Ferienwohnungen im Gezeitenhaus

The communication was friendly and uncomplicated, and everything was handled smoothly and professionally. Gezeitenaus in Bensersiel is in a great spot, peaceful but close to the sea and all the important places around town. The adventure pool is an especially easy walk away. It’s ideal for walks, bike rides, or just getting away from daily life. We’ll definitely return, and can wholeheartedly recommend Gezeitenaus.

The location near the harbor and beach is why we came back to Gezeitenhaus for a second year. The apartments are furnished in a dated, sparse style, rather like some workers' accommodation in the Ruhr area. That matters less in good weather, when you're mostly out, but the wide-angle photos make the rooms look bigger than they are. The street has also become much busier since another new hotel opened. Trucks deliver catering to the hotels in the cul-de-sac around the corner early in the morning, and traffic is much heavier throughout the day than it was a year ago. This time we stayed in "Seeschwalbe" (Seagull). The fridge was still a problem mentioned in another review ten months earlier: we had to bail several centimeters of water out of the vegetable drawer before switching it on. The door seal doesn't close properly and the freezer compartment door is cracked, so the back wall ices over within days and water sometimes drips below from the freezer. We also mopped the floor the day after arrival because there were no doormats at either entrance and people naturally track in dirt, especially in the rain. The toilet seat was loose and the sleeping alcove light didn't work at first, but the manager fixed both quickly. The curtains shown in the photos for the living room and bathroom seem to have disappeared, so bring a sleep mask. The sleeping alcove curtains were missing too, though there were rods and tracks. The kitchen lighting wasn't really enough for cooking, partly because a wall light over the counter was out. There's limited storage in the fridge and cabinets for more than two people. The so-called children's room is a cramped bedroom with two beds and a wardrobe, and the dark wooden ceilings make the rooms feel even smaller. The dining chairs are low against a high table. The living room sofa and chairs aren't very comfortable anymore and could cause back pain. The mattresses have seen better days, and some duvets are thin. There's only one uncoated cast iron pan, which makes morning fried or scrambled eggs a challenge. On our first visit, we wiped down surfaces and wardrobe interiors ourselves because the wardrobes clearly hadn't been dusted in a long time. Cleaning needs better oversight: the superficial, average-at-best job isn't acceptable for an almost €70 mandatory "deep cleaning" fee. Inventory lists and checks could help replace missing kitchen utensils. You have to bring or provide practically everything: a dishcloth, tea towel, one dishwasher tablet, and some salt in the shaker were all we got. No coffee filters, tea bags, or sugar either. Other places in the region have done better.

The terrace was a nice spot for the afternoon sun, though the seat cushions are very thin and could be replaced. The kitchenette had what we needed, and the lack of an oven wasn't a big deal. The Wi-Fi worked perfectly, but the landline phone couldn't be used because it wasn't connected to the Fritzbox. Overall, we still had a good stay and I'm giving it four stars. With so many rentals to manage, I can understand it may be difficult to keep everything in good condition and check it all. We spent a week in the ground-floor "Seeschwalbe" (Seagull) apartment at Gezeitenhaus. It's functional, if rather dated. The two mattresses in the sleeping alcove double bed are very worn and badly need replacing. You can't block out the light in that area: there are rods and tracks but no curtains, just pleated blinds for privacy. Only the separate room can be darkened with curtains, which is especially inconvenient in summer. It looked clean at first, but there were cobwebs in every corner, the rounded corners hadn't been cleaned, the shower edges looked greasy and dirty, and the cosmetic mirror had fingerprints and dust. The windows badly need cleaning as well. Some dishes, utensils, and appliances in the cupboards were still dirty from previous guests. The fridge has seen better days, with loose veneer and a leaking freezer compartment.

The house is lovely, but "Lachmöwe" (Laughing Gull) may not work well for older people. Getting to the main bedroom on the top floor means climbing a very steep staircase, and one of the steps is a different height from the others.