Familotel Deichkrone

Really cool.

We stayed here a year ago and everything was fine then. We even got tickets for the seal sanctuary as a welcome gift. This time we asked about them, in case they’d simply forgotten, but they weren’t handed out. The cost-cutting was noticeable everywhere. We also weren’t clearly told online while booking that the swimming pool and sauna were closed. We only learned that after the booking was complete and payment had gone through. The room and other areas were okay. The food was awful. Breakfast was okay, though almost always the same, while lunch and dinner were very greasy. It seemed like most of the food was frozen, with fruit, bell peppers, and cucumbers otherwise. Some items were served over several days: the ham smelled really strange, the cheese had dry edges, and bell peppers were used the next day in scrambled eggs. The cake didn’t seem fresh either. Our family got a stomach bug or food poisoning while we were there. We ate only at the hotel and all of us got sick, but with so many things seeming suspicious, we can’t say for sure what caused it. The children’s playrooms were split into one for kids up to 3 and another for ages 3 and up. My 3.5-year-old was asked exactly how old they were, and sometimes staff made a big deal of it, saying they were too big and had to leave. On rainy days it gets boring, and the children would have appreciated more variety, like being able to go to the Happy Kids Club with parents in the afternoon, instead of only between 8 and 9 am. We won’t be back. Nearby restaurants mostly serve fast food, which is a disaster for anyone looking for healthy, fresh food, and surely isn’t good for children’s health either.

The staff made us feel at home from the start. Our children already knew the Happy Club from other Familotels and felt welcome there too. The face painting by the girls is legendary, and everyone we met was friendly and attentive. After busy, crowded days at the beach, I was glad we could retreat to the hotel’s beach chairs or rooftop terrace for some quiet. We know Norddeich from a spa treatment, and it’s a great place for a holiday with lots to do on site. We stayed as a family of three for a long weekend, and the small room was just right for a few nights. There’s plenty around the hotel: a little bar, rooftop terrace, pool and sauna, a big playground with beach chairs, two restaurants, a climbing room, and the Happy Club. On our first evening there was a barbecue in the courtyard, with delicious food and a great atmosphere. The next night we made our own pizzas at the hotel pizzeria and were served at our table, which was lovely. The regular restaurant was excellent too, with something for everyone, including at breakfast. The pool and sauna have recently been renovated beautifully. The pool may not be a huge draw for older kids, though ours had fun, and the Ocean Wave water park is nearby for anyone keen on swimming. I really appreciated that the sauna was quiet and child-free. You can see the children in the pool from there and read peacefully while keeping them in sight. It would have been nice to have drinks there, like water or tea, and some spare towels.

We were disappointed by the food. Breakfast was mostly pre-baked rolls, packaged cold cuts, and convenience items, and the lunch and dinner buffets were simple and didn’t seem very fresh. We raised this when we left. They said it only seemed like much of the food was convenience food, but I work in the restaurant business, and that’s what it was. We go to family hotels so the children can use the kids’ club while we exercise or enjoy the spa, perhaps with a massage. We couldn’t do that here. The beauticians and massage therapists are contracted from elsewhere, so treatments mean going to another hotel. With advance planning they can sometimes be arranged on site, but it didn’t work out for us. The hotel was clean, but felt plain and basic. The fitness room was small and uninviting, some equipment was worn, and there were no classes or exercise programs. The small, simple sauna area wasn’t much of a place for adults to relax either. The lobby had a youth hostel feel, which summed up the hotel for us: functional, without much atmosphere. At nearly €500 a night, we don’t think it offers good value. It may suit travelers who just want a simple, clean place without much comfort or fuss. Anyone looking for fine dining, sports activities, relaxation, and atmosphere is likely to be disappointed.