Pension LODE

The cabins had everything we needed: air conditioning, a fridge, a shower, a kettle, and glasses. Dinner was brought right to our room, as the photo shows. Food was very good, with plenty of choice across two menus. They bring you a list and you pick which one suits you. There's also a small buffet with ice cream, water, and sauna. Don't come expecting a Turkey or Egypt style feast, though. The food is balanced and you won't overeat. The grounds are tidy, with a zoo and birds all around, and the peaceful atmosphere is hard to describe. The air was so fresh I almost felt dizzy on the first day. The lake is beautiful, and you can rent catamarans, go fishing, or even ride a horse. There are two bathhouses. We tried the small one near the entrance, which is great for people who enjoy a bathhouse and steam bath. It's tucked away, so nobody will bother you. The setting is top-notch, practically an island.

My husband and I stayed here in December, just before Christmas. We liked the scenic, quiet natural setting, and there are several saunas on the property. The sauna was excellent. The house stayed very warm despite the cold outside, even feeling a bit too warm upstairs and in the bathrooms. Towels and a fridge, microwave, kettle, glasses, and mugs were provided. There's a big playground and a large petting zoo. Some animals have roomy enclosures and seem comfortable, but I felt bad for the dogs and the fox because their spaces are very small. The meals were a real disappointment. I wasn't expecting anything fancy, but the food felt like cafeteria fare, a bit like kindergarten or school meals: sweet milk porridge and sweet cottage cheese dumplings at breakfast, then mashed potatoes and a cutlet for lunch and the second course. It wasn't very tasty to me, though I know tastes differ. There were hardly any vegetables, portions were modest, and there was no choice. At similar places we've visited, breakfast was at least a small buffet, or you chose dishes in advance from a menu. Here, they simply handed out the food. You can't buy anything at the cafe either, so if you don't like what's served and don't eat it, you'll be hungry. That's the main reason we might not return. The guesthouse also feels like it may once have been luxurious, but is gradually run down now. The faucets in the house are rusty, the water smells strongly of rust or metal, and some parts of the grounds could be better maintained. One evening we walked back from the bathhouse in complete darkness, uphill from the shore. A couple of solar lights along the path would help. Thankfully, our phones had flashlights. There are enough little issues to leave a less than ideal impression, even though the original idea for the place is very good.

We stayed in chalet #31 with the family from May 26th to May 28th. The house was warm, clean, cozy, and had everything we needed. The weather wasn't on our side, but we still had a lovely time, even taking walks in the rain. The cafeteria food was excellent, tasty, plentiful, and filling. The mini zoo was great too. If you want to feed the animals, bring plenty of vegetables. Feed at the bar costs 6 rubles for 600 grams, and there are lots of animals.

Four days here and I'm completely relaxed, away from the daily bustle. This is a quiet place for getting close to nature. We feed the animals, live just 10 meters from the roe deer, and have learned to walk the smallmouths. In the evenings we listen to the roosters, watch the sunset from soft chairs on the pier, or take a catamaran out. We spent two days sunbathing at the beach before the weather got colder. There's pine scent in the air and we make fires. The entertainment program is low key and unobtrusive. 😅 That's fine for us, though with the rain I wouldn't put a children's room with so few toys in a separate room. It'd be cool if they held master classes sometimes. 🙏 The accommodation, service, cleanliness, tasty food, and variety of dishes all get 5+++. 🤞 A couple of work related issues came up, but each was handled quickly and kindly, so there were no problems. We also went to Lepel for the embankment and two museums. I recommend it 👍