Hotel Auerhahn

Hotel Auerhahn in Schluchsee, Germany, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise for its exceptional service, gourmet dining, and impressive spa facilities. Guests frequently highlight its blend of modern luxury with traditional Black Forest charm, making it a highly recommended destination for relaxation and culinary indulgence.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Hotel Auerhahn garners an overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with an average "Superb" rating of 9.4 out of 10 based on numerous guest reviews. Specific high scores include 9.7 for cleanliness, 9.9 for comfort, and 9.8 for staff performance. Guests describe their stays as "just amazing!", "établissement de haute qualité" (high-quality establishment), and "traumhaft!" (dreamlike!).

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the hotel's key attributes:

• Service & Staff: The staff is frequently praised for being kind, professional, and very helpful, creating a welcoming atmosphere where guests feel at home.
• Dining: The food is often described as "Michelin-level" and excellent, with a focus on refined regional cuisine.
• Spa & Wellness: The spa and swimming pool area is considered "incredible" and a "fantastic getaway," offering extensive relaxation opportunities.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel boasts a fresh and fantastic modern design following recent renovations, harmoniously blending contemporary luxury with traditional Black Forest elements.
• Location: Its prime location directly on Lake Schluchsee and nestled within the Black Forest is a significant draw for nature lovers and those seeking tranquility.

3. Room Quality

The hotel offers 62 rooms, including single rooms, double rooms, and suites, all recently renovated. Rooms are described as large and spacious, featuring comfortable beds and excellent sound insulation. Amenities typically include air conditioning, private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, flat-screen TVs, and free WiFi. Many rooms also offer balconies with picturesque lake views. Thoughtful touches like a cozy lighting atmosphere and a detailed turn-down service are appreciated by guests. Drinking water, both still and sparkling, is provided in the rooms.

4. Dining Experience

Hotel Auerhahn is celebrated for its exceptional culinary offerings, featuring "Michelin-level" food. It houses two restaurants: the main Restaurant Auerhahn for fine dining and Brasserie Barbara for lighter, regional dishes. The main restaurant, led by Culinary Director Yann Bosshammer, emphasizes regional and seasonal ingredients to create sophisticated compositions, with a daily changing fixed menu for dinner. The breakfast buffet is extensive and diverse, offering continental, buffet, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and is noted for being rich and delicious. The half-board option is highly recommended by guests for its excellent quality. An excellent selection of cakes is also available in the afternoon.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Hotel Auerhahn consistently receive stellar reviews, scoring 9.8 out of 10. Guests frequently describe the team as kind, professional, very helpful, warm, competent, and genuinely hospitable. The friendly and attentive approach of the staff contributes significantly to guests feeling welcomed and at home during their stay.

6. Location & Accessibility

Located in the Schluchsee-Aha district, directly on the B500, Hotel Auerhahn offers a superb location right on the shores of Lake Schluchsee and within the scenic Black Forest. This provides immediate access to nature, making it ideal for hiking, cycling, and various water sports.

• Public Transport: Aha train station is conveniently located approximately a 5-minute walk away, with direct S1 line connections to Freiburg main station (approx. 60 minutes).
• Car Access: The hotel provides free private parking and electric vehicle charging. Schluchsee town center is about a 6-minute drive or a 50-minute walk. Larger cities like Freiburg are approximately 45 minutes by car, and Zurich is about 85 minutes away.
• Nearby Attractions: Guests can easily reach attractions such as Badeparadies Schwarzwald and Titisee within a 15-minute drive, and Hochfirst Ski Jump is about 21 km away.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel Auerhahn is generally considered to offer good value for money, with a rating of 8.6. Guests perceive it as a high-quality establishment with exceptional services that justify the cost. While specific room prices vary, some instances show rates around €410. It's noted that booking directly through the hotel's website might offer better prices compared to third-party platforms. A city tax of €3.50 per adult per night (€1.60 for ages 6-15) applies. Additional costs include €60 for a late check-out until 3 PM and €15 per person for continued spa access on the day of departure until 6 PM.

8. Common Complaints

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few minor recurring criticisms have been noted:

• Spa Facilities: Some guests reported that certain spa facilities, such as the steam bath and brine pool, were occasionally defective. The indoor pool's water temperature was also considered too cool by some.
• Room Amenities: A few guests mentioned that the beds were "rather hard" and expressed a desire for a minibar or coffee machine in the rooms.
• Ambiance Change: Following renovations, some long-time guests felt that the "warm Black Forest ambiance" and the distinctive bird chirping sounds were lost, with gray tones now dominating the bath area.
• Dining Offerings: Changes to the culinary program, specifically the removal of a previously included afternoon salad/cake buffet and the Friday Black Forest buffet, were missed by some guests.
• Pet Amenities: For the €25 pet fee, some guests found the provided dog amenities to be very basic.

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