How to Reach the Pullman Dresden Newa
The Pullman chain in Dresden, Germany, part of the Accor Group, is an efficient, large-scale business hotel. The best part is that the hotel is located five minutes from the main train station (300 meters) off a huge pedestrian throughway called the Prager Strasse, the city’s main shopping street and similar to an outdoor shopping mall, which leads directly into the Old City when you set out by foot.
Dresden has two souls, the old one and the new one. Bombed almost to smithereens during WWII, it received funds from countries around the world for a complete rebuilding. Walking from the hotel into the Old City (about 20 minutes at an average pace) gives you a real sense of the history of the city with its lovingly restored Baroque-era palaces and buildings.
Hotel Activities & Facilities
There is a small gym on the second floor, as well as a relaxation room with comfortable lounge chairs, plus a spa where you can book treatments like facials and haircuts. Fitness obsessed guests can book training sessions with a personal trainer and follow the two jogging routes near the hotel.
Guest Room and Facilities Assessment
This high-rise hotel gives guests a great birds-eye view of the city. My room on the 13th floor (there are 14 floors) faced away from the train station and towards the Old City, overlooking the pedestrian thoroughfare. Expansive views from sunrise to sunset could be enjoyed from the floor-to-ceiling window—a terrific perspective of the city.
The TV was mounted above a compact desk with a bank of plugs for recharging devices. Seating options included a comfy desk chair and a small sofa mounted along the opposite wall. High- speed free Wi-Fi was fast and reliable.
Lighting was excellent, with bedside pendant lights and a track light system near the window; the bathroom nook has its own lighting. One design element I didn’t like was the clear glass shower stall (with its own wrap around curtain for the modest), which separated the bathroom sink and the WC. A bathrobe, slippers and bath amenities from New York’s famous pharmacy Bigelow were included; the hairdryer was placed in a drawer under the sink.
The mini fridge was stocked with mineral water, apple juice, one bottle of Coca-Cola and a chocolate bar but no price list, and a shelf held the kettle and Nespresso coffee machine (with cups/saucers, coffee pods, tea bags included. A small coat rack with two pegs and a low shelf for putting handbags and other personal items at the entry way was a plus.
Guests are provided with a key to access the second-floor ironing room, where they can iron their own clothes if they can’t wait for housekeeping to do it, perfect for quick touch-ups before that all-important meeting.
Drivers of electric cars can recharge their vehicles in the underground garage.
Breakfast Buffet/Bar
The dining room is well designed with high ceilings and the breakfast buffet was excellent, with sections for fruit, yogurt, cured meats, cheese, eggs, and unusual menu items like rice pudding and pancakes (not often seen at a German breakfast buffet). A separate section featured breads, rolls, preserves, honey, packaged yogurts, and cereals. If you’re a tea drinker, you’ll appreciate the tea selection. There was coffee in a thermos at my table and the fancy coffee drink machine at the buffet.
The bar is located inside the hotel, off the lobby, and there is also an alfresco bar to handle large numbers of guests.
Staff
With large groups checking in frequently, the front desk can be a little brusque and curt, but it’s not meant to be rude.
Wise Traveller Assessment: 10/10
I enjoyed my four-night stay at the Pullman Dresden. Breakfast is served starting at 6:30 a.m.!
