Travel Charme Kurhaus Binz

“Good to be back!”

Delighted with the time I spent in Kurhaus Binz last year, we decided to come back for a few days` stay. We were very happy to see that the difficult times (COVID – 19) did not influence the standards executed in the hotel. – Our room was exactly as beautiful as the one where we had been put up la… more

Delighted with the time I spent in Kurhaus Binz last year, we decided to come back for a few days` stay. We were very happy to see that the difficult times (COVID – 19) did not influence the standards executed in the hotel. – Our room was exactly as beautiful as the one where we had been put up last year. Again, it represented both style and comfort, it was immaculately clean, with beautiful bed linen that was so white and wrinkless that everybody would love to have it at home. This time in the room - we were also offered free soft drinks which included mineral water – replenished every day. Breakfast was served in the hotel restaurant and was as delicious as last year. – With various kinds of fruit, my favourite Bircher muesli and a wide choice of smoked fish, sausage and eggs, to which one could help themselves – clearly wearing a facial mask. Another thing that had not changed was the fact that in spite of the size of the hotel, one didn`t really get to meet any other people unless they want to. It was only in the hotel restaurant that we noticed that there were other holidaymakers staying at the hotel, too. – This was quite important in the COVID times… Speaking about other security measures in the hotel, there were disinfections liquids at each of the entrances and the guests were obliged to wear facial masks in public areas of the hotel, excluding restaurant tables. – This obligation was tactfully executed. – Staff wore the masks, too. – All this made us feel a little bit more secure and confirmed that things could get back to what they had used to be.

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“A charming queen - bit without a human face?”

Kurhaus Binz is without a doubt "the grand old lady" in so-charming Binz, on the beautiful island of Rügen on Germany's Baltic coast - established more than 100 years ago, situated at the very heart of the town, hardly a stone's throw away from the sea with its nearly 400 metre long pier and equall… more

Kurhaus Binz is without a doubt "the grand old lady" in so-charming Binz, on the beautiful island of Rügen on Germany's Baltic coast - established more than 100 years ago, situated at the very heart of the town, hardly a stone's throw away from the sea with its nearly 400 metre long pier and equally appealingly sandy beach. We - two couples at fully-grown age - spent three lovely days and nights at Kurhaus Binz in late April. Delights were abundant: Excellent rooms with balconies towards the waterfront (utterly pleasant to go to sleep and then wake up to the gentle backdrop of ocean waves!). Truly exquisite breakfasts, with hardly anything else to wish for, e.g. including sparkling wine as well as several seafood specialities, in addition to the usual fare of scrambled eggs end the like. Also a delicious dinner one evening, a generous mixed fish platter with trimmings which we (all of us seafood lovers!) found absolutely gorgeous. And not least the pleasant Kakadu bar with its friendly barman, where we enjoyed more than one nightcap. And surely not to be forgotten, the impressive in-house spa where some of us swam both in- and outdoors in the vast pool and were also treated to a unique chalk-clay-cum-tea-etc experience (at a quite reasonable price). Also, arriving by car as we were did we found ample space both at the back of the hotel and in the underground garage with convenient lift access to our rooms. And, very last, very nice indeed to receive a bottle of German sekt at out departure, as this happened to take place on my birthday (well spotted, many thanks indeed!). So why not 5 stars??? Well, for one reason only, Namely the reception desk. Hardly ever in later decades have we met such disinterested people as those we encountered at Kurhaus Binz' reception desk - not once, not twice, but all three times (with three different persons) that we had reason to contact them. They surely performed their paperwork duties (extensive they seemed), but did they ever even look at their guests? Maybe, maybe not. Did they ever offer a smile or a friendly word? No! To us they appeared almost as machines, putting their paperwork as a very unchallenged number one, followed by no number two, the poor customer resolutely put as distant number threes (or lower). Had it been one person, this would have seemed to be a personal matter. With three out of three, it appears more generic. One of us, who has a background in hotel business, noted that the reception is something of "the sales window of a hotel". So, after our generally so sweet stay at Kurhaus Binz, we nevertheless wonder: How do you want that sales window to look?

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“Great location but some issues”

Great location right on the beach promenade. Exceptional breakfast. Rooms were comfortable. The cons: Parking. No transparency in pricing. It was not mentioned at checkin that parking costs an extra €19 per day, so it was a complete surprise when it appeared on the final bill. When challenged, we … more

Great location right on the beach promenade. Exceptional breakfast. Rooms were comfortable. The cons: Parking. No transparency in pricing. It was not mentioned at checkin that parking costs an extra €19 per day, so it was a complete surprise when it appeared on the final bill. When challenged, we were told it is always the case to charge. Why not just include it in the room rates? Swimming pool (indoor). Just too cold to use. The bar. Seemed understaffed. The same person was also dealing with the nearby restaurant which meant at times there was no-one there. As a result, ordering a simple beer took much longer than it should have done.

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“Not worthy of 5 stars”

Great location Not worthy of 5star hotel - Breakfast buffet - I've never seen such a small variety and low quality of breakfast items. Had to beg for fresh srambled eggs. - Dinner restaurant: decent food, but extremely slow preparation and service, service staff was not attentive at all. One wa… more

Great location Not worthy of 5star hotel - Breakfast buffet - I've never seen such a small variety and low quality of breakfast items. Had to beg for fresh srambled eggs. - Dinner restaurant: decent food, but extremely slow preparation and service, service staff was not attentive at all. One waiter told us that he is only responsible for bringing drinks when we asked him to take on some plates and then he left not even asking a colleague to help us- unbelievable - no hairwash, broken hair dryer - this should be standard items available and working in every hotel - minibar is included, but what they don't tell you is that it is full with the cheapest drinks you can imagine... I wonder why Vita Cola is offered in the minibar only but all the pay yourself restaurants offer Coca Cola. I would accept if Vita Cola was a philisophy, but it's just a way for them to save. As a customer in a 5 star hotel, I want to feel spoiled in every aspect, but hospitality is certainly not their strong area. - Gym - due to Corona only 4 people are allowed to train in the gym. the two occasions I tried to get spot, the gym was full already. reservations are not offered by the staff and opening hours are ridiculous. I chose this hotel at a premium for the gym and the staff was not even trying to make it work. - Checkout: bill included parking - fees were never mentioned upon checkin. Staff asked if everything was fine. When I said no, the response was only "Sorry" to hear, not even trying to understand my issues and improve.

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