Strandhotel Fischland

“Not a bargain, but a lovely, peaceful hotel well-suited for children”

I took my wife and two daughters, aged 2 and 6, to the Strandhotel Fischland for the German holiday weekend of "Himmelfahrt." Although the hotel must have been close to completely booked, it didn't seem overly crowded in the restaurant or beach. I suppose the staff speaks English, but if you expect… more

I took my wife and two daughters, aged 2 and 6, to the Strandhotel Fischland for the German holiday weekend of "Himmelfahrt." Although the hotel must have been close to completely booked, it didn't seem overly crowded in the restaurant or beach. I suppose the staff speaks English, but if you expect to communicate with other guests, it's best to speak at least a little German, as the hotel caters overwhelmingly to a domestic clientele. Rooms: We had a duplex with two bedrooms and a living room (with an small, integrated kitchen of sorts). Very spacious and clean. One of the German reviews here from 2010 complains of mold, but there was no trace of anything like that in our room. No wi-fi in the room, unfortunately, but I think there may have been in the lobby. (I used my cell as a "hotspot" and made do with that.) The walls were thin, so noise in the adjacent rooms was a bit of a problem during daytime naps for the kids, but I didn't notice it in the evenings, frankly. Maybe we just conked out at night from the ocean air... Food: The breakfast and dinner buffets were good, although the dinner buffets were overpriced and had limited offerings for vegans. And if you're a vegetarian, you'd best be one who eats fish. I think the a la carte offerings were superior to the buffet -- if you don't want to spend too much, the pasta and Flammkuchen on the a la carte menu are reasonably priced and filling, though not particularly memorable; the more expensive (much more expensive!) monkfish entree was superb. Facilities: The large pool was very well-heated when we were there, and we used it a lot. (The Baltic was too cold for my tastes, and the stretch of Baltic waters by the hotel had a two-to-three meter-thick stretch of algae extending all along the beach. Made me long for Bermuda...) They have a closet full of "swim noodles" by the pool, but for some reason they keep them mostly locked up. Whenever the door was unlocked and we took some out, a staff member would come around, collect them, and lock them up again. It was a bit bizarre, really -- why are they there if the guests can't use them? Anyway, next to the large pool, there's also a small, circular, shallow pool for toddlers. There are also tennis courts -- outdoor and indoor -- and a sauna. The grounds of the hotel are verdant and well-gardened. Kids: The caretaker for kids seemed a bit overtaxed that weekend. The playroom near the dining room is small, but good enough -- our only regret was that they wouldn't take care of our two-and-a-half-year old during the meals: The 3-year-old minimum was strictly enforced. Instead, we took toys from the kiddie room into the dining room and let our younger one play with them on the floor. No one objected. The place was full of kids and the atmosphere among staff and guests was tolerant of that sort of thing. There's a nice playground near the beach, and, unlike many hotels where I've stayed, the playground is actually shaded pretty well, so you're kids won't melt. There was a brief little mini-disco outside in the mornings, not in the evenings, which our kids enjoyed, but not as much as some of the more elaborate evening mini-discos we've experienced elsewhere. We didn't use the kids' club, so I can't comment on it. The beach: Aside from the aforementioned problems with algae and water temperature, the beach is wide and long and the quality of the sand is fine. It's quite beautiful, actually. Pity about the algae in the water, but there's nothing the hotel can do about that, and I imagine the problem is not confined to this establishment. Other notes: Take insect spray, as the mosquitoes are voracious after about 6 pm. During the day, they're not an issue. The hotel is set back from the road (which isn't very busy anyway), so it's a very peaceful environment. On our weekend, the hotel experimented with a multi-tent buffet stretched out over a wide swathe of beach -- a tremendous logistical effort on their part; the weather cooperated, and it was really a fantastic, idyllic scene. Not sure if they'll make it a habit, but it would be good for the guests if they did! We would definitely return to this hotel and recommend it to (financially privileged) friends.

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“great place to unwind”

Despite facing the same staffing issues most establishments face, the service is still top par. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. Our waiter Denis each evening treated us like family. The beach is great, and again, the staff who sort out your seating and serve snacks and drinks are pleasant. Sun… more

Despite facing the same staffing issues most establishments face, the service is still top par. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. Our waiter Denis each evening treated us like family. The beach is great, and again, the staff who sort out your seating and serve snacks and drinks are pleasant. Sunsets are unbeatable! Prices reasonable. I find for the price level the food and accommodation are great value and it is a welcome environment to relax. However, I was really surprised at a few things given it recently jumped from 4 to 5 stars and remodelled. One, the morning breakfast was significantly lower quality than before. It was still satisfying however, but not a jump from 4 to 5 stars. Second, while the hotel cannot exactly control it, we experienced a few other guests who were really entitled and rude. One example was leaving their pre teen children unattended at the pool, and worse, at the bar in the evening. We like that we can visit this hotel with family and friends with kids. We enjoyed mingling with other guests (who were responsible parents and minded their kids) at the bar, and they felt the same way. Family inclusive doesn't mean it is the staff and other guests job to watch your kids, particular in the bar in the evening. One night the bar was occupied by a bunch of kids who were monopolising the bartenders time , as they sat on all the bar stools. An adult should not have to wait 10 mins to order a drink at a bar in the evening, because a group of unattended 8 to 10 year olds have been dropped off in the bar unattended. Certainly not a 5 star hotel. There is an adults version next door so we might explore that, but we enjoy the family relaxed vibe at Strandhotel overall.

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“Lovely place with direct beach access”

Great service and always helpful. You should try the gourmet restaurant on the top floor overviewing the Baltic Sea - great food!! Breakfast has great variety and the regular halfboard dinner is good as well. Great pool and SPA area. You should arrange an appointment for one of the SPA treatments. … more

Great service and always helpful. You should try the gourmet restaurant on the top floor overviewing the Baltic Sea - great food!! Breakfast has great variety and the regular halfboard dinner is good as well. Great pool and SPA area. You should arrange an appointment for one of the SPA treatments. Some rooms are dated but there was some renovation and we had one of the new bath rooms - nicely done

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