Casa Fortuna Bodensee

Such a beautiful apartment.

The location makes it easy to get around: Rewe, a pharmacy, Rossmann and the train station are all within a five-minute walk. There’s plenty of room, and the layout works well for two couples. The kitchen is well equipped, though it’s missing a bread knife and a baking tray. You also get a TV, radio, CDs and Wi-Fi, and parking is right by the building. The landlord was very nice, and the apartment is spacious and modern. I’m not usually someone who hunts for faults, but the photos and online reviews had led me to expect more. Quite a few things are broken or poorly looked after. The sloped upstairs ceilings take some getting used to, and you have to duck in places. We arrived to find it poorly cleaned, with hair, lint, cobwebs, dead flies, old toilet brushes, yellowed toilet seats and loose baseboards. There was dirt inside the lampshades too, and some bathroom shelves were loose. The downstairs bathroom mirror light didn’t work, so it was very dark. Water pressure was extremely low, and nearly vanished if someone turned on another tap. The walk-in shower tiles were dangerously slippery, like ice. The upstairs mattresses and sofa bed were completely worn out and no good for my back. We still had four nights left. The people in the downstairs bedroom didn’t complain. We’d been looking forward to relaxing in the whirlpool, especially with the rainy weather, but it was broken and very dirty. It took about 30 minutes to fill because of the weak water pressure. When it wouldn’t start and the cleaning light was on, pressing it brought old grime out of the jets. The water was completely yellow and dirty, and I’d already pulled a clump of hair from the plug. I emptied and cleaned the tub, then took a bath about an hour later without the whirlpool. That only lasted five minutes because my child woke up again. It’s a shame to have to point all this out. The apartment looks great at first and has a lot of potential, but the details left us disappointed. These problems could be fixed quickly and inexpensively, and then it really would deserve five stars. The landlord and the basic amenities weren’t the issue.

The owner was lovely, and we’d be happy to come back. This really is a dream apartment for relaxing and enjoying your stay. It’s a very modern holiday apartment, 133 sq m (1,000 sq ft) across two levels, the first floor and attic, with a balcony on each. There’s a whirlpool bathtub, a rain shower and a kitchen with a cooking island. It suits four people, though there’s only one bedroom on the first floor. The double bed is in the attic beside the open-plan living area.

We felt very comfortable here. The apartment was cozy, quiet and clean, with everything we needed. Having a washing machine and dryer was especially handy since we like to travel light. Rewe is very close by, so picking up bread rolls and other groceries was quick. We spent a week here on holiday.