In May of this year, I planned a quick stop-off in Hannover on my way to Brussels. Now, as anyone who’s ever done a whirlwind tour knows, the two magic words when booking accommodation are “cheap” and “convenient.” Well, let me introduce you to the Boxhotel Hannover.
At just 34 euros a night, it caught my eye immediately. The idea of spending a night in a ‘box’ might not sound appealing at first, but with a price tag like that I was certainly willing to give it a try. Stay with me as I take you through the ins and outs of my one-night adventure in this unique hotel, and why you might want to consider it for your next stay in Hannover.
Location
As I was catching the train at 6:20 the following morning, it was important that my hotel not be too far from the station. After a quick check of Google Maps, I found that Boxhotel Hannover was just over a 10-minute walk from Hannover Central Station, located south of the city centre.
While the neighbourhood certainly isn’t the prettiest part of Hannover, it’s close to a number of restaurants, bars, and the rather cool looking ASTOR Grand Cinema, which unlike many other cinemas in Germany, plays select films in their original language. For exploring the rest of the city, there are a number of U-Bahn stations just a short walk away.
Tip: check the Boxhotel Hannover website for discounts on nearby restaurants
Check-in
Checking in to Boxhotel Hannover is done through the accompanying app, which you can do several days before your arrival. I was in a slight panic once I realised you needed to app to even get into the hotel, as I had just run out of data on my phone, but luckily there is free Wifi that you can connect to and I got inside without a hitch. I wasn’t expecting there to be any staff at the hotel, so I was pleasantly surprised when a woman offered a friendly greeting as I walked through the door. As it turns out, there are contact persons on site from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m
From the lobby, you simply follow the clear signs to your room and use the app again to open the door. Since there are shared bathrooms at the hotel, I was a bit worried about accdeintally leaving my phone in the room if I went to use the toilet, but there are signs reminding you on the inside of your door, and I managed to get through the night without disaster.
Accommodation
Having always thought I might feel a bit claustrophobic in one of the Japanese-style capsule hotels, Boxhotel offers a happy medium between a tin can and a standard hotel room. I booked a ‘Standard Box’ which, despite its unappealing name, was well-presented and cleverly designed. To be honest, for the price point I was pleasantly surprised – I’ve stayed in similarly priced hostels that were far less inviting.
My room was kitted out with two single beds across two levels, a shower and a sink. Unexpectedly, there were even free toiletries included. Even though there are no windows in the rooms (which I was a bit iffy about) they all have air conditioning, and it didn’t ever feel stuffy.
Bedlinen and towels were both provided and for a single, the bed itself was comfy enough.If you’d like a little more space, you can shell out a little more for a Comfort Box, where the bed on the ground floor is 40cm wider. Convenience has clearly been considered when designing these small rooms, with a small light right above the bed and power sockets directly next to it.
One thing to bear in mind is that because of the layout, there is one long wall connecting the front of all the rooms along the corridor. As it’s not a proper wall, it does mean that you can hear when people open and close their doors. Someone along my corridor obviously had problems opening theirs, and the slamming vibrated all the way along the floor.
I was lucky that there weren’t many people there during my stay, but don’t go thinking you’ll be guaranteed a good night’s sleep. If someone decides to stay up and party, lord knows you’ll hear about it.
Amenities and services
As you’d expect for a hotel at this price point, there aren’t any additional services like breakfast, though there are a couple of vending machines and free coffee and water in the main lobby.
You may notice that my description of the room didn’t include a toilet. At Boxhotel Hannover there are shared toilets located near the lobby. While they were perfectly modern and clean, it’s not the most convenient if you get up in the night bursting for a pee.
Unsurpisingly for a city centre budget hotel, there is also no parking.
Pricing
Starting at 30 euros a night, there’s no doubt that Boxhotel Hannover is great for the budget-conscious traveller. But does the price reflect good value for money? In my opinion, absolutely.
At the time of writing, it is the lowest price hotel in Hanover city centre. The rooms, while compact, are efficiently designed, clean, and equipped with essentials like air conditioning and comfortable bedding along with the perk of free toiletries.
There is also a slightly cheaper option available if you book the Single Box, which includes just the one bed as opposed to the two included in the Standard Box I stayed in.
Overall Experience: Boxhotel Hannover Hotel – a convenient, budget-friendly option for short stays in the city
I think it’s fair to say that as a 30-something, I’m probably not the target demographic for Boxhotel Hannover. With that being said, for a quick stop over in the city it perfectly suited my needs.
What stands out about Boxhotel is its blend of practicality and affordability. Despite initial reservations about staying in a ‘box,’ the experience was surprisingly comfortable. The compact yet well-designed rooms, complete with necessary amenities, meant for a satisfying stay. The absence of windows was a minor inconvenience compared to the overall convenience and cleanliness of the room.
The hotel’s location adds to its appeal, being conveniently close to Hannover Central Station and various city attractions. The ease of check-in and check-out via the app is a modern touch that simplifies the process and is especially handy if, like me, you’re mid-journey and in a bit of a rush.
Would I want to stay there for a week? Probably not. But while the hotel has its quirks, like the shared bathrooms and potential noise from other rooms, these are small trade-offs for the price and location. It’s an ideal choice for travelers seeking a no-frills, affordable place to rest while exploring the city.
