We travel to Varel relatively regularly. It is, for us a simple 45 minute journey. We very much like the ambience of the place, the parking is a doddle, the rooms are really very good and fabulously clean, as is the entire hotel, the wellness is wonderful although there were many, many people booked in on this particular occasion, to the point that, at times, it was hard to find a place to lie down after a sauna but that is simply testimony to how good the entire experience is, and the breakfast, ah the breakfast is to die for. It is simply marvelous , the staff are excellent, and very cheerful, even on a Sunday morning, there is plenty of absolutely everything including a cleansing Prosecco first thing in the morning if that is your wish, and the ability to stay and drink endless good coffee for as long as you like. It really is very good and we think good value for money.

We did not like the fact that the payment arrangements have changed so that the price appears, on booking.com, to be one thing (€137) and so we signed up, but only when we had booked and confirmed, were we sent a message informing us that if we wished to use the wellness facilities, that would be another €10 per person - after we had already agreed on €137 for what we believed was the the total cost - because why would we go to Varel to the hotel and NOT use the wellness facilities? That was the whole point of the excursion. Which ever marketing executive dreamed THAT one up should be sent back to school to retrain as something else. I do not mind at all paying €157 for the package (actually €160 because of the city tax) but I felt that I was taken for a sucker - taken in by a price which was simply not the price for what I and, I imagine, most other customers, thought they were buying. Come on, Upstalsboom. It is a lousy way of doing things and beneath the Upstalsboom which we have been very happily visiting for ten years. Tell me what the price is at the time of booking, don't drop the wellness part, the very reason for visiting, on me as an optional extra. We love the place - but Upstalsboom can do better than charging the wellness separately as if that were not the reason for the visit - come on, now! You can do better - and you should.

It was very dog-friendly! The tea selection at the breakfast buffet.

Even though we had in our price the option of parking and pool, they wanted to charge us for it. Not a very friendly reception staff that made us wait for 10 minutes. Check-out is at 10:30 am and the pool opens at 10:00 am too! When you have been on the road for hours and you think you get a chance like in Scandinavia to swim/sauna, here it won't be the case.

Location was great.

Staff was rude and snappy since I did not speak German. Many things were not delivered as promised for the event. Breakfast was disappointing. As the only option in the area they could try a little harder.

Nice room, good restaurant.

It was just perfect. From the food (vegan options available) to the room and the spa - it was the perfect trip.

The staff is very friendly and service oriented.At the same time they are very relaxed when it comes to kids. Breakfast and dinner were very delicious.

Nothing to complain about the hotel.

The price was very competitive, the room although in the older part of the complex, was excellent, the wellness area was wonderful and the breakfast, as always, was outstanding. Even the wifi has now been sorted out and worked very well, the bar was very welcoming during the evening and the beer was lovely and cold and it is still possible to arrive at 14:00 on Saturday and continue to use the wellness area well into Sunday afternoon which is GREAT!

Nothing