Elbresidenz Birkwitz

From the huge balcony, the view of the Elbe River was breathtaking. Apartment 18 was roomy and nicely furnished, with a well-equipped kitchen, lovely dishes and cutlery, and even some salt and other basics to start with. The cleanliness was satisfactory, and we were very happy with the stay. A small supermarket selling fresh rolls and a lake with clean swimming water are both within walking distance. We thought the price was reasonable for what we got.

Breakfast was generous and reasonably priced, and I enjoyed it on my private terrace overlooking the Elbe River. I wanted a quiet, comfortable base near Dresden in a scenic setting for a week of exploring the city and its cultural attractions, and Elbresidenz Birkwitz exceeded my expectations. My suite was spacious and charmingly furnished. The bathroom was lovely, with a whirlpool tub, and the fully equipped kitchen even had a Nespresso machine. It was a wonderful stay, and I’m grateful. A first-class hotel with excellent value, highly recommended!

The setting is lovely, and the balcony view made for a relaxing end to each evening. We had apartment 17. It was large, bright, modern, and welcoming, and the carefully designed wrought-iron stair rail made a promising first impression. The reception was polite and check-in easy. It was hot outside, and the heat reached the hallway too. On arrival, the manager seemed to be dealing with the bath towels, which made me feel a bit sorry for him. The key handover was a little unusual, but perfectly okay. At first glance we were pleased, but then noticed quite a lot of spiders and webs throughout the apartment. We initially put that down to being near the water, then felt the cleaning had probably been rather unprofessional. The floor seemed to have been cleaned carelessly, if at all, and footprints from previous guests in the bathroom suggested only a superficial clean. Looking more closely, the bathroom as a whole had not been cleaned as thoroughly as it could have been. We were glad we had clinical surface disinfectant with us. The windows also seemed beyond the cleaner’s strengths, and so did spotting stains on the seating. The living room couch was really worn out. A quick email to the manager got a vacuum cleaner left outside our door the next day, and we got the spider problem under control in under two hours. We bought bathroom cleaner and rubber gloves and cleaned the toilet, sinks, shower, and doors ourselves. To avoid streaks, we used ordinary washing-up liquid on the windows. We didn’t use the coffee machine because we had no idea when or how it had been cleaned. We didn’t cook either, but that was our own preference for eating out on holiday, not a problem with the kitchen. The area is absolutely worth visiting again. I’d be happy to stay at Elbresidenz again if management gave some thought to the team first. In the end, it’s a beautifully located place that seems neglected. Whether that’s a blind spot or deliberate, who knows. Cheers!

The view of the Elbe River from the balcony is lovely, and the welcome was friendly. This spacious holiday apartment has attractive, upscale furnishings. The bed is very comfortable, the bedroom is nice, and there’s a large wardrobe. I also liked the relaxing recliner, a good alternative to the sofa for one person. The big fridge was handy, and the Nespresso machine came with a capsule selection. At €0.50 each, they seemed fairly priced. Salt and pepper were supplied, and everything was quite clean. A few things could be better. The sofa is stained and worn, and looks out of place with the rest of the stylish furnishings. The kitchen equipment is limited, with no kettle or toaster. Since guests are expected to cater for themselves, those would be useful basics, though they weren’t listed among the amenities. The whirlpool bath doesn’t work, and the bidet has an ordinary faucet, which is odd but usable. Still, it’s a nice, roomy place we’d recommend and would book again. Maybe the sofa will have been replaced by then!