Chalets am Diemelsee in Heringhausen

Each house has its own individually designed and furnished terrace, which is a nice touch. The holiday home complex is beautiful, with free parking and views over Diemelsee. It belongs to Goebel's Hotel.

The natural setting around Lake Diemelsee and the location were lovely, so we’d consider the chalets again if the living area were improved and the house felt a little more like a cabin. The two bathrooms were very well equipped, and our mountain chalet above the complex had a good layout for four, with two bedrooms, a lake-view terrace, and a sauna in the second bathroom. The park itself is beautifully landscaped, with around 20 chalets where dogs are welcome, access to the lakeside hotel across the way, and a heated outdoor pool. It was wonderfully quiet in mid-September. The living room was the letdown. There was only a small, uncomfortable two-seater and an armchair, and their position relative to the TV was awkward enough that we had to move furniture. The room was dark and not very cozy, with just three seats for four people unless you brought in a kitchen chair. The second bedroom had no proper storage like a wardrobe or dresser, just a hallway dresser with small drawers, while a large sofa bed took up space beside the bed. A shame, especially with that lake view.

The staff at the hotel and reception were sensational, the kind of service we hardly see these days. We ate dinner there twice and were very happy with the all-inclusive buffet, with drinks extra. The menu selection wasn’t huge, but the food was excellent, and children’s meals are available if you ask. The chalets had everything we wanted, including a small but nice sauna, and there was wood by the hut for a terrace fire. We were two adults and two children and stayed three nights. Willingen is about a 20-minute drive away. The kids’ playroom is fun for ages 0-8, and was helpful through the constant rain we had. It’s all quite expensive, but worth the money. We’ll keep the hotel and chalets in mind for another short break.

We’d recommend the premium chalet if you can live with two drawbacks. The location isn’t very touristy, and there are no groceries to buy in town, though a car makes that manageable. The other issue is the mezzanine floor, which is just wooden planks. Every upstairs step carries through the house, and you can see into the bathroom from the upstairs bedroom. It worked for our own family of six, but could be awkward if sharing with another family. The house itself has a very good layout and amenities. Being connected to the lakeside hotel is a real plus, since we could use its indoor playground and small pool. The bread delivery service was handy too.