Resort Winterberg

The peaceful, scenic setting was lovely, and we really enjoyed staying in Villa Maxima at Villas Winterberg. The nearest supermarket is about a 10-minute drive away, a small tradeoff for the quiet. After time outdoors, the large whirlpool and infrared sauna were especially relaxing. There was plenty of space for our group in the four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The house felt modern and comfortable, and everything was spotless and well maintained. Floor heating and the gas fireplace made it cozy, while the heated wardrobe by the entrance was a great place to dry our clothes and gear after skiing or hiking. We'd happily recommend Villas Winterberg for a comfortable, luxurious break.

The place itself is beautiful, with lovely nature around it. The apartments are spacious, the kitchen has all the utensils, and there is parking. But my stay was badly affected by the service, which felt hostile instead of welcoming. At checkout we were told to take out the rubbish and strip the bed linen. I went out with the rubbish at 10:00, and an employee rudely told me we shouldn't still be in the house because checkout was before 10. At 10:02, after we'd taken our things to the car, the same employee confronted us again, saying there were four people instead of three and a dog we hadn't registered. I had emailed the Villa about the dog and got no answer. Booking.com had no extra field for telling them we'd bring a dog. We arrived on Sunday, and nobody replied to my emails on Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, while complaints from the villa employee kept coming. The cleaning inside was superficial. There were lots of dead mosquito stains on the walls and curtains, and the floors didn't seem to have been washed at all. Also, if you book an apartment rather than a villa, be prepared for a view of other buildings instead of the field. I hadn't understood that before booking. The beautiful location and spacious apartment were overshadowed by the awful service.

The accommodation itself is very good. The rain shower only gave cold water, though, and the dishwasher didn't work properly. I think that only had cold water too.

The staff were really friendly and got the broken sauna sorted out pretty quickly. The apartment had a nice view and good beds, but it still wasn't quite right. When we arrived, there was a very odd smell, which turned out to be the bin after a thorough search. You could hear the downstairs neighbours clearly, and both the bathroom sink and the vacuum cleaner were clogged.