Krone-Limmatquai Hotel Zurich

This hotel is not only really close to the train station, but right on the Limmat River a little before it empties out into Lake Zurich. On the east bank of the river, it's near a lot of the bars and restaurants, and it's also right by where all of the churches and medieval city sites are. The rooms themselves could use a new paint job, but there is enough space for your luggage without it being crowded, and there is plenty of closet space, too. My room (a single) had a large sink in it for 69 CHF/night. Beware of what looks like a mini-fridge in your room. While it may be stocked with bevvies which one would keep in the refrigerator in the US, the box only looks like a fridge. Well, in theory there is a plug so that it could keep things cold, but even if you plug it in it doesn't seem to do anything.

For the cheapest rates you get a sink, but the toilets and shower are separate -- yet still on the same floor as you. Some rooms have private bathrooms. You leave your room key at the hotel, but you get two keys to keep with you -- one to let yourself into the hotel after the reception closes, and the other that releases the key to your room -- it's a pretty good security system. Definitely better than the places where you just leave the key hanging on the wall and grab it when you return. The hotel will allow you to keep your bags at hotel either until you check in or after you check out but before you leave the city, but in this case the bags are just in a room next to the reception but without any tickets or locked up. I paid 59 CHF/night for my room (in July 2007), so for location it's definitely worth it.

Breakfast is an extra 10 CHF/day, from 7-10 am. While I didn't actually get it, it doesn't look like much. There's a bakery just up the street, so if you want something other than bread with spreads and coffee, you may want to stop there instead.