Mainz is the capital of Rhineland Pfalz, situated South-West of the center of Germany. Just 25 minutes from Frankfurt Airport by direct train.
Location
Hyatt Regency Mainz could well be the best hotel for Frankfurt Airport. Perhaps this statement is controversial because this Hyatt is located in the once-Roman city of Mainz rather than Frankfurt. But the Hyatt Regency Mainz is easy to get to from Frankfurt Airport, this offers by far the best airport hotel option for Frankfurt Airport and is superior in quality to any of the other airport hotels in Frankfurt. In addition, Mainz is worth at least a long weekend stay – there is plenty to see, from cruises on the river to local vineyards.
Style & Character
The Hyatt Regency Mainz is well located for tourists on the west bank of the Rhine, a short and pleasant stroll away from the old town. Uniquely, it incorporates the 19th-century Fort Malakoff. We were there on the Friday after Ascension Day, and there was a wonderful market in town with lots of fresh fruit (strawberries are a must-buy if in season), cheeses, meats, and flowers. We can recommend the hand cream from the honey stall (a bargain three tubes for €5 EUR) – the market is worth devoting an hour or so too. We are returning for the wine festival (the last week of August and the first week of September). Regardless of the time of year, you can sample and buy wines in the shade of The Dom at least two market days per week. Near the market is the Gutenberg Museum and cathedral – we wandered from here up to the Zitadelle, which offers panoramic views over the city.
Rooms
Standard Regency Club rooms come in Queen, King, or Twin with a river or city view. Rooms with a river view have an Asian-style wet room with a shower and bathroom in the same enclosure, whereas the city-view rooms have a bath and a separate shower enclosure. We prefer the former, as it provides more room in the shower, but it’s good to have the choice. While the river view is stunning, don’t feel disappointed if you receive a city-view room – the skyline is interesting and whets your appetite for a stroll around the old town.
The Twin rooms feel a little cramped (at 27-30 m², the beds take up a lot of room), but the Queen and King rooms feel quite spacious for a standard room. Rooms have air-con, openable windows (not always a given), and the normal amenities you would expect. Unfortunately, no Nespresso coffee machines are in the clubrooms, only in the suites.
Since our stay, these rooms have been renovated, so it will be interesting to see what changes occur. While the rooms when we stayed in were ready to be refreshed, they were clean and remained a pleasant place to spend the night.
We were surprised and naturally delighted to be upgraded to a large suite on the 6th floor during this stay. Although we only stayed one night, we made good use of the suite and will try to stay again in the same room (even fully-paid rates offer good value). Currently, the hotel only has three suites (this will change after renovations) so book early to secure.
At 90 m², the suite is very large and offers a spacious living area, perfect for entertaining (complete with a sitting area and dining area for 6), and a standard-sized bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe. The best feature was the huge bathroom bath, the large shower, and the twin sinks. A guest cloakroom near the entrance completed the suite. The suite amenity was a bottle of local red wine, a fresh fruit bowl offering plenty of choices, and a tasty chocolate madeleine showing the hotel’s personal service.
On our first stay at the hotel in 2013, we stayed in a Club Deluxe room for our short stay. This is a studio-suite style room, offering 45 m². Our room was on the corner of the hotel, offering beautiful views of the confluence of the Rhine and Main Rivers. As the hotel currently only has three suites (more are planned as part of the refit), diamond-confirmed suite upgrades are difficult to secure. The Club Deluxe room is available as an alternative to upgrade to using the suite upgrade certificate – if you stay longer than a couple of nights, we recommend doing this as the deluxe room is spacious and airy, and you will enjoy the view.
Club Lounge Review
The Club Lounge at the Hyatt Regency Mainz is small and perhaps not large enough during periods of high occupancy. However, when we reviewed this Club Lounge, we had no problems finding a window table at 5:30 pm and, despite having to leave the lounge on business, still found a free one on returning at 7:00 pm. Food and drink were of good quality – we enjoyed our tuna salad with roasted Mediterranean vegetables and pine nuts (we combined multiple items on the buffet). Many others seemed to be enjoying the soup. Small cakes were also provided. In the morning, we ate breakfast in Bellpepper. The main restaurant so I cannot comment on the spread in the lounge.
Service & Facilities
The spa area was recently renovated and is fresh and inviting. Although the gym doesn’t have a rowing machine, there is a reasonable range of cardio equipment and weights. A small but welcoming swimming pool, jacuzzi, and sauna and steam room are available to soak weary muscles after working out.
The spa offers a range of treatments – perhaps most unusual is that a specific Thai massage room has been designed – much better than on a normal massage bed. Products are German brands – Babor and Amala – nice to see a hotel supporting local companies.
Food & Drink
Bellpepper restaurant is the main dining venue and offers high-quality daily food. Our breakfast was wonderful – we advised the hotel of our allergies in advance and were provided with a huge spread of goat’s cheese, fresh meats, and gluten-free bread and offered plenty of other options. The fruit in the morning was ripe, and service was near perfect. In summer, the outside terrace would be a wonderful place to sit, or the hotel’s beer garden would be an option for more casual dining.
The Malakoff Bar (situated in Fort Malakoff) is a well-renovated space and is popular at weekends as locals and tourists come to enjoy the live music. Our favorite space was the event space inside Fort Malakoff, though. Upstairs is a large dining area with an open-style kitchen (perfect for cooking demonstrations) and a licensed wedding venue. Downstairs is a wine cellar, offering a casual atmosphere for groups.
Conclusion
We were very impressed with our stays in the Hyatt Regency Mainz. Naturally, being upgraded to a large suite can skew the outlook on a hotel, but we had previously stayed and accepted a downgrade, so we have experienced the hotel from 2 sides. The location is beautiful on the bank of the Rhine, and the hotel is easy to reach by car, train, or plane. Although rooms are starting to show their age, renovations are planned, and these should also solve the suite availability problem currently experienced. The club lounge is small but offers a good food choice, and breakfast in Bellpepper is wonderful. What makes the hotel is the service, though, which was friendly, professional, and personal throughout.
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