Gut Harlinghausen

We've been coming for five years with our two dogs, and we're happy here. There are some shortcomings, sure, but the owners are lovely and we always sit down together at least twice. When an issue comes up, they sort it out. The old barn is now a guesthouse, and being able to sleep without pajamas is a plus. The toilet has always been clean for us, with no problems. It's about a five-minute drive to shops and under half an hour to the sea. We've kept our grill tucked away here for three years, ready to use whenever we arrive. Breakfast is adequate. If you want coffee, just buy a little pot and keep it in your room, like we do. Nobody says you can't bring anything else either. We add an extra day to our holiday every year because dogs and other pets are welcome, and we can have our dogs with us at the hotel all the time. If you don't like pets, please don't come here. I think someone's mistaken this five-star hotel for a dog boarding facility!

The attic room was a tough place to spend a hot weekend. It was over 35°C outside, and airing it out was hardly possible because the only window that opened had an active wasp nest. The wooden frames were rotten, too. I stayed because the classic car market in Bockhorn was my main reason for being in the area, though I did seriously consider leaving. The house smelled strongly of damp carpet, old brickwork, and animal droppings. Even the morning coffee had that same taste. The bathroom and its fittings were well below today's standards. The neglected condition was clear as soon as I arrived: knee-high grass around the building and a house that looked badly run down. I spent the weekend at Gut Harlinghausen, and the place has potential, but seems not to have been maintained for decades. If comfort, cleanliness, and a basic standard of stay matter to you, I'd look elsewhere.

We felt very comfortable here and would happily return if we're in the area again. The rooms are roomy and clean, and it's wonderfully quiet and rural. The farm's owner is super nice, and we were very pleased with the warm welcome for our dog. A great place to stay if you're traveling with a pet.

The grounds look a little neglected right now and could use some attention. Also, the coffee in the pots wasn't properly hot in the morning, and there were sometimes dead flies on the breakfast room windowsill that could have been cleared away. Still, what we got for the low price was okay. Our room was large and clean, and we didn't notice any bad smells. Breakfast was very basic, though it did include sausage, cheese, jam, rolls, cereal, coffee, and fruit. It's an old farm out in the countryside, so keep that in mind. If you're expecting three or four stars, this isn't the place. If you want somewhere cheap and aren't too picky, it works. A bit of yin and yang.