Gut Voigtländer

I booked after reading the positive reviews, and now I’m honestly confused by them. This was one of my worst hotel stays in recent memory, and for the price, I can’t see how it qualifies as four stars. The listing photos are attractive but bear little resemblance to the place itself, which feels run down. Our room was large but dingy, and there wasn’t a lobby or any other comfortable common space. The whole hotel felt cold. The radiators were locked at a very low setting, though they did offer extra blankets. The food was terrible at both breakfast and dinner. Staff were either uninterested or outright rude, and often nobody was at the front desk. The so-called spa consisted of a broken sauna and a rest area with extremely uncomfortable loungers. The woman who gave massages seemed to have no idea what she was doing, and she was easily the rudest staff member. It was unpleasant from start to finish.

The staff were especially friendly, and getting around Blankenburg on foot was easy. Inside, the woodwork gives the hotel a calm feel, and although it sits a few meters from a busy road, the noise wasn’t too bad. The sauna has two cabins, a foot-washing spot, and a shower. We enjoyed the massage we booked. My husband and I came for a romantic weekend, but I wouldn’t call it a super-relaxing couples’ escape. Our suite had a bathtub but no shower cabin. The room was average, and the flooring and sofas looked old even though they were clean. Breakfast was also average, about what I’d expect from a three-star hotel, and it could get crowded and loud. We didn’t try dinner.

The reception staff could have been friendlier, and we could hear some noise from the nearby road. Still, the place is spacious, attractive, and has a rustic feel. Our double room turned out to be a roomy studio flat, with a small kitchen, a large bathroom and bathtub, and a huge bedroom, living, and dining area. There was also a pleasant balcony with a table and chairs.

We came across this place while visiting town and loved how authentic it felt. The staff were incredibly friendly. Dinner was fantastic: we had roast deer with “Knödel,” plus salmon on a potato patty as a starter. A good Argentinian Malbec rounded it all off. Definitely recommend.