Regiohotel Naturresort Ilsenburg

The breakfast deserves its own mention. There was a generous selection, including honeycomb, which I'd never had at breakfast before and really enjoyed. It earned the hotel an extra star for me. The trip itself was pleasant, and the hotel is in a peaceful spot near the Heinrich Heine trail to the Broken. The rooms feel a little dated and could use some renovation. For the value, I'd have given it three stars without that breakfast.

Check-in was straightforward, and getting in was easy. The hotel was clean, the rooms were large, and the area was quiet and pleasant.

The staff were so friendly, and the buffet breakfast was fantastic, with pretty much everything you could want and then some. It was a comfortable hotel at a mid-range price, though the rooms could have been cleaner. The pool was out of order during our stay. The location is the big draw for anyone who likes walking. You can head straight into the woods and start a hike as soon as you leave the hotel.

When we arrived, we found out the wellness area was still closed, even though wellness hotels around the country had started reopening. After our long drive, we'd been looking forward to using the sauna and having a nice dinner. We tried to make the best of it with a hike and dinner instead, but the receptionist said there were no tables available and could only put us on a list. Then we walked into our room and were hit by a horrible smell. The blinds were broken, and the window wouldn't open all the way. The receptionist said they'd pour detergent down the drain to deal with the odor. After 15 minutes, it was still there. We called around and found another wellness hotel with an open wellness area that would also welcome us for dinner. When we told the receptionist we were leaving, they offered us another room. Too little, too late. We'd booked a weekend at Naturresort Berghotel Ilsenburg through its website, and the drive to the hotel had been beautiful. We were expecting to relax, but that wasn't how things went.