b_smart hotel Bendern

My daughter’s birthday was on 26th February, and we’d planned to celebrate at b-smart hotel Bendern. I accidentally booked 26th-27th March instead of 26th-27th February. As soon as I spotted the mistake, I contacted the team and asked sincerely if they could change the dates. They refused, saying the €150 payment couldn’t be refunded and the booking couldn’t be changed. I understand there are policies, but I’m very disappointed that there was no flexibility or understanding, especially given this was an honest mistake and we were visitors from abroad. We felt unsupported and unfairly treated. It was upsetting on a day that should have been happy for our family. I hope management reconsiders how cases like this are handled.

The rooms are spacious and parking was good, but I honestly don’t see how this is rated four stars. We arrived Sunday at 6 pm and the whole place was shut, with no bar or restaurant, which made it feel really unwelcoming. There was nobody on site to help with the awful self-service setup. Our room had no kettle and smelled of dog and drains, a pretty unpleasant mix. If you’re travelling with family, I’d look elsewhere.

The views were really nice, and check-in was easy. The day spa sounded like a plus, but when I went to use it, there were used towels all over the stations. It didn’t feel sanitary, so I left without using it. The room smelled like dogs, and the walls are thin. I could hear the person next door banging around all night. A little pricey for what it was, with some pros and cons.

The meal was great, and I loved the room’s sleeping and lounging setup. The luggage area and seat were combined in a clever layout that ran alongside the writing desk, which worked really well. The room had a spacious bathroom with both a shower and a bath. I couldn’t resist having a bath, and the tub filled super fast. Self check-in was the most efficient I’ve experienced in years of travelling. I did miss having a real receptionist to chat with briefly, but otherwise I don’t see why all hotels couldn’t use this system. Best stay of our two weeks travelling in Europe!