Relax & Wanderhotel Poppengut

Everything was just perfect. It simply couldn't have been better.

The spa area is lovely, with a heated outdoor pool in a stunning setting, and there's delicious cake available every afternoon. We spent four absolutely wonderful days at this beautiful, idyllic hotel, and would give it two extra stars if we could. The service was impeccable and the food divine. Breakfast was perfect, and you can set off hiking or cycling right from the hotel. Dinner was first class too, although we felt a little rushed because the courses came one after another so quickly. That's a small complaint.

A special highlight was Queen Lea 🐱, a very sweet cat who made our stay even nicer. We had a wonderful time, and felt welcome from the moment we arrived thanks to the incredibly friendly, accommodating staff. The rooms and spa area were very clean and well cared for. The food was top quality and prepared with care, especially the breakfast, which had a wide choice of excellent products.

This stay was unpleasant from beginning to end, and we never felt welcome. I usually avoid writing bad reviews and I'm understanding of the hotel and restaurant business because I've worked in a hotel myself, but this was too much. The room prices are outrageous for what you get, and the hotel is not child-friendly. That would be fine if it clearly said children weren't welcome. Most guests seemed quite elderly. The staff were generally unfriendly, though the cleaning lady was very kind. At breakfast and dinner, we were asked about drinks only once at the start, then had to keep chasing the waiters. We often felt like a burden because of the annoyed looks, snide replies, and eye rolls. Dinner was served only from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, the shortest window I've ever experienced. At 8:30 pm, with three families still seated, the lights were switched off completely in one half of the restaurant while the other half stayed fully lit. It felt like being kicked out of a nightclub at 5:00 am. By 10:30 p.m. the whole hotel was pitch black. When my sister went outside to make a phone call, a man snapped at her and asked what she was doing there so late. My sister-in-law came down with gastroenteritis during the night, and we couldn't find any staff before 7:30 a.m. to get her a piece of dry bread. The hotel says guests can use the spa on their departure day until 3:00 p.m., but the website didn't mention that the pool only opens at 2:00 p.m. We chose the hotel partly because the children could still use the pool and play that day. I strongly recommend that Poppengut designate itself as "Adults Only."