By Laura Smith-Spark
BBC News, Dortmund |
 Fans from more than 40 nations are expected to stay during the games |
With bunk beds, single-sex dorms and little in the way of privacy, this is hardly five-star hotel territory. But over the course of the World Cup finals, the Fan Camp in Dortmund is offering budget travellers a handy and relatively cheap place to lay their heads.
The Westfalenhallen complex - more usually known as a trade fair centre - has been transformed with the addition of bunk beds to sleep 3,952 people.
Builders and plumbers moved in two weeks before the tournament kicked off to install temporary partition walls, 2,500 lockers, an internet cafe and 120 showers.
Big screens have been put up in two halls so fans can watch the games - including those played just 300m away in Dortmund's Westfalenstadion - before whiling the night away at the on-site disco.
The camp even has its own "beach bar" outside - complete with sand and potted palms - and the 30 euro-a-night (�20, $38) charge for short stays includes free public transport within the region.
Clean toilets
For Ewitts Rollocks, a 55-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago now running a business in New York, the Fan Camp offered a haven when his hotel booking fell through.
He has already been at the camp for a week - and may return for a few more days after a trip to Rome.
"I find it very pleasant," he said.
"The staff are very good, the toilets are clean and everything works. And there are always paper towels in the washrooms."
As for Trinidad and Tobago's chances in the World Cup, Mr Rollocks adds: "We are just happy to be here.
"We did not expect to do well, so it was a nice surprise to draw against Sweden."
No friction
Daniel Dreier, a public relations officer for Westfalenhallen, said people from more than 40 nations were expected to stay during the month-long tournament.
 Alcohol is served on site but there is no friction between rival fans |
"Last weekend we had 2,500 people - most from Sweden and a lot from England," he said.
"The Swedish fans loved the beach bar.
"We've also had people from Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Panama, Mexico and the US. This weekend we're hoping for another 2,000 for the Switzerland-Togo game."
Although alcohol is served on site there has been no friction between rival fans, Mr Dreier said, with everyone apparently enjoying the chance to meet people from all over the world.
The youngest guest so far has been three years old, and the oldest 66.
Many people are staying for up to two weeks and five visitors are booked in for the entire tournament.
Mixed review
However, not everyone has found the Fan Camp experience everything they hoped.
 |  The atmosphere is very good - but you couldn't say it is comfortable |
Polish football fan Peter Zickinski - mulling over Poland's 1-0 defeat by Germany - said: "We didn't know what to expect. We were a little bit surprised by the beds.
"But it's all right - it's another experience. The good thing is it's close to the stadium and the people are friendly."
Fellow Pole Mariusz Spalek, 23, visiting from Katowice with his father Henryk, also gave the camp a mixed review.
"It's nice, you can watch the game, there's beer and the people are fun," he said.
"There are people from lots of countries - lots of Germans and Mexicans, Brazilians.
"The atmosphere is very good - but you couldn't say it is comfortable."
But for anyone not tempted by the bunk beds, the venue has one more draw: it is hosting the 2006 RoboWorld Cup from 29 June to 3 July.
With an international cast of footballing robots battling it out on the pitch, who needs the world's human soccer stars?
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