Ostseestern

Even “sufficient” feels too generous. We stayed a few days in the Ostseestern apartment with our two small dogs, but we didn’t feel comfortable there. The apartment is quite worn, and several issues had already been raised by previous tenants without being fixed. The kitchen was sparsely equipped, with dull knives, dirty dishes, and dusty cupboards. There was soap scum left by earlier guests in the bathroom, and the soap dispenser was broken. For a four-star place, I’d expect at least some coffee and tea, especially when a public holiday after arrival might make shopping difficult. The TV is about ten years old and won’t run current streaming apps. The front door is right beside the bedroom, so you hear and see people coming in, and the outside light is next to the bedroom window. The bedroom doesn’t block the view from neighbors, which makes airing it out at night difficult. There were no dog supplies, despite dogs being “welcome,” and we couldn’t find the heating controls. The manager seemed annoyed when we arrived late without cash for the tourist tax and final cleaning fee, which could only be paid in cash. No card, PayPal, or other payment option had been mentioned, even in an email a few days earlier. It said, “Payable on arrival day...” The landlords showed no understanding when we spoke with them in person. Instead, they called us idiots behind our backs and said, “You’re really something else.” I’m very disappointed.

We stayed from August 4th-11th and quickly felt at home. The apartment is quiet and well maintained, and the permanent residents are very friendly and gave us great local tips. The landlord was kind and accommodating, and I had the pleasure of meeting him personally. The small bedroom was perfectly adequate, while the apartment’s layout was designed to feel spacious. The large living room gave our child plenty of room. It was warmly and modernly furnished, with all we needed for a lovely holiday. A sun lounger or parasol wasn’t provided, though perhaps those might be added later 😉. The beach, shuttle bus stop, train station, and shops were all just a few minutes’ walk away, which was perfect for us. We’re already looking forward to another holiday and highly recommend it.

I’m looking forward to another stay at the Fewo-Ostseetraum in Ückeritz. It’s a clean, well-designed apartment with modern furnishings and everything supplied. That includes a coffee maker, toaster, kettle, dishwasher, freezer, HD TV, Wi-Fi, and more. The large terrace is a great place to unwind after a beach day, and the place really does deserve its 4-star rating.

The price and parking space were okay, and Usedom is very beautiful. The apartment, though, was a nightmare, and I can’t recommend it. The bike storage was always full, the trash cans were overflowing, and there were no loungers on the terrace. The bedroom was so small the closet door couldn’t open fully. The dishwasher had no rinse aid, which showed on the glasses in the cupboard; the clock and thermometer batteries were dead. For a 14-day stay, we got only two small and two large towels, with extras costing €10. Some dishes were dirty, the windows hadn’t been cleaned, and cleaning streaks covered the doors, cupboards, TV, table, and windows. All that after a €60 cleaning fee! Guestbook complaints hadn’t been addressed either. It felt like it was all about profit.