Darßer Smuggler Hus 1

The location is central in Wieck but very quiet, and the Bodden lagoon view is unobstructed. The large lawn in front, though, had several piles of dog droppings. Inside, the furnishings are otherwise good, but there’s nowhere to store bikes, and apartment 2 doesn’t even have a place to lock them. The terrace is just a paved corner beside the path to the upper apartment, which runs right along the building. Sound carries badly, too: footsteps and chairs moving upstairs were very noticeable. The apartment has become run-down, with mold in the shower, mildew on the bathroom blind, very old pillows, and cupboard doors that don’t work properly. With the high price, I no longer think it’s justified. My excitement about a Baltic Sea holiday was also dampened by the €200 damage deposit, the extra charge for bed linen, and threatened fines or additional fees for things like leaving the dishwasher unemptied.

We were happy with Apartment 2 and felt right at home. It was spotless when we arrived, even the glass and mirrors were sparkling, and there was a starter kit for the dishwasher plus towels, dish soap, and cloths. The hairdryer has several attachments, and the child safety locks on the outlets are especially helpful with our crawling daughter. The garden is huge and lovely, with play equipment, small seating areas, and a barbecue. The apartment is comfortably furnished, with a lovely view and garden. There are some bathroom issues: the roller blind is mildewed and should be replaced, and there are a few small mildew spots in the shower grout. I think that’s understandable with heavy use. You can hear footsteps from upstairs, and with our small child running around, it can get noisy at times. We didn’t hear anything else from the apartment above. If that kind of noise bothers you, a separate holiday home may suit you better. Our one unpleasant moment was when the owners, who live upstairs, had a beer with several friends in the garden almost right in front of our living room’s only window. They could easily have moved farther away in such a big garden. We were about to have dinner and didn’t feel comfortable turning on the light while they were there, so we closed the curtains. It was manageable, but not pleasant, and I would have appreciated more consideration. Still, it was a lovely apartment for our short break.

We paid €90 a night in the off-season, and the noise from the apartment above really affected our stay. There was a family with a small child and a dog upstairs; we could hear stomping and running around, sometimes starting shortly after 6 a.m. That makes it a poor fit for late sleepers or anyone looking for a peaceful break. The listing also didn’t mention that other tenants or owners lived above. The apartment itself was comfortable, clean, and right by the Bodden lagoon, with a beautiful direct view from the dining table. It came with a kitchen starter kit, including dishwasher tablets and kitchen towels. There were a few small mold spots at the bottom of the shower entrance and on the roller blind, which could be replaced, though they weren’t immediately noticeable or enough to spoil the general impression. Even so, the price and lack of morning and evening quiet mean this will be our only stay at Schilfkante.

You can cycle right from behind the house, following the Bodden lagoon. The accommodation is lovely, and Darß has so much charm. A dream place. We’ll be back. Michael and Tina