REVIEW |Ibis Innsbruck

Every year we plan a few big trips together, Timothy and I. When we heard ÖBB’s proposal to launch Nightjet service to Brussels in December 2019 we jumped on the occasion and included a ride back home from Austria to Belgium on the Nightjet after our autumn Berlin, Czechia and Slovakia trip. However as we all know in early 2020 an annoying new coronavirus COVID-19, appeared and shook up travel all over the world. We changed our plans to an itinerary in ‘safe’ Germany including stops in Leipzig, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Munich, Lindau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen from where we would take a short train ride to Innsbruck to board our Nightjet back home.

As Timothy never visited the city of Innsbruck before, we decided to add in an overnight to have some proper time to explore the city. As it was nearing the end of the trip and the end of our budget we decided to stay one night in the 3-star Ibis, conveniently located next to the station, on top of the bus stops. The building itself is architecturally interesting as it rest on some central columns above which the building floats. To get up to the hotel lobby you either take the stairs or escalator at end end of the building or the elevator a bit further down.

As we arrived at 11:30 the lady at check-in told us that we would have to wait 30 minutes until 12:00 before we could check-in, so we did just that and set ourselves down in one of the sofas alongside the entrance to the hotel. The entrance area also doubled up as the bar where we would drink our complimentary welcome drink, courtesy of my ALL gold status later, Iater in the evening.

Remarkably even though there were signs in the hotel everywhere reminding everyone that wearing mouth-nose masks was obligatory throughout the hotel, the check-in staff and postman did not wear any inside. As this was one of our first impressions of Austria and Tyrol after exiting the train from Germany, we kind of understand why it would turn into a red zone.

At 12:00 we received our room keys, for a room with view of the station. It was a fairly standard Ibis room, yet in a modern up to date style and not as run down as some typical ibis tend to be. There were 2 beds next to each other and an extra pillow and duvet where stored in a bag on top of the open closet. There was also a small desk area with two chairs and more importantly enough power plugs, with one at each side of the bed. The beds themselves where comfortable and provided a good nights sleep. There were no extra amenities like water or coffee and tea, but this is not something you would expect from an Ibis, so no issue.

The bathroom was similar to the standard Ibis design, yet it was tiled instead of molded out of one piece of plastic. There were twi soap dispensers, one at the washbasin and one in the shower that provided soap for all requirements. Two towels where hanging in the bathroom, two more were laying in the open closet in the room.

In the morning the breakfast buffet was not as corona proof as some other hotels we experienced on out trip. While some tables were blocked and you were forced to disinfect your hands and grab a pre plated plateau for you to use, you still had to serve yourself like in the old times by grabbing things from the buffet. The offer was good and solid for an ibis, with some warm dishes, some cold cuts, fruits, yoghurts, bread and pastries and even a make it yourself waffle station.

Luckily for us, even though check-out was at 12:00, we could store our bags at the hotel while we spent a day in Innsbruck before picking them up again before boarding our Nightjet in the station next door. I was afraid this might not be possible as Radisson Blu Spa refused to store bags due to COVID-19, but luckily Ibis Innsbruck was more pragmatic.

All in all we had a good stay at Ibis Innsbruck, they delivered what they promised. In my opinion Ibis gives a good value for money and a consistent product throughout their hotels, quite a contrast to the more upmarket yet mostly disappointing Mercure brand at the same Accor hotel group. I would definably stay at an ibis again for a short stay if they have the best price and location.

What is your view of Ibis? Are you happy with them? Let us know in the comments below!