Wellnesshotel Paradiesquelle

The room itself was warm and adequate, though we found long hairs on the unused bath towels. We also slept well once things quieted down, thanks to a comfortable, good-sized bed. Our dog was welcome for €20 a night, and that made planning the trip easier. The room had been warmed before we arrived, and the heating worked properly in the cold weather. Getting here by train was easy, too, since the hotel is centrally located a short walk from the station. The rest of the hotel felt dark and unwelcoming, and was very cold. We had to put on our winter jackets when we left the room. There were no tea or coffee facilities in the room, and the bar, reception desk, and wellness area were all closed during our stay. That was surprising for a hotel presenting itself as four star. We had confirmed our arrival time beforehand, but nobody was there to greet us at the agreed time. The owner told us by phone he'd be there in about 30 minutes and said to take our key from the desk. That lack of reception and face-to-face welcome made us uneasy at the start. The hallway lights were off at check-in, and the owner was casually smoking an e-cigarette nearby, which didn't feel professional. Because there weren't many guests, we had to choose specific times for breakfast and dinner when we arrived. At dinner, we were the only guests in the room, while the owner sat two tables away doing paperwork. It was hard to relax or have a private conversation. In the morning, we couldn't find any milk, and although a cooked breakfast was listed as an option, there was no staff member around to order it. The rooms also seemed poorly soundproofed: other guests shouting woke us around 3am. We'd booked for one night while visiting to hike, without especially high expectations, but left with an unfavourable impression of the hotel and its management. The owner later called to encourage me to write a review, and I hope this feedback is taken constructively. Better service, attention to detail, and communication could improve the experience. This stay didn't meet what we'd expect of a four-star hotel, and we wouldn't choose to return.

The location and the friendly, helpful service were the best parts of our stay. It was a last-minute trip, so we didn't have many accommodation choices. The hotel feels dated and wasn't great value for the price. We had to switch rooms after finding a bad smell in the first one. The second was better and had a very nice balcony view, though its glass-walled bathroom had a raised lip that meant you had to be careful using it. Breakfast was average.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and gave us information about the area. We also liked the excellent food, afternoon cakes, and good range of wines at reasonable prices. There was plenty of parking. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a large balcony furnished with a table and chairs, plus a walk-in shower with a rain shower head and lots of hot water. The hotel is right across from the Salamander Railway, making it a great base for taking the train to the top of Schneeberg and hiking from there.

The garden was nice, the bed comfortable, and breakfast good, but the stay wasn't worth the price. The nightly rate is quite high for average quality. We booked a deluxe double room, yet got a worse room than our friend, who had booked a standard single. That makes no sense. The bar and restaurant both close at 21:00, so after a full day of hiking you're left in a ghost town, with nowhere to eat, buy food, or even get a beer.