I stayed in the East Hotel in Hamburg about a year and a half ago. I remember it being quite pricey at the time but it was peak season and it was worth the money. Really unusual place with lovely staff and definitely worth checking out. Plus it's beside the train and the Reeperbahn. Wouldn't recommend the Reeperbahn though, well, depending on what you're going there for I suppose..... We did a bit of research before going and went to the pubs and restaurants where the 'locals' went and had a ball. Whatever they say about Germans being boring is untrue - in Hamburg anyway. Great city