Vogelsburg

Six wonderful tranquil days at Vogelsburg a year ago made us wish for more, so we booked a superior room (the deluxe wasn’t available) for six nights again and hoped to repeat the experience from a year ago. Alas, after a long and strenuous trip down to Vogelsburg we were to be disappointed. Arriving around half past five on Sunday, a “Ruhetag,” we got a rather small and dark attic room with a third of the room having a sloping roof. The room certainly did not match the photos of superior rooms presented at ***********. A disproportionately large bathroom contained a bathtub that turned out to decidedly slippery with no handgrip. And there were other problems. A complaint next morning resulted in a very quick reaction with the offer of a room more fitting the term superior. Problem solved quickly and satisfactory. After a long walk the next day we of cause looked forward to enjoying a delicious meal and a bottle of Juliusspital wine on the terrace. Turned to be a new disappointment. Last year we were told a table reservation on the terrace wasn’t possible. Now the only empty table on the terrace carried a note saying that it was booked from five o’clock. Arriving at half past six we wanted to know why we couldn’t have it. Repeatedly we were told that all tables were reserved from five, … Nonplussed our reaction was: And…?” Finally, it turned out that there was an actual reservation for seven. Hm? Why weren’t we asked if we wanted to reserve a table when we arrived, especially in light of the change in reservation policy. Again, we experienced at quick reaction. Arriving back at the hotel in evening next day, we were met by the young woman telling us off the previous evening. Now we had a table reservation in our preferred place, and an extra after dinner treat to make up for the discomfort the previous evening. Problem solved quickly and satisfactory. No further problems the remaining days, instead forever sunshine and very friendly staff. Especially the woman greeting us to a delicious breakfast every morning and the young woman solving the reservation riddle. So “All’s well that ends well” like in the Shakespeare play, but the impression would have been very different if we had only had stayed one night. And, finally a small recommendation. Always ask new guests if they want to make a table reservation and perhaps substitute the strange “Reserved from five o’clock” with a sign saying just “Reserviert – bitte Bedienung fragen.”

We were assigned a room on the second floor, unfortunately there was no elevator access except to the first floor. We are a couple at 80 years, arrived a bit breathless at our room. Otherwise ok, bit beware of the second floor

Arriving from a cool Scandinavia we sought refuge in the Vogelsburg (“fugales burc,” nothing to do with birds) for nearly a week. This time we wanted to take advantage of the renovated Vogelsburg in a deluxe room. What a kind reception a late Sunday afternoon! Being first invited to unload the car in the courtyard and not in the distant parking area and then being advised to book a table as the kitchen would soon be closing. Our room was large with everything being as we were led to expect, with a very big and airy bathroom and a comfy bed. Being familiar with the area we just wondered, was this actually the room with river view? Well, if you leaned out of the window you got the river view. Going to dinner we saw that the terrace we had visited so often had been renovated and preserved. This was always our favourite place to spend an early evening, enjoying the fantastic view, with a bottle of Juliusspital wine from a “Vogelsburg lage” and some freshly made asparagus. Somewhat surprisingly we could not get service just outside the restaurant, as this area had a kind of self-service. Although rather confusingly, we were served the delicious asparagus from the restaurant. Perhaps understandable, giving staff shortages related to Covid-19. On the other hand, the hotel might rope off the area immediately in front of the restaurant and serve hotel guests here. Next morning and the subsequent mornings we were greeted by very friendly staff, and a sumptuous breakfast, exactly what we had looked forward too, planning to spend the week wandering the “Weinberge” and the small towns, drinking some wine and having light meals in the town squares or in “Hinterhöfle” in Volkach. All very satisfying. Except that is for a hallux rigidus, a glorious name for a sprained big toe, a result of bumping my foot against a hidden step in the restaurant. My fault, as it was actually marked. Still, it did not dent the impression of a wonderful week at Vogelsburg and of the treks (now rather slowly) through the area. The explanation for the strange title … Well, perhaps a positive review may attract more guests, and thus we may find it difficult to get a “de luxe” room next time. Enjoy, but please … Mind the step!