Hotel Altora

I was in room 105 which overlooked the Harzer Schmalspurbahnnen (HSB) marshalling yard, which was a bonus. The unfortunate thing about this however was that it overlooked the noisy street with the fire station nearby. For some reason, fire engines were called out every one of the five nights I stayed there. Breakfast had meagre offerings; there were no yoghourts or pastries. It was served between 07:00 hrs. and 10:00 hrs. every day. While this may appear early, it wasn't convenient for those of us who wanted to take the first HSB departure of the day at 07:25 hrs. I solved the problem by waiting outside the restaurant to open and then quickly made two cheese bread rolls which I then ate on the train. It would have been a nice gesture if the hotel provided a boxed meal service for early travellers. This could have been booked the day before and collected at 07:00 hrs. by the content ferroequinologist. This was not to be! The dinner menu provided a decent selection of meals. In addition, drinks and desserts were served by model train running around on tracks along the perimeter of the seating area, an interesting novelty for this railway themed hotel. There was also a model railway track suspended above the seating area which was there only for show. Dinner was served in two sittings at 18:00 hrs. and 20:00 hrs. for which a reservation had to be made. There was no way you were able to walk into the restaurant outside the scheduled sittings and expect to be served. Entrance to the hotel room was by electronic cardkey which then had to be inserted into a wall-mounted recess in order for the electricity to function. However, I found this was not the case as everything seemed to function without this taking place. One security aspect which I found a tad disconcerting was that there was no additional locking mechanism inside the room to give the guest an additional level of feeling secure. During my walks around Wernigrode, I noticed there were other hotels which had a star rating in excess of Altona's three star, but this hotel suited me as it was located close to the HSB and DB/Abellio railway stations. I didn't plan watching TV but a quick scan through the channel selection revealed something found in a lot of hotels. Channels are advertised but nothing appears on the screen. There was though a decent selection of radio channels offering a good selection of music. The period of my stay from 8 to 13 August was very warm and, as expected, there was no air conditioning available. I would have thought that fans could have been provided, but this wasn't the case. This meant opening the windows to allow air to circulate which then resulted in sleep being interrupted by noisy traffic and fire engines. It might be better to forego the benefit of overlooking the HSB marshalling yard and choose a room that doesn't overlook the street. The two single beds pushed together were comfortable and the duvet was sufficient. I would imagine though that outside the Spring and Summer months, additional blankets might be required. The bathroom was clean and functional and the shower unit had a head that stayed put once you had selected the most height and angle for showering. There as also a plentiful supply of hot water even at times when most guests would be showering. The open WiFi service was very good and no password was required. This is when it is useful to have a VPN service available to add a level of security to your messages and apps.

The hotel was very nice, the rooms, the beds, the location. Except when we came down for breakfast there was hardly anything left at the buffet, no meats, no cheese, no fruit; and it was not replenished, either. The staff was wonderful.

an excellent location for the steam railway have stayed a few times. Room this time a little small but adequate for my requirements

Twin room, comfortable for two people. Bathroom small but functional, The room and bathroom were clean and tidy. The shower was good. We stayed two nights. Breakfast was a highlight, great variety and excellent quality!

The hotel Altora aims itself at rail fans, due to the fact that it overlooks the Harzbahn railway. In this, it does not disappoint, with rail-themed rooms, some with a direct view over the steam shed. The decor in the dining area continues the theme, with drinks being brought to you by model train - a clever and very satisfying idea! The rooms are good and comfortable, with good bathrooms. It’s a step up from basic, but not the Kempinski - but that’s totally ok. It’s a particularly nice placed to stay, and this is made more so by the staff who seem to work hard and keep smiling. I am looking forward to coming back sometime.

Great place directly at the hsb steam train station

Of course the train in the restaurant is amazing but so is the food and the service

The hotel is clean and comfortable and generally all one can expect with a three start rating. Funktionalitet rather than decorative. It is located within a couple of minutes walk from the adjacent "main" and narrow guage railway stations. The old town centre is a gentle 5-10 minute walk. The hotel has a reasonable amount of car parking at the rear. There is a ramp from the car park to the back door and a lift between the various floors. The hotel has a railway theme, not least because of the views of the narrow guage steam locomotives being serviced opposition the restaurant. Breakfast was a buffet with cold meats, cheeses, youghort, fruit etc. warm bread rolls plus scrambled egg and bacon or sausages. There is free wi-fi but I found it only worked well in the restaurant/ breakfast room. There is a small outdoor terrace where one can sit and have a drink whilst watching the trains. Generally very quiet - the last train is at about 20:00. Friendly staff and price about average for the area. I would happily return.

My first impression was one of exceptional freshness in the room, which was of good size and comfort. Check in was quick and friendly and breakfast had a good selection. The location is perfect for exploring the town and region. For those taking the steam train into the Harz or traveling by normal train, the stations are across the road. The beautiful pedestrian zone which is also where you catch the shuttle to the castle overlooking the town, is a pleasant stroll less than five minutes straight down the street. You also get free regional bus transportation with your tourist card at checkin. Perfect location, friendly service, nice room, excellent value.

Great hotel. Especially if you have an interest in the railway. Great bar and restaurant. Could do with some basic choices on the menu. Breakfast was well presented and plenty to choose from. Staff helpful and polite. Stayed many time her and will do again.