Leist-Sonne-Engel

We found this hotel by chance and booked very spontaneously for the last weekend in January. For some reason we were the only guests, but we never felt alone; we were warmly welcomed. The staff were very friendly, everything was ready for us, and even the adjoining rooms were prepared rather than left in hibernation. Everything was spotlessly clean. There are excellent places to eat in the local restaurants and shops. The Rhön Heights are about a 10-minute drive away, with lovely cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. We'd gladly return for longer than a weekend. In summer, the Ulstertal valley must be lovely for cycling and hiking. Parking in the town center is the one drawback. It's best to ask at reception first. There are plenty of free public parking spaces over the weekend.

With below-freezing temperatures and only cold water, it was impossible to shower because there was no heating. The hotel owner doesn't seem to care.

The room and breakfast worked well for our cycling trip, and both the room and bathroom were clean. The bathroom wasn't very modern, though. Having to pay €2 to charge the e-bike felt petty when the electricity would realistically cost around 15 cents.

The town is very sleepy 😀, though it does have some nice playgrounds. The hotel has a charmingly quirky but welcoming feel, with clean rooms that have just the essentials. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We skipped breakfast since we were the only guests then.