Waldhotel Altenbrak

We still haven't had our money refunded, and I strongly advise against booking here. Our room had been booked in advance, but it was cancelled shortly before we arrived, for reasons that seemed dubious. We had to find somewhere else at very short notice. They offered no explanation, and we couldn't reach them by phone.

The valley view was beautiful, and the room looked recently renovated, with laminate flooring and modern infrared heating controlled by its own thermostat. Beds were comfortable, everything was very clean, and the amenities were standard. Good value for money. Breakfast was really good, though individual items have to be ordered by 8 pm the day before. The shower head holder was damaged.

There was no reception or staff on site, and no contact details, so we couldn't speak to anyone. We also couldn't find information about the area, the promised bottle of water, or check-out. The sauna and whirlpool weren't running, apparently for some time: the sauna space was being used for storage and didn't look properly cleaned. Breakfast, served in the building next door, had to be ordered. It was quite alright, but we got less cold cuts than ordered, no yogurt, and scrambled eggs cost extra. Our room was clean, unlike the bathroom, where limescale had built up in the shower, ventilation was completely broken in both rooms, and the toilet seat was broken. The hotel seemed neglected and run-down. The carpet was worn, wallpaper was peeling in places, and a decorative chest in the stairwell was being used as a glass recycling bin. Bed frames, a vacuum cleaner, and other things were left in the hallway, blocking access to rooms we couldn't identify. Soundproofing was poor enough that we could hear everything the neighbors did, including using the toilet. Getting there was difficult too. The road to the parking lot was very steep, nearly impassable for a fully loaded limousine. Entry was through a key box at the main entrance, but the door was constantly open and unlocked.

Breakfast itself was okay, but its hygiene practices need a lot of improvement. Our room seemed fine apart from the shower, where mold covered the tile grout up to about a meter high. It was unacceptable. The wallpaper was old and had a few bloodstains on it. We were given a room that hadn't been renovated.