Haus Saarland am Rennsteig

The rooms at the "Haus Saarland" guesthouse were comfortably furnished, with Mediterranean colored walls that gave them a warm feel. I also found the staff very friendly. But breakfast wasn't included, and getting it meant going to another hotel a few streets away. The lounge, fitness room, and herbal sauna listed on booking.com weren't available during my stay, at least as far as I could tell. That fell well short of what I'd expected, so I gave it 3 stars.

For a night or two, the place is okay, but I wouldn't recommend staying a week or more. Breakfast costs €19.00 per person per day if requested, and is served at a restaurant across town in Thüringenschanze. Café Luk is a tastier and more affordable option. The rooms and house have a distinctly East German feel. There are plastic beer-tent cups for brushing your teeth, no drinking glasses in the room, and no small fridge for keeping drinks cold.

We only booked one night. From outside, the house looked uninviting enough that I wondered if the guesthouse was closed, but we were given the room key and the room itself was okay. The shower door wouldn't shut properly, and with no shower mat, it felt like you could slip if you weren't careful.

Inside, the rooms are very spacious, and the bed and shower were quite clean. Breakfast was very good with plenty to choose from, and the staff were friendly. It's a good fit for a few days in Oberhof or a stop on the Rennsteig trail, at a fair price. The exterior takes some getting used to, and the wooden front door has a big "R" for Rennsteig that can give you some unusual ideas. We were warmly welcomed at the main building by a friendly doorman, then walked to Haus Saarland. After our hike from Brotterode, the extra few meters didn't matter. Don't let the outside put you off.