When you live in Germany, smack in the center of Europe, the vacation possibilities are endless. France, Austria, Italy, southern Turkey, Egypt, the Canary Islands, Scotland, etc. But this year, with airfares being so high, I thought staying in Germany would be the best option. I was looking for peace of mind, an opportunity to get away from it all and be surrounded by beautiful landscape. So I went online and did a search for "remote holidays in Germany". Here are some things I learned from this holiday...

I made several mistakes when planning this trip. My biggest mistake? The hotel I picked. My big lesson learned? Never book a hotel for a long-stay holiday in a hotel without consulting somebody. Anybody. Even the internet travel sites that allow people to rate hotels.

I thought I was being adventurous, taking matters into my own hands, being independent. That spirit only carries you so far through the trials and tribulations of an unwelcoming and less than professional innkeeper.

In hindsight, I should have called the hotel and asked some basic questions before I confirmed the booking. Living in Germany, I could even have had a German friend call the hotel and ask those same questions for me. Or asked the friend what it is like to stay at a small, family-owned hotel in the middle of almost nowhere. Because of my laissez-faire attitude, I was not entirely happy with the situation I found myself in.

Location, location, location

The pictures of the hotel on their internet site looked lovely: typical Bavarian style, a separate restaurant, nice rooms, a view of the town and the mountain. My mistakes: I didn't think enough about the actual location of the hotel as compared to the pedestrian zone and the train station. Nor did I consider the elevation! I think 10 minutes to the center by foot is quite good in terms of walking distance. It was about 20 minutes to the train station. What I didn't consider is that that great view of the town was actually from about 200 meters higher than the town. Doesn't seem like much, but in truth it was about a 10-minute walk to the base of the hill, then a short walk distance-wise almost straight up an unlit pathway. So the end of each relaxing stroll from town was a nice little hike to get your heart pumping and your blood flowing. Not bad from a fitness perspective, but I was not inclined to do the walk more than once a day, and certainly not after 9 pm, when the sun went down.

A single or a double room?

When I emailed the hotel to make my reservation, I told them I wanted a double room. I didn't want to spend 9 nights in a small room with a single bed: I wanted a bit of space to be comfortable in. The price was quoted per person and was just fine for one. It included half-pension, breakfast and dinner (pauschale).

When I arrived at the hotel, they showed me my assigned table for both breakfast and dinner. It was set for two. When I asked why two, the innkeeper was shocked to realize that it was only me they had booked into a double room. She immediately went to her computer to check the original email, as I saw when I walked back to the office. Because I booked a double room she expected there to be two people. This was important because the price for the room was quoted per person, not for the room itself per night. The innkeeper started talking about a price adjustment but then said that I could just pay the price for one, and stay in the double room. This was a relief, because I toyed with the idea of turning around and driving the five hours back home, not 10 minutes after I had arrived.

Dinner is served!

My next surprise was mealtime. Dinner was served promptly at 6:30 every evening. No exceptions. No being late. I thought that being on holiday on my own, I could keep my own hours and order dinner whenever I pleased. Not so! This was a small hotel that could accommodate around 30 guests. Dinner was prepared by the innkeeper's husband and there was only one service.

While the food was generally excellent, and frankly, the highlight of the hotel, the fixed dinner hour was very restrictive. I had already agreed to pay for the half-pension, and with the double occupancy issue, they weren't about to let me out of it. So I was forced to either cut my day trips short and be back at the hotel in time for the meal service or pay for a second meal somewhere else. It also meant that, when dinner was over around 8 pm, I could choose to go up to my room or walk down to the center of town, and then have to walk back up the pathway in the dark.

Money is the root of all...

Once it was made clear that I would be permitted to stay for the price agreed, and that the half-pension would not be adjusted, I thought the discussions over money were over. Again, not so. When I told the chef that I would not be dining at the hotel on Sunday, he made sure to tell me that I would have to pay for dinner anyway, as it was included in the half-pension. Then Tuesday morning I was sitting eating my breakfast, reading my book in solitude, when the innkeeper came by to make sure I knew that they did not take credit cards, only EC cards (cash or debit card) and cash.

And when I decided I had had enough of the atmosphere of my hotel and was going to depart a day early, the chef also made clear to me that I would still have to pay for the full stay, regardless. Naturally, I knew this. It was my choice to leave early, even if they made me feel somewhat unwelcome. But to be reminded of money matters constantly was a bit trying.

And let's not forget the piece de resistance: I had brought some wine with me to enjoy in my hotel room but forgotten my corkscrew. When I asked the innkeeper to lend me her corkscrew, she responded with: We are not a supermarket you know! We want to sell our own wine! It may have made a difference if she had said: Of course, but perhaps you would like to try one of the wonderful wines we have here in our restaurant?

I don't recommend the Hotel Drachenburg in Mittenwald. I do recommend doing sufficient investigation to ensure you know what to expect when you arrive at your hotel of choice. Make sure you find out details about the location of the hotel within the town, dinner options including time and meal options, parking, proximity to public transportation, etc. Don't get me wrong: The service at this hotel is an exception to the rule. But the next hotel I choose for a long-stay holiday will be based on a recommendation from a friend!