Where is it?
As the name suggests the Radisson Blu Hotel Hamburg Airport is located next to Hamburg Fuhlsbüttel Airport, nowadays also known as Hamburg Helmut Schmidt Airport. The Radisson Blu Hotel is the only hotel located right next to the terminal building with no need for a taxi, a shuttle bus or a lengthy walk to reach the hotel from the terminal.
There is also an S-Bahn railway station at the airport with direct trains to downtown Hamburg. The journey to Hamburg Central station (Hamburg Hbf) takes around 25 minutes. Although the hotel is mostly used by airline passengers you can definitely use the hotel also when visiting the city. There are frequent trains during most of the day and it takes no more than 3-4 minutes to reach the hotel from the station.
The arrival experience
I arrived at Hamburg airport by plane just before 7 pm and made my way directly to the hotel to check in. It takes about a minute to walk from the terminal building to the hotel and there are plenty of signs, but from the arrivals level you need to take a lift or use the staircase to reach the hotel entrance.
The entrance is located right next to the car park opposite the terminal. The location is really superb. The hotel opened in 2009 so it has only been around for about ten years.
There was a short line of guests waiting to check in before it was my turn. The process was swift and as I was heading to downtown Hamburg in the evening I was also given a city map.
Otherwise the first impression of the hotel and the public areas was that this was very much a conference and airport hotel. The lobby was tidy and well-maintained but otherwise completely uninspiring. It was all very functional.
The room
The hotel offers 266 rooms with several different room categories including Standard rooms, Superior rooms (with an airport view), Premium rooms, Family rooms and suites.
I had booked a Standard room and was assigned a room on the second floor. As a Radisson Rewards Gold card holder you are usually given a complimentary upgrade at least one room category but did this not happen this time. I was given a Standard room and even one with a twin bed, even though the room was for single occupancy. Also there was no recognition whatsoever in the room. No welcome card, no small gift, no snack or anything extra to drink..
Although these things are of course never guaranteed it was a bit disappointing as the hotel did not seem particularly full and the stay took place during a weekend when there are fewer business travellers.
The room itself was pretty much as expected from a Radisson Blu hotel with a twin bed, a work desk, an armchair, TV, minibar, a closet and a safe. Most of the interior was in dark wood with furniture and design details in white and black. Some rooms face the airport terminal but this room was facing the opposite direction, with a view of the highway.
The bathroom had a toilet, sink and a bathtub as well as the standard Radisson Blu toiletries from ThisWorks.
Food and drinks
There is a bar and a restaurant on the ground floor next to the lobby called Filini. The restaurant offers breakfast in the morning and is then open from 11 am until 11 pm for lunch and dinner.
The Filini Bar offers various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as snacks.
Other facilities
There is a fitness club at the hotel offering a gym with all kinds of weights and equipment as well as a sauna and a steam bath. There is also a rooftop terrace.
There is also a conference centre with 14 meeting rooms, including a ballroom.
Free wireless internet is provided throughout the hotel, in the rooms and in the public areas.
Service
The service was prompt and friendly with German efficiency. Nothing to complain about but as mentioned I was a bit disappointed to see no effort to provide some kind of recognition during the stay.
Breakfast
As I ended up having a rather late evening in downtown Hamburg I decided to skip breakfast in the morning to sleep a bit longer. Breakfast was served in the Filini restaurant on the ground floor.
Final impression
The location is excellent, less than a minute walk from the airport terminal, just perfect in connection with a late arrival or an early departure. But otherwise this is really mostly an airport and conference hotel which feels far more functional than inspiring. But the hotel is reasonably new and does its job for a short stay.
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