Marienhof Velden - Mein Refugium

A clean place with a good, relaxing atmosphere, close to town.

The room and spa area were modern, clean, and good. The breakfast buffet was complete but unimaginative, and items were replenished very reluctantly. For the price, some of the half-board dinners were pathetic. The roast beef was meant to be a steak, but came as a thin machine-sliced piece of beef, like a pounded schnitzel. It wasn't properly cooked, more like stewed somehow. The salad buffet looked the same every evening, with no properly dressed salads, only raw vegetables to assemble and pour dressing over. The soup was mostly from a packet, and we had apple strudel for dessert twice in one week. For a hotel of this size, you'd expect beer on tap, but they only served bottled beer. It was poured into glasses that didn't match the bottle's contents, so our glasses ended up only three-quarters full, often without any head. We didn't find the price-performance ratio acceptable.

The owner's attitude made the stay unpleasant enough that we won't return. He came across as arrogant with guests, and that affected the atmosphere throughout the hotel. It's a pity, because the room itself was modern and clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. There’s no air conditioning, which could be an issue in summer. The place has potential, but for us this was a one-time visit.

Everything else was great, and the reception and restaurant staff were very friendly, but we won't be back. The owner called guests “idiots” within earshot, complaining to staff about “idiots using the pool.” That was especially unfortunate since both the staff and the owner had recommended the pool to us. The hotel itself is lovely, but his arrogance spoiled it.