Hotel Villa Altes Land

The Altes Land is ideal for cycling, with a fruit farm shop on practically every corner. We had a great stay with Mr. zum Felde, a super nice host. Breakfast was excellent, and the idea of seating all the guests around one table in the morning made it easy for pleasant conversations to happen. Emma the dog is so sweet. The accommodation had everything we wanted: comfortable beds, a big shower, and a great rooftop terrace. Wi-Fi worked flawlessly, though it’s easy to learn to do without your phone here. It was incredibly peaceful, with just the occasional seagull or tractor breaking the quiet. I definitely recommend it!

I came hoping to get away from work and obligations and relax, but that didn’t happen. On a damp, typical November day, the hunting lodge was cold, and there wasn’t a single promised log of firewood in the garage. The previous tenant’s trash was still in the kitchen, the sink hadn’t been cleaned, and the dishwasher was still full, which I foolishly emptied myself. There were old, frayed towels in the bathroom, bits of paper in the toilet brush holder, and the soap dispenser nozzle fell off when I used it. The website showed a large sofa, but there was only a small two-seater. The wooden path to the garage was covered in wet, slippery leaves, too. The key was in the lock, but the landlord wasn’t there in person as promised in writing, so I tried to contact him. He didn’t answer. His wife was on vacation and said she’d try to reach him. I waited 30 minutes. It was 9 degrees Celsius outside and not much warmer inside. Then an annoyed man with a dog came over from the neighboring house, at first unaware of my account. He completely disqualified himself by repeatedly insisting I’d booked two days earlier, as if he didn’t know his own booking calendar, and by interrupting me while I was explaining the problems. I left right away. Guests seem to be a nuisance to them, and I certainly didn’t feel welcome.

The grounds were spacious and had a lovely atmosphere, and breakfast was very good. We went on several bike rides with friends and had a great time. We’ll be back next year.

The hunting lodge had fantastic amenities, including a fireplace and steam sauna, which made it a special place for a break from the city. We had a wonderful stay, and our dog seemed to enjoy it too. We’d gladly return when the chance comes.