Quick Hotel Review Summary
Rooms, Breakfast, Price, and Overall Stay
Holiday Inn Express Munich City East is a practical Munich hotel for travelers who want breakfast included, decent public transport, and a lower price than many central Munich hotels. The hotel is in the Berg am Laim area, not right in the old town, but it works well if you use the bus, tram, and S-Bahn. My stays here were mixed in a very clear way. When the room was clean and well maintained, the hotel felt comfortable, quiet, and good value. When the room had stained carpet, a bathroom drain smell, broken fittings, or slow service, the stay felt much weaker. Breakfast was one of the better parts, with bread, croissants, pretzels, cheese, ham, eggs, sausages, yogurt, fruit, coffee, and juice. The main downside at breakfast was the crowd. On busy mornings, it was hard to find a table, and cups, cutlery, or some food items ran out before staff could refill everything.
Check-in and Check-out
Arrival and Waiting Time
Check-in can be done through a self-service terminal, with staff helping at the front desk. When the lobby was quiet, passport and booking checks were quick, and I received the room key without much waiting. On busier evenings, check-in was much slower. The longest wait I had was about 20 minutes because the terminal did not complete the process properly, and the staff had to finish it manually. Late check-in worked well on another stay, so the experience depends a lot on timing. Some front desk staff were warm and helpful, while others gave very little information about breakfast, facilities, or checkout.
Departure and Extra Charges
Check-out was easier than check-in. I returned the key card, checked the bill, and paid any remaining charges. Checkout until 12:00 is a strong point because it gives enough time in the morning. Parking was added at checkout when I used the underground garage. I recommend checking the invoice carefully before leaving. During a business stay, payment handling and company billing were not explained well, and card charges needed extra attention. The hotel works mainly with card payment, so it is better not to rely on cash.
Room Price and Payment
Nightly Rate and Parking Fee
The room price changes a lot depending on the Munich travel period. On normal travel dates, the hotel can be good value because breakfast is included. During a trade fair period, I paid about 350 euros per night. At that price, the every-two-day housekeeping policy felt disappointing. The underground parking garage costs about 19 euros per day. It is convenient and connected to the hotel, but some parts of the garage feel narrow. There can be free street parking nearby, but finding a spot takes time, so the hotel garage is the easier choice when arriving by car.
Online Booking and Card Payment
I booked online and paid by card at the hotel. Card payment was the main payment method, and at times it was presented as the only option. For a simple leisure stay, that was fine. For business travel, it is better to confirm company billing, invoice details, and payment method before arrival. If parking is added to the bill, the final amount should be checked again at checkout.
Room Types and Stay Experience
Double Room and King Room
The double room and king room were the most comfortable choices. The room size was not large, but it was enough for two people on a short Munich trip. The bed was usually comfortable, with a supportive mattress and pillows that were not too high. When the room was well prepared, the sheets felt clean, and the room had no bad smell. The desk was useful for working on a laptop, and the room included basic items such as a kettle, safe, iron, hair dryer, and toiletries. Some rooms also had a fridge. The weaker points were limited plugs near the bed, broken USB sockets in some rooms, and poor TV or internet performance.
Twin Room and Room Assignment
Twin rooms worked well for friends or family members who wanted separate beds. The issue was room assignment. On one stay, the first room key opened a room that was already occupied. The front desk quickly gave me another room, but it was not acceptable from a privacy and security point of view. After that, I always checked the bed type, towels, bathroom, heating or air conditioning, and general cleanliness as soon as I entered the room. In a hotel this size, room assignment needs to be more reliable.
Triple Room with Sofa Bed
The triple room is the weakest option. Once the sofa bed is opened, there is almost no floor space left for luggage. For one or two nights, it is manageable, but for a family with large suitcases, it feels tight. On some stays, the sofa bed was ready when I arrived. On another stay, the third bed was not prepared, and there was no third towel in the room. The sofa bed can be fine for a child, but it is not as comfortable as the main bed for an adult staying several nights. For three people, I recommend checking the setup right after check-in.
Room Cleanliness and Maintenance
Bedding, Carpet, and Room Smell
Cleanliness was not consistent. The better rooms were clean, modern, and comfortable, with fresh bedding and a tidy bathroom. Other rooms had stained carpets, hair on the bed, dust, sticky spots, or marks from previous guests. That was disappointing because the lobby and public areas give a more modern first impression. Housekeeping is not daily and normally takes place every two days. This is acceptable for a budget-friendly stay, but it feels less acceptable when the nightly rate is high during busy Munich periods.
Repairs and Room Facilities
Some rooms were in good condition, while others clearly needed repairs. I had rooms with taped mirrors, loose bathroom fittings, broken USB ports, weak TV reception, and a fridge that barely cooled drinks. In a few bathrooms, the drain smell was strong. These are not small details when you are actually staying in the room. If anything is wrong, it is best to report it immediately and ask for another room. Sometimes the staff helped quickly, but not every issue was solved right away.
Bed Comfort, Noise, and Heating
Bed and Pillows
The normal beds were usually a positive part of the stay. The king and double beds were wide enough, and the mattress was often medium-firm and comfortable. The pillows were easy to sleep on, and the bedding was good when the room had been cleaned properly. Some rooms had mattresses that felt worn, and the extra sofa bed was clearly less comfortable. For two guests, the sleeping setup is fine. For three guests, the comfort drops.
Outside Noise and Corridor Noise
The hotel area is fairly quiet, especially rooms away from the main road. Outside noise was not a major issue, and the windows blocked sound well. Corridor noise was a different story. I could hear doors closing, people walking in the hallway, and noise from nearby rooms in some parts of the hotel. If you are a light sleeper, ask for a room away from elevators and hallway doors. With a good room location, the hotel can be quiet. With a poor room location, the hallway noise is noticeable.
Air Conditioning, Heating, and Windows
Air conditioning and heating were uneven. On hot days, some rooms cooled well, but one room stayed too warm because the air conditioning did not work properly. In colder weather, heating was also not always strong enough. The windows do not fully open; they only tilt. That is fine for a little air, but it does not help much when the bathroom smells bad or the room feels too warm.
Bathroom and Toilet
Shower, Water Pressure, and Towels
The bathroom is compact but functional. In the better rooms, the shower pressure was strong, hot water came quickly, and the sink area was enough for a short stay. Towels were provided, and when clean towels were in the room, there was no issue. The hair dryer, shampoo, and body wash were available. The bathroom works well when it is clean and properly maintained.
Drain Smell and Bathroom Problems
The biggest bathroom problem was the drain smell. Some bathrooms smelled strongly of sewage, which made the room much less pleasant. I also had issues with loose shower parts, leaking shower seals, wet floors after showering, and missing toothbrush cups. One shampoo bottle was filled with a watery product, so I prefer bringing my own toiletries here. The bathroom can be perfectly fine in one room and disappointing in another.
Breakfast
Food Quality and Menu
Breakfast is one of the main reasons this hotel can be good value. The buffet included bread rolls, croissants, pretzels, sliced bread, cheese, ham, salami, cream cheese, jam, Nutella, yogurt, fruit, eggs, sausages, Weißwurst, coffee, tea, juice, and water. The croissants and coffee were especially good. For an Express hotel, the breakfast was better than expected. Warm dishes were not always hot enough, but the overall choice was good for a hotel in this price range.
Breakfast Room and Crowds
The breakfast room can be too small for the number of guests. On weekends and busy mornings, it was hard to find a seat. Cups, cutlery, and some items ran out at times. Staff kept working and refilling the buffet, but during peak time they could not keep up with everyone. The best way to enjoy breakfast here is to go early. Around the busiest morning hours, the experience becomes more stressful.
Staff and Service
Front Desk
Front desk service varied. Some staff members were friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful. They helped with early check-in, luggage, transport questions, and room issues. Other times, communication was weak, phone calls were hard to get through, and requests had to be repeated. The hotel can feel very welcoming when the right staff member is working, but service quality is not the same every time.
Breakfast Staff and Housekeeping
Breakfast staff worked hard, especially during busy hours. They cleared tables, refilled food, and kept moving. The problem was not effort; it was the number of guests compared with the space and staff available. Housekeeping was less consistent. Since rooms are not cleaned daily, towels and toilet paper may need to be requested. Some rooms were cleaned well, while others had hair, dust, or stains left behind. This is the area the hotel needs to improve most.
Parking
Underground Garage
The hotel has its own underground garage, which is convenient if arriving by car. It costs about 19 euros per day and is charged at checkout. The garage is large, but some parts are tight. There are also EV charging points, which is useful. For a stress-free arrival, the garage is the easiest option.
Public Transport Instead of Driving
For sightseeing in Munich, public transport is the better choice. A bus stop is right outside the hotel, and Berg am Laim S-Bahn station is within walking distance. The connection to central Munich is good enough that I would leave the car at the hotel and use the train or bus. Parking in central Munich is more expensive and less convenient.
Pros and Cons
What I Liked
The biggest strengths are breakfast, transport access, quiet surroundings, and value for money on the right dates. When the room is clean and well maintained, the stay is comfortable. The beds are usually good, the room has the basic amenities needed for a short trip, and supermarkets are close by. For business travel, the desk and transport links are useful. For leisure travel, the included breakfast helps keep the daily cost lower.
What I Did Not Like
The main problems are inconsistent cleaning, room maintenance, small triple rooms, busy breakfast, and uneven service. Stained carpets, bathroom drain smells, broken USB sockets, taped mirrors, and missing towels should not happen so often. The elevator can be slow, and corridor noise can be annoying at night. The hotel is good when everything works, but the weak rooms make the stay feel much cheaper than it should.
Would I Stay Again?
Best Use for This Hotel
I would stay at Holiday Inn Express Munich City East again if the price is right and I need a hotel with breakfast and public transport. It is better for two people than for three people using a sofa bed. It works well for short business trips, weekend stays, and Munich visits where the hotel is mainly a place to sleep and have breakfast. I recommend checking the room immediately after arrival: bedding, towels, bathroom smell, air conditioning, heating, sockets, and sofa bed setup.
Overall Rating
My overall impression is balanced. The hotel can be a good Munich hotel review choice because breakfast, location, and price are strong. At the same time, cleanliness and maintenance are not reliable enough across all rooms. With a good room, the stay is comfortable and good value. With a poorly maintained room, the experience becomes disappointing quickly.
Location near Berg am Laim and Ostbahnhof
Getting Around from the Hotel
The hotel is in Munich East, close to Berg am Laim. There is a bus stop right in front of the hotel, and Berg am Laim S-Bahn station is about a 10-minute walk away. From there, it is easy to reach Ostbahnhof, Marienplatz, and other central Munich areas by public transport. Supermarkets such as ALDI, REWE, and DM are nearby, which is useful for water, snacks, and small travel items. From the airport, the easiest way is to use the S-Bahn and transfer depending on the connection. This is not a hotel for walking directly into the old town, but it works well if you are comfortable using Munich public transport.
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Hotel Photos
This review is connected to the city review page below.
Munich Place Reviews