Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden – The Leading Hotels of the World

The rooms are a little dated and could use an update, but the hotel has everything you might want and the service was perfect. I had an awesome time and can't wait to return.

We had two rooms booked together for our family of four, and stayed two nights at the Falkensteiner Hotel in Velden. The lake setting is beautiful, the wellness area was relaxing and well kept, and breakfast had plenty of good options. The hotel itself is elegant, and some staff were friendly and professional. Still, our stay didn't meet what I'd expect from a proper 5-star hotel. We were charged €80 per night for our child, but there wasn't even a third towel or any child-specific basics. The slippers in the rooms were only size 40, so they were no use to an adult with size 44 feet. In the bathroom, the towel dryer didn't work, and the shower kept swinging from scalding hot to freezing, with no way to set a comfortable temperature. The room assignment was also a problem. Even though both rooms were on the same family reservation, we ended up on different floors at opposite ends of the hotel. Nobody made an effort to put us anywhere near each other. At breakfast, several staff members couldn't speak English, which was inconvenient and surprising for a hotel serving international guests. The restaurant wine prices were hugely high, even by luxury hotel standards, and that detracted from the meal. The location and facilities feel premium, but coordination, service, and attention to guests need a lot of work. It felt like a 4-star stay sold and priced as 5-star. With more care for details and guest needs, this could be an outstanding hotel. For now, I'd keep expectations in check.

The staff and location were excellent, and the rooms were clean. We also really liked the restaurant and the spa. But there was a moldy pole in my room, and behind a small unlocked door I found a bunch of cables and the internet router. God forbid a child had touched it. That doesn't seem right for a 5-star hotel, and the rooms need to be secure. Apart from that, everything was magnificent!

The stay was made special by the attentive, accommodating staff and their service. They made it unlike anywhere else I've stayed. The room was spacious and comfortable, with amazing views, and the architecture is wonderful, an elegant mix of modern and traditional design.