Guesthouse Fernblick

We were glad to leave, even though our room was comfortable and spacious. The guesthouse didn’t seem to exist where the directions led us: we ended up at a sort of hospital with various clinics. After getting desperate, we went to the reception at the local Rosengarten Hotel and learned we’d been “upgraded” to a room there. The place was deserted and looked straight out of the 1970s. It was understaffed and impersonal, and breakfast, while generous, felt uncoordinated and had no personal touch either. Was it good value? I suppose so.

The rooms all have balconies, which is a plus if you’re lucky enough to get one on the right side. Otherwise they’re cold and dark. The guesthouse is part of a large hotel complex beside a clinic where, apparently, people come to die. The patients are all old, and the whole complex was built in the 60ies. There are two swimming pools, with tickets costing 5-8€, plus a bar and sauna for 8€. Prices for the cheap hotel run from 65 to 85€ a night. Noise is a real problem. You can hear your neighbors snoring or sneezing, and groups of about 10 blue collar workers come through for local, temporary jobs. They’re often noisy, partying together or playing things through loudspeakers when they’re alone, as if they’ve never heard of headsets. The management always seems to be in “computer says no” mode. I guess rigidity is a cultural thing in this country, and not the fault of the poor girls at reception, who have no clue what they’re doing. What got me was that the hotel was empty at weekends, yet the only rooms booked were next to each other. The receptionist said it was to optimize the cleaner’s time. That’s when I decided to write this review. Poor service and incompetence are one thing, BSing customers is worse.

The restaurant is a little pricey and doesn’t offer many choices, though the dishes are good. Breakfast has plenty of variety and is good quality. The rooms are small but have what you need, and the place is clean and practical. A good spot for staying a while without spending too much.

Silence is the biggest plus here. It’s in a good location, just a few steps from the town center. Not really the usual business trip hotel, but it’s basic and comfortable enough for a short stay.