Gästehaus-zum-See

Really good.

Ms. Stark was friendly, discreet, and easy to reach if we had questions. Our room was clean and practical, the beds comfortable, and the kitchen well equipped. There were plenty of towels and a hairdryer in the bathroom. The guesthouse is also very conveniently placed: Lake Federsee, the market square, spa gardens, and Federsee Museum are each about five minutes away, with Wackelwald around ten minutes on foot. We had a wonderful stay and would gladly come again.

The apartment itself is basic but okay, though there’s no microwave. It also had a lingering smell of cooking fumes that I couldn’t clear, even with a lot of ventilation, although I hadn’t cooked. I suspect the extractor hood filter is clogged, and the yellow mark on the ceiling above it seems to point that way. What made this worse was the way my complaint was handled. I badly sprained my ankle on the outside stairs last night: the motion detector came on much too late, I missed the bottom step, which is darker than the others, and the railing is missing a piece. There’s also a dent in the floor just after the last step. When I raised these issues, she said I couldn’t use a light switch properly and claimed everything was brand new. I wouldn’t have written this if the landlady had dealt with my complaint professionally. Having that damage and then being treated rudely on top of it is unacceptable.

We spent a week as two people in apartment No. 9. It was spacious, bright, and practical, with a separate double bedroom, a kitchenette in the large living and dining area, and a balcony with an awning and a lovely view. There was a radio and TV, plus a coffee maker and kettle. A microwave in the basement is shared by all rooms, but there’s no toaster, so bring your own spices, sugar, and similar things. The Gästehaus zum See (Guesthouse by the Lake) is quiet but centrally located. The Adelindis Thermal Baths, spa gardens, and market square are two minutes away on foot; shops are three to four minutes, and the Federsee Museum is five minutes away. There’s free parking at the building and an elevator, with two garages available for a small extra charge. Bikes can be kept in a lockable storage room. Free Wi-Fi is available in some rooms, with access points in the hallway by the elevator. Signal strength depends on the room layout, and we measured about 10 Mbps. Each device needs its own connection, so tethering within the network isn’t possible.