Au 1608

The service was appalling. We got the entry code over the phone, found the key on a piece of furniture, and had only a quick hello and goodbye around breakfast. Our double room was ridiculously tiny, with a sloping ceiling, and on the second floor, even though we were the only guests. When I asked about the Wi-Fi, whose access code was posted in the room, I was told the walls were too thick for a signal. Why put us up there if there were no other guests, as I pointed out? We paid €90 for this, apparently because November 21st counts as high season in a village of 900 people in the Munster Valley. Who are they kidding?

The hosts were friendly and speak German, and breakfast was good. We felt very comfortable in this historic house. If you like a rustic feel, you'll feel at home here, and it's perfect for groups.

We booked one night to see the Christmas markets in Colmar and Riquewir, both about a 20-minute drive away. Finding out the house belonged to Albert Schweitzer was a lovely surprise. It's a big old home turned into a warm, welcoming B&B, with large beds and a second bedroom for my daughter. The place was clean, and breakfast was simple but plentiful.

It was clean, but €95 feels outrageous for a small double room with just one chair. The bathroom was very basic, with no shower shampoo or hairdryer, and the toilet paper was so thin you could read a newspaper through it.