Ferienhof Riensheide Soltau

It was a lovely, peaceful stay on the farm, and we’d happily return. The place is beautiful, very clean, and the landlady is lovely. Kids have a playground, there’s a ping-pong table, and you can watch the horses. A few things need attention, though. The farm dog wanders around and can come into the apartment through an open patio door, which could be a problem for people with allergies or a fear of dogs. There was no toilet paper at all in our apartment. We arrived late and didn’t want to go shopping, so having none was unacceptable. We had pots and pans but no frying pan. The shared grill was old, dirty, and already had holes in it, and the ping-pong table is beyond repair. Despite those issues, the stay was idyllic and pleasant, and we’d come back anytime.

The apartment itself was very clean. But after staying in lots of vacation rentals, this was ridiculous: the landlady checked every cupboard and even counted the cutlery before returning our deposit. There were four of us for four days, and we were given just one roll of toilet paper.

We had a long weekend here to visit Heide Park and Serengeti Park, and both were easy to reach. I can’t say much about the surroundings, since we didn’t explore beyond that. The apartment was clean and large enough for the four of us. The beds were fine, though we all like softer mattresses. The kitchen could have had a few more things, but nothing essential was missing. We arranged to share the grill with other guests, though a second one might be worth considering. We had to get toilet paper, dish soap, and coffee filters soon after arriving. The property is well kept and probably even prettier in summer than spring. The landlady was friendly and accommodating, and we didn’t mind the careful inspection before the deposit was returned. For anyone who likes chatting with others, it’s a lovely place to relax. None of us had mobile reception, and the free Wi-Fi, with one access point per apartment, felt like the days of a 56k modem. That didn’t bother us, but it won’t suit serious internet addicts. We can recommend the cemetery with a clear conscience.

There’s plenty of room for four, and the apartment is clean, quiet in its location, and has an oven for warming breakfast rolls. Inside, though, noise carries quite a bit. Wi-Fi and phone reception are weak. We were surprised by the supplies: just one toilet roll, a tiny 3 ml bottle of washing-up liquid, and no towels. The tablecloth had been washed but was used, and it started smelling unpleasant after a day, which really wasn’t okay. We didn’t mind checking the house and its inventory at the end. We’d probably do the same if we rented our place out.