ahead burghotel

The storks that return to greet guests each year say something about the place. We’d love to come back too. The setting is scenic and full of wildlife, and we felt at home as soon as we arrived. It was a peaceful, comfortable place to recharge and feel close to nature. As fully vegan guests, we especially appreciated being able to choose freely from the breakfast buffet and the dinner menu. The saunas were lovely, particularly before the weekend crowds, when we nearly had them to ourselves.

After a day outdoors, the fine spa area was a great place to unwind. The park by the river Löcknitz is lovely and feels respectful of nature, with kingfishers and otters in the river. The hotel is entirely vegan, and breakfast had plenty of choices to suit different preferences and needs. Our room was spacious, with a nice bathroom, and everything was clean and in order. Staff were helpful and polite throughout. We’d happily recommend it.

We stayed in an Eco+ Room in the castle’s historic school building. It was roomy and quiet, with big windows and warm light. The furnishings were simple but thoughtful, and the accessible bathroom had the essentials. The shower drained slowly, though, so water pooled while we showered. Since cleaning only begins on the third day, bio waste bags in the room would help keep fruit scraps from smelling in an open bin. Place to V serves very good vegan food in a lovely setting, but the menu stays the same at lunch and dinner. More options would help guests staying several days, especially with few vegan alternatives nearby. Prices are on the high side. Breakfast was a highlight, with a generous selection of fresh, nicely prepared food. The hotel has a calm feel throughout, with warm indirect lighting and quiet, well-chosen music in shared areas. Staff were friendly and helpful, and my dog was welcomed with a small gift. The garden is beautiful even in winter, good for a walk or a short run. We’re already considering another visit in a different season. The compact gym is well equipped and has towels, though early risers may find it locked before reception opens at 7:30, despite being listed as open 24 hours. The mixed-gender sauna provides towels and robes. You can handle maps and service requests through the hotel app, and laundry is charged by the item. There’s a communal refrigerator instead of mini fridges in the rooms. The town is tiny and idyllic, especially in the snow. It felt like a quiet, restorative retreat. We’d give the stay 4.5 stars.

The road-facing room looked onto cobblestones and people passing by, so there wasn’t much of a view, and the two mattresses pushed together to make the double bed weren’t comfortable for us. The room was otherwise cozy and simple. We appreciated the hotel’s thoughtful commitment to sustainability, and the gym was a plus, especially the sports gear, from ping pong and badminton to footballs. Breakfast fell a little short compared with other vegan hotels we’ve tried. The bread was always dry, the plain tofu scramble needed more seasoning, and the “salmon” tasted like pickled carrots. Even when we asked, there wasn’t an alternative to machine coffee, not even iced coffee on a sunny 26 degree Saturday. When the machine broke on our second morning, we hoped the team might offer coffee from the lunch restaurant, but that didn’t happen. The coffee was disappointing throughout. Even the watery, weak drinks in the restaurant, where beans from Elbgold were supposedly used, were a letdown. Staff were generally friendly, and Oliver at reception deserves a special mention for making us feel welcome from the start. We also thought extras like yoga or the tower visit could have been included in the price. A room service option and a burger on the menu would have been great. The stay was decent, but a lot of small flaws added up and kept it from meeting our hopes. For us it’s a solid 3-star stay. We still enjoyed our time at ahead and would consider giving it another try someday. You can see more of our experience in motion in our vegan travel vlogs on YouTube: @theveganboos.