I visited a friend in Kiel over xmas and got a 2 night rail/hotel package from Deutsche Bahn's travel arm, Ameropa which worked out cheaper than the train ticket plus the 60-70 euro/night a much lower standard of hotel costs in town, although Ameropa is closed for most of the week so 'last minute' travel is a bit of a misnomer. Hotel is right on the Kiel fjord (a twenty minute walk out of the middle of town) and adjacent a very nice park. Ask for room up top as there is a great view of the bay with ships passing and winter fog etc. Hotel decor is cold war deluxe, rooms fairly well sound-insulated, excellent (inclusive) buffet breakfast obviously with a cook who selects the best fruit etc. and a heated pool in the basement. Staff friendly and professional, go out of their way to speak english when they hear your accent, 11AM book out. There's probably not a lot of reasons to visit Kiel unless you know someone there, but people are friendly and you can go for a walk along the frozen beach (generally need a car to get there), esp. at a settlement out of town called Kaliforien where there is supposed to be a shore break sometimes... Would recommend hotel and stay there again, even without the package is still a good deal.