Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt is located in the “red light” district just two blocks from the Frankfurt main train station, also a bus station. For those of us not accustomed to frequenting a red light district, the first few 
steps come with a slight hesitation to go any further. However just as Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt mentions in their description, the location is good. We did not witness any peddling of “services” nor anyone being bothered. And not only is the location of Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt very convenient to the Frankfurt train station, but the atmosphere changes entirely within two blocks. From Five Elements, it is only another few blocks into the business district and popular downtown area, abundant with cafés, shops, and the central plaza.
Here’s our take away from our stay at Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt:
Likes:
Rooms and common areas were very clean and the hostel has all the amenities. Layout is good, service and staff are great. Linens were clean, showers had plenty of hot water (see additional comments on showers below). Free coffee and tea. The hostel provided in-house entertainment such as movie nights, a band night (although the band was via a DVD on the movie screen during our stay), and a regular list of suggested activities and recommendations. The staff was knowledgeable and cordial, provided a map of the town and offered adequate descriptions and suggestions.
Dislikes:
As with most hostels one can expect some form of a malfunction with the shower. This one nears the top of the list with showers open to the floor with with no curtains or doors. The showers are not sunken, so there is no way to prevent the water from spreading across the entire tile bathroom floor. Silly – Don’t building managers and owners know water causes damage? Each shower has a broom handled squeegie to pull the water back towards the drain. Maybe a method to ensure free floor cleaning a few times per day? The showers have no soap or shampoo holders. Not a deal breaker, just a little convenience item.
“Free Breakfast in Winter” is advertised. We were there first week in January. Regarding the free breakfast in winter, we were told “yes, but not in early January” (??). Early January is not winter? Sure felt like it. However there is a 4 euro breakfast comprised of toast, cereal, cold cuts, and cheeses available year around, including the [apparently not-winter] month of January.
On the top floor the area is nice with it’s own kitchen and the rooms are nice, however partitioned with no insulation, so you can hear a pin drop on the hardwood floors anywhere on that level. Conversations and everything can be heard in every room on the floor.
A few things to note:
There seems to be a little confusion with the use of the words “free”, “rent”, “for sale”. Use of towels and alarm clocks for example are free, however require a deposit, refunded upon return. All fair and fine, just not quite advertised correctly. It is a 2 Euro deposit for a towel, 8 Euro deposit for an alarm clock. Hostel Five Elements even has a lap top guests can use in the lobby, by just giving them your ID to hold. Wi-Fi is free but outside of the lobby it is weak on the floors and in the rooms.
There is 5.50 Euro dinner special with choice of either: pasta and sauce with red wine, or chili con carne with wine or beer. The pasta is a bowl of ziti with some red sauce. Not a bad deal and good for a light meal, but if you are hungry you might want to look elsewhere. They say the chili is great, however the owner makes it, so if owner is not there or not in the mood – no chili. Their site and menu advertises “winter specials” including free soup. Same with the chili: No owner, no soup. And as we already know, somehow January is not part of winter at Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt. The good news is there are a number of restaurants right around the corner with a wide range of choices including Thai, Italian, Romanian, Australian, German, Indian, Turkish . . . pretty much everything.
Overall our stay at Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt was pleasant, and it is a good value. Their advertising is just a bit quirky – as is their perception of seasons. The staff was great and as always, there were interesting people to meet. The location really is convenient to everything, it just requires an open mind for those initial first few steps out of the train station. Conveniently, it is only about a 10 minute train ride from Frankfurt Main to the Frankfurt airport.
The address is: Moselstraße 40, Frankfurt, Germany 60329