Hotel Prinzessin Rupprecht

The rooms are basic and could use some work, and the hotel’s huge potential is being let down by poor management. Bookings get lost, there aren’t enough staff, and information is lacking. Breakfast was such a mess that after we finally got a table, we left halfway through. It’s a beautiful colonial era hotel right in the center, but management needs to decide what this place is meant to be: a hotel, retirement home, or dodgy art center. Right now it’s all three mixed together.

This is a unique place, full of history, and the whole complex feels pleasant. The hotel and reception areas are welcoming. There’s a planted courtyard with little nooks, birds, water features, and paths to explore; the residents’ dining room feels homely and intimate. The beach and shops are nearby, which adds to its appeal as a temporary or permanent home. I recently rediscovered the complex and realized how much it has meant to our family over more than 60 years. My older sister and I were born in the maternity ward at Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim. Over the years, we visited many family friends in the Old Age facility. My last memory of our father is here, where he spent his final weeks, and his funeral reception was held with dignity in the hotel dining room. More recently, I looked into accommodation for our mother. The staff were wonderful with all our questions. They let us into the available unit to take measurements, communicated faultlessly, and answered promptly. They were supportive, helpful, open, and gracious throughout. I want to thank everyone who helped us. We were also allowed to see the room where babies were delivered in the sixties. I didn’t expect to feel anything, and I’m a rather cynical person, but that room gave me a feeling of being enveloped, safe, and comforted.

We’d booked and had confirmation back in October for me, my wife, the kids, and a close family member to stay over New Year, but when I arrived there were no rooms. I complained, and they tried to find rooms for us at other hotels. Our stay turned into a stressful shuffle from one hotel to another, with us eventually split across different hotels about 1 km apart. Disgusting experience, especially in a country where everything runs so well!

The room wasn’t five-star, but I only needed a bed and a shower. The service and friendly staff were five-star, though. And that breakfast was so good, it was to die for. Had a fabulous visit. Well done to everyone working there 😁😁😁