The weekend before Christmas 2024, Dennis and I went to Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia for the Weihnachtsmarkt, the Christmas market. Germany is a master in Christmas markets. And a successful excursion to Bonn in 2023 left us wanting a sequel. On our way to Germany on Friday night, we learned about the 2024 Magdeburg Christmas Market car attack. That was all over the news. Would we notice anything different in Münster? 

Dennis and I both worked on Friday. Dennis until 10:55 PM. While Dennis was driving because I don’t have a car anymore and I’m not allowed to drive a regular car, he insisted on leaving on Friday night. We drove to Duisburg in North Rhine-Westphalia, were stopped for the night. Dennis booked a room at Campanile Duisburg City. It was cheap – 54 euros for the night – and it has parking. 

We arrived at the hotel between 1 AM and 2 AM. The receptionist let us in and checked us in. The hotel uses a fresh colour palette and simple styling people expect from budget hotels.

The room

The room is much larger than I expected. As you can see on the photos it has everything you need. A bed, storage options for clothes. You do notice most people only stay one night in this type of hotel. There’s no need to make it too cosy and practical for long(er) stays. 

The room was nicely heated. Maybe even too warm. The bed is made German-style, with the duvet folded. 

There’s no abundance of power outlets but there are some. 

The bathroom 

The bathroom is surprisingly spacious, with a large shower. The shower is straightforward and uses an old school curtain instead of impractical panels. The shower is easy to figure out.

Washing gel – shampoo, shower gel, hand gel all in one – is accessible from easy dispensers. The towels are large, which I love and is rare in hotels. Kudos for this.

In short: the room is fine.

So? 

Campanile Duisburg City is not fancy but it’s not trying to be. Apparently it’s near the city centre. At night looked like it was in an outskirt, in the middle of the red light district. 

The hotel provided what we needed: a place for a long pitstop. 

We did not have breakfast there. We left quite early to have a full day in Münster.