz city center with similar names. This review covers the “Hilton Mainz”, NOT the “Hilton Mainz City”.
Note: this post is part of my trip report covering my trip to Germany in March, 2019. Click here for the introductory post and trip report index.
Hilton Mainz
- Rheinstraße 68, Mainz, Germany
- Hotel website: https://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/rhineland-palatinate/hilton-mainz-QMZHITW/index.html
- Features: self-parking (additional charge), restaurant, business center, meeting rooms, fitness center
Location
Along the riverfront just across from Mainz’s Old Town. From the Frankfurt Airport, take the A3 west to the A67 south (Exit 48 to Darmstadt and Mainz). Then, head west on the A60 (Exit 3 to Mainz), and continue on this highway until crossing the Rhine. After crossing the river, take Exit 24 (Mainz – Innenstadt). This brings you onto city streets. Continue on the street for about 3 km, then follow the bend to the right, which becomes Rheinstraße. About 1 km further, the hotel is on your right. The drive took about 40 minutes in Friday evening rush hour traffic.
You can also take the S-Bahn or ICE train to Mainz Hauptbahnhof station. From there, it’s about a 15 minute walk to the hotel.
Review
Check-In and Common Areas
Upon arriving about a quarter to 6 pm, a friendly agent quickly checked me in. My Honors Gold status didn’t expire for another month, so she informed me of the breakfast benefit in the restaurant. In addition, she handed me a voucher for two drinks from the bar. She didn’t offer an upgrade, though I did receive a room with a king bed, rather than two twins.
The Hilton Mainz lobby has an interesting look. Rather than the typical cookie-cutter column setup, the lobby features a very modern, open design. This creates a spacious, airy feel, aided further by plenty of natural light. A square couch below a modernist chandelier provides a natural focal point.
Along the side windows are a few more chairs and tables.
To the side of the hotel outside is the “Hiltonbrunnen” fountain along the riverfront. The hotel turns off the fountain in winter, but you can still see the statues with Mainz’s various coats-of-arms.
It also looked like the space behind the hotel was set up for a seating area. However, these had been put away for the winter season.
Hilton Mainz Guest Rooms
The “King Deluxe River View” rooms at the Hilton Mainz are pretty cozy, I’d say. There’s not much space from the entryway to the bed, for example. It is a comfortable bed, though, not too firm with a good quality comforter. I broke my cardinal rule and lifted my head up at 2 am – and quickly found myself wide awake. Fortunately, after burying myself back in the pillows, I fell asleep again after about half an hour and slept until 8:30. No stiff back or neck causing an unwanted wake-up call, thankfully.
I also found the layout of the TV a little awkward. The offset location makes it hard for someone on the right side of the bed to watch.
Next to the bed is a nightstand with a USB port in the clock. There’s also a European power outlet below the lamp. Quite convenient if you like working on your laptop on the bed.
The desk provides a fair amount of working space, and includes two more power outlets.
The room also includes a standard coffee/tea set between the closet and TV.
Closet storage is adequate, consisting of two storage areas. The first provides luggage storage and an in-room safe. The second provides wardrobe storage and an iron/ironing board.
Oh, and the river view? It’s pretty good.
Meanwhile, the bathroom continues the cozy theme; it’s a tight squeeze in here. However, it is reasonably well appointed, with a shower/tub combo, and Crabtree & Evelyn amenities.
Hilton Mainz Breakfast
Gold members receive complimentary access to the breakfast buffet, which I partook my first morning. As I’ve typically found at Hiltons, although Gold members technically only receive “continental” breakfast, the hotel doesn’t restrict what you can choose from the buffet. The selection starts off with a large assortment of breads, cheeses, fruit, and cold cuts.
The selection included fresh honey from a honeycomb, a nice touch, I thought.
In addition, the buffet includes several hot dishes. I selected some baked beans, bacon, and meatballs; while not the most spectacular food around, it did the job.
I forgot to take a picture, but the buffet also includes fresh-squeezed orange juice, which was fantastic. I may or may not have downed several glasses over the course of my meal.
Hilton Mainz General Location
You really can’t ask for a better location if you plan to spend your time in the city center. The old town is just a 5-minute walk away, across the Rheinstraße. It’s also only about a 15 minute walk from the main train station, and provides relatively easy access to the Autobahn. That puts Frankfurt Airport only about 20 minutes away without traffic. The city itself is farther away, 45-55 minutes by car or train. The location along the river also means you can reach the hotel without negotiating narrow old town streets. And of course, who doesn’t enjoy this view?
Final Thoughts
I found the Hilton Mainz a modern hotel with a great location at a good price. Aside from the small rooms, I had no complaints, and recommend the hotel if you plan to stay in Mainz. If heading to Frankfurt, though, would I choose staying here over a hotel in the city? I suppose that depends on the price difference. Using a random weekday next month, the lowest rate at the Hilton Mainz is €104 a night. That compares to €144 a night at the Hilton Frankfurt City Centre, or €222 a night at the Hilton Frankfurt Airport. (You can find lower rates at other Hilton brands, such as the Hampton.) At those price differences, I think the trade-off of a train ride to the airport or city becomes worth it. And you can enjoy the charming, low-key city of Mainz in the process.
