On my first stay at the Kempinski at Munich Airport , I was less than impressed with the welcome. The reception staff seemed half asleep and when a guest arrived at the front desk and promptly collapsed to the floor with an epileptic fit, it seemed I was the only person who knew what to do. Having to yell: "Don't put a pencil in his mouth!" at the receptionist while asking a fellow guest to help me roll the rather well-built gentleman into the recovery position was a less than auspicious start to my stay. The good news is that when I stayed here recently, staff at the front desk were now friendly and super-efficient; checking in took a matter of minutes. As I had only the one bag, I was more than happy to find my own way to the room and the TV screen had a welcoming message for me, although I was somewhat alarmed to find out that I'm now "Mrs Lewis".
The Munich Kempinski is the only hotel located within the airport. If you've just landed, the hotel's reception can be found through a clearly marked tunnel near the luggage carousels. The hotel is the main landmark in the airport district, some 28km outside the city centre. The impressive glass structure designed by architect Helmut Jahn stands out in an otherwise uninteresting part of town. There is an adjoining plaza with a supermarket, a few clothes stores and some indoor and alfresco food and beverage outlets, if not much else.
Modern minimalism is the order of the day. Unlike some of the Kempinski chain's plusher properties, such as the Emirates Palace, the rooms here are crisp, unfussy and businesslike. If you're after romance and ambience, try elsewhere. As I'd just arrived after a night flight, all I wanted was a comfortable spot for a body clock-altering nap. The austerity thankfully does not extend to the bed, which is laden with soft pillows and a wonderfully squishy quilt. Meanwhile, the generous bathroom decorated in minimalist white tiles has a decent-sized bath that puts the room in a class well above the average airport hotel, where bathtubs tend to be built for anorexics.
Pretty faultless save for one rather slow, vague barman. When the business centre was temporarily unattended, the reception staff quickly let me in. The staff speak excellent English and gave me clear directions to the shops when I needed to buy a belt in a hurry. In the restaurants, the staff aren't going to overwhelm you with LA-style cheer but they are pleasant and efficient. The spa staff are discreet and polite, an attitude that matches the sleek decor of the place and the anti-jet lag massage comes highly recommended after emerging pretzel-like from a flight. Indeed, so relaxing are the ministrations in the spa that blissed-out-looking hotel guests wandering shamelessly around in their slippers and robe are a common sight in the lobby.
Breakfast is a wonderful smorgasbord of the healthy and the indulgent, with one of the most efficient omelette chefs you'll ever see. The tea buffet was my favourite part of breakfast - there is something there for every tea fiend, whether fragrant Earl Grey or a herbal concoction. The Restaurant Charles Lindbergh comes alive at night with modern cuisine that does not suffer from the empty plate syndrome of many a funky restaurant. At dinner, the vegetarian at my table was very impressed with her meal, a full plate that appeared to have plenty of cheese and carbs amongst the greenery. Meanwhile, I enjoyed a somewhat un-PC but perfectly cooked serving of veal.
Because it's an airport hotel, it is not really a place to go to experience the real Munich, but the hotel bars and restaurant, as well as the outlets in the nearby plaza mean you can relax and socialise, even if you are there strictly for business purposes.
The short walk from the baggage carousel to the efficient staff at reception, the comfortable bed, roomy bath and excellent modern cuisine.
A little less Teutonic minimalism and a few more homely decorative touches would have definitely warmed up the room, but apart from that, the hotel does what it sets out to do in fine style.
An airport hotel with all the amenities a business traveller could possibly require. This is not really a place to go for a romantic Bavarian getaway, but with great food, much-improved staff and comfortable rooms, staying here is a far more pleasant experience than at the average impersonal airport hotel.
Double rooms cost from US$180 (Dh661) including breakfast and taxes. The Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich (www.kempinski-airport.de; 00 49 89 9782 0).
