Serways Hotel Lüneburger Heide West

The staff were very friendly, and the hotel was spotless and clearly well looked after. It's close to the Autobahn, several places to eat, and a fuel station. Finding it can be a little tricky if you're not arriving via the Autobahn, but you'll get there quickly. A great place for a few nights.

There are several restaurants and coffee shops here, and the restrooms were kept clean. When we arrived from the highway, though, the number of cars was striking and the parking area was really crowded. There were long lines for the restrooms too. I don't blame management, since that isn't something they can control.

The best thing here is the large, well-built parking lot. The rest feels like a typical Serways, all glass and chrome, shiny but fake, and expensive. Service and maintenance were poor, and the quality wasn't good. It seems they saved on staff after spending on construction. The staff were arrogant and paid minimum wage. Trying to buy something while the cashier was in the back texting was a bad experience. Trucks from eastern Europe sometimes block the access roads because drivers either can't park or don't want to walk. That's not unique to this place, though, and is another issue altogether.

The toilets were clean, but you have to pay to use them. Nobody really spoke English, and they weren't prepared for people with food allergies. The indoor play area for kids was very dirty.