Haus Elve

We spent four nights in the Elve holiday home and were happy with our stay. The rooms were well equipped, and the kitchen had everything we needed. The one clear problem was the very dirty floor, which we had to mop ourselves. That needs to be improved. The holiday village is idyllic, with lovely houses that are all maintained sustainably. It's a 10 to 15-minute walk to the natural beach, depending on how fast you walk. Wismar and Boltenhagen are easy to reach by car, and Boltenhagen has a very nice beach. The island of Poel is also always worth a visit.

We spent six nights at Elve House and had a really peaceful, enjoyable stay. We had four adults and a 2.5-year-old, and the house stayed comfortably cool even during two days above 32°C (90°F). We also didn't hear our neighbors at all, despite the house being semi-detached, and it seemed very soundproof. De Poeler Drift is a quiet little holiday village among grain fields, with lots of thatched cottages and almost no nearby traffic. There was hardly any noise from neighboring homes either. A small playground has swings and a seesaw. The beach takes about 15 minutes to reach on foot, while a small shop with essentials and fresh rolls is about 10 minutes away. Even on Sundays, several places in Zierow are open, including beach bars and grocery stores. For bigger shopping at Kaufland, Marktkauf, dm, or Rossmann, the drive is under 10 minutes. The beach wasn't crowded, so there was plenty of room. It's good for small children, with nearly 400 meters of knee-deep water, and on a sunny day the water was pleasantly warm. It does get rockier farther into the water, so beach shoes are a good idea for younger kids, especially when they're digging in the sand. There are also playgrounds, snack bars, and restaurants right on the beach. The garden and terrace worked well for outdoor meals and play. A handcart for beach trips was in the shed, and there was a brick barbecue with the equipment, though we had to buy the meat and refill the grill ourselves. For outings, the zoo, harbor, and old towns of Wismar and Bad Boltenhagen are worth visiting. Bad Boltenhagen also has pony rides at the local riding stable. Inside, the house was clean, modern, and nicely furnished, with lots of IKEA. There were small supplies of everyday things such as dish soap, dishwasher tablets, kitchen towels, sponges and cloths, washing machine pods, toilet paper, cleaning products, spices, and tea. Some had probably been left by earlier guests. We only needed to buy a few things near the end, and left some supplies behind ourselves. We especially appreciated the child safety and practical touches: secured outlets and oven door, a tilt-proof bedroom TV, neatly tucked away cables, a bathroom sink stool, children's books, and games for different ages. There was a smart TV for Netflix and other streaming services, plus a small USB charging station for phones and tablets. A few small things could be better. We couldn't fit the insect screen in the shed to the patio door, so we had to shut the door in the evening to keep mosquitoes out. The water is very hard, level 4, and quite cloudy, so we bought bottled water. A larger drying rack would have helped, though the one there was enough for small loads. Vodafone reception was very poor, and internet and mobile service in general were unreliable; the internet was usable but could be weak at times. That seems tied to the location and might improve. These things didn't spoil the holiday, and we, especially our little one, had a lovely, restful time. We may even come back next year.

We felt at home in this lovely holiday house, close to the beach and with a big garden. We’re sure to come back.

There were good beds and a lovely setting, and the place was bright, cozy, and had everything we needed.