Cheap sleep near the Frankfurt airport?

February 23, 2008 3:23 PM

Flight departing FRA (the Frankfurt am Main Flughafen) at 7AM. Anyplace nearby where the budget traveler can stay, in order to get through security in time for boarding?

Possibly have to take a very early S-Bahn in from Frankfurt Hbf, but I'd rather not.

posted by Rash to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

The Hotel Ibis 4 km away has rates as low as €69/night. Not exactly budget, but not exorbitant either. The other hotels in this chain I have stayed at have been good.
posted by grouse at 3:39 PM on February 23, 2008

I stayed at the Mercure Kelsterbach a few months ago. A few minutes from the airport and they provide a free shuttle. I think I paid about €80.
posted by sanko at 5:00 PM on February 23, 2008

The Ibis sounds familiar. I stayed at a Novotel and had no problem getting to the airport for an early morning flight.
posted by Doohickie at 7:51 PM on February 23, 2008

Ibis is pretty good. They are the Ikea of hotels.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:31 PM on February 23, 2008

FWIW, I had an ass-o'clock plane out of FRA last summer, and the taxi was only €26 coming from the Festhalle-Messe area. The difference in costs you're looking at (difference in lodging vs. your preferred lodging + taxi) may not be big enough to sweat over.

no, i'm not pulling the number out of my ass, it's in my expense report ;-)
posted by whatzit at 2:49 AM on February 24, 2008

Response by poster: I'm sure you're not, but to me, the red flag in your comment is "expense report."

I'm seeking budget lodging, which means only a bit more than your taxi fare, whatzit. €70 now equals a hundred dollars, so I may end up attempting sleep at that airport.
posted by Rash at 4:27 PM on February 24, 2008

No no, I know you're looking for budget lodging, I do too, even when it's not my money! I just wanted to differentiate it from a number that might or might not have been true at some time in the past. But if you consider €69 to sleep near the airport, vs. €26 for a cab (ballpark) plus €25 for a hostel (e.g. frankfurt-hostel.com - just looking for rates) - you're still saving money not to stay at the airport. That was the point I was aiming for.
posted by whatzit at 4:04 AM on February 25, 2008

Response by poster: C'mon, a taxi from Frankfurt to the Flugplatz? This is Europe! The S8 or S9 S-Bahn must be only a couple euros from Frankfurt HBf to the Flughafen. But sanko, thanks for the tip re: Kelsterbach -- that's the name I needed. This page shows the lodging there, including a couple pensions with €30 singles. And Kelsterbach's so close (3km), I could walk, if need be.
posted by Rash at 3:35 PM on February 27, 2008