Waldhotel Soodener-Hof

I’ve stayed in better places. The cleaning could have been done more thoroughly.

Breakfast was good and generous, with rolls, cold cuts, jam, cheese, hot eggs, and coffee. The hotel is also in a quiet location. Unfortunately, the rest of my stay was a mess from the start. I booked by phone and got confirmation by email for Waldhotel Soodener Hof. My first room was musty and freezing because the heat wasn’t working, and I was shivering. There were no lights in the hallways either. The whole spa area was freezing, and although the sauna was available by advance reservation, that would not have helped while the spa area was like a block of ice. I called the mobile number listed for reception and reached the owner. I reported the problems, and he said he’d deal with them. Hours later, a staff member came to tell me I was being moved to another building. He helped me pack my suitcase while I was still cold. We made our way through the dark hallway using my phone flashlight. The heating worked in the new room, but the walls were still very cold. The next morning, another staff member prepared breakfast and told me these issues had been going on for a long time. She said many rooms had no heat or hallway lighting, some toilets wouldn’t flush, and my first room was apparently known for problems. She said guests complained often and that she had repeatedly reported these things to the manager, but nothing was done. She suggested I call him, but he didn’t answer. When we went back to the spa area, she tried the heating again, but it still didn’t work and everything was freezing. I asked to leave. The manager told her I could go, but that he thought I should pay €50 as a gesture of goodwill. I didn’t do that. I’d had a roof over my head for the night, two rolls, and a cup of coffee, and paid €30 for those. Then the manager wrote that I didn’t set the prices and that he’d send the whole matter to a debt collection agency. I asked whether he knew he had literally ruined my entire vacation. There wasn’t even an apology. I’d had a two-hour commute, and I lost the €86 I had paid the day before for the salt cave, which was actually the main reason I’d booked the stay. I couldn’t get that money back. It was just heartbreaking. I was booked into a hotel already known to have problems, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. Four days after I left, I received a bill for the full €650, with a deadline to pay. I contacted my legal counsel, who wrote a letter saying I owed nothing. A week later, I got another text saying everything was being sent to a debt collection agency. Weeks passed, then my legal counsel emailed to say the whole thing was being dropped because the other party hadn’t responded. What more can be said?

We had a great week a week after Easter and felt very comfortable. The wellness area was lovely, water was available, and the massages we booked were very good. Our room and bed were great too. Breakfast came with a lovely morning post, and we enjoyed the delicious coffee. Dinner was always tasty and suited us, and the staff were consistently friendly and attentive. The town center is about a 15-minute walk away, and the area is great for excursions. We’ll happily recommend it to others.

The staff were all very friendly and helpful, and the spacious breakfast room is lovely, with a wraparound terrace and a fantastic view of the town. Breakfast was okay, and they made egg dishes fresh on request. Drinks were available from a fridge whenever we wanted and charged on the day we left. There was also a coffee machine for the afternoon. The hotel feels somewhat dated and seems to be getting modernized bit by bit, but cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Spiders stayed on the ceiling for three days, and the terrace ashtrays weren’t cleaned. The restaurant had closed, which wasn’t clear when booking. The pool on the first floor wasn’t very clean either, and there were no changing facilities in that area. There’s no elevator, so I’d only partly recommend it to people with mobility issues. Also, the driveway is very steep and parking is quite expensive at €6 per day.