Landhotel Michaelishof, Offen

...8085, 8086

Landhotel Michaelishof
Hauptstrasse 5
29303 Bergen/Offen
Landkreis Celle
Germany

==*** General ***==

All of the staff speak perfect English, even if they start speaking quickly in German, if you tell them your German is not too good, they immediately break into English.

Also the staff seem to remember you, and what you like, every morning for breakfast, ...
...I indicated that I wanted tea. In the bar/restaurant, the Manager welcomed me with my name - considering the last time I ate there, about 30 Dutch were in, and I sat quietly in the corner, I was impressed to say the least.

The only downside for me was that there was no Internet access, I just drove into Bergen and used an Internet Café.

Thanks for reading this, and if you are ever in this part of Germany and need somewhere ... more

I had to work in a part of Germany I'd not been to before, so I asked my client the best place to stay, he sent me a link to the web site for this hotel, initially when I looked I though "oh well, typical German place" but my impressions rose sharply when I rang to book my room.

*** Booking ***

I looked at the web site, where you can book directly, but as it was a 7 or 8 hour drive from Calais, I wanted to make sure that I actually had somewhere to stay! I rang the hotel, and the phone was answered by a pleasant sounding lady in German - I explained that my German wasn't too good; she immediately broke into almost perfect English. I explained what I required, she then asked me to confirm by email, which I did, within 20 minutes I had a reply confirming my reservation.

*** Location ***

The hotel is located on the B3 road between Celle and Hamburg, in the hamlet of Offen, basically Offen is a cross roads with about 4 houses and this hotel. Driving from Celle, after about 20km, you come to Offen, once at the cross road, the hotel is on the right hand side of the road.
Offen is in the middle of a triangle between Hanover, Hamburg & Bremen.
I don't recall seeing any public transport passing, but there were a number of bus stops in Bergen.

*** Check in ***

When I arrived, I went to check in. A lady was behind the counter, without any prompting she said my name, and asked if I had had a good journey. I was asked to fill out the standard form for checking in. She then gave me my key, and then showed me round the hotel, pointing out that my key unlocked the outside door etc.. Eventually she showed me my room, and pointed out where I should leave the car. (she turned out to be the owner of this family run hotel)

*** Rooms ***

I find it reassuring to have a key, more mechanical that one of those flexi cards! So unlocking the door I find a small corridor, with a door to the bedroom at the end. To the right is the bathroom.

I must admit I wasn't expecting the avocado green bathroom suite!
The bathroom had soap and shampoo waiting, and thick had and bath towels. The shower was very powerful, the temperature was easy to control.

Moving in to the bedroom, there is one large bed, which has two mattresses and two single duvets on, as is the continental way! The bed was very comfortable. There are two lights above the bed, which I found to be incredible bright, so much so that I had to point them away from me. Each room has a direct dial telephone, each unit costs 15 cents.

There is a table and two chairs, which in my room had a nice 1970's brown table cloth!

Opposite the bed is a TV, this had 15 channels, including BBC World and CNN.
To one end of the room is a large built in wardrobe, with lots of hanging space.

The window overlooks the courtyard garden, which I suspect in the summer, would be very nice to sit out in.

My room was cleaned & made up every day, there did seem a lot of attention to detail.

*** Restaurant ***

The restaurant is really typical German in the design, lots of wood! There are a number of tables for two, when I was there, a lot of the Dutch military were staying, so the tables were laid out in rows, I would say the restaurant would easily hold 100 (There was I noticed when I arrived a function taking place in a separate room, there were about 50 people in there.)

The food

What can I say, you really must stay here just for the food (although you can just go in for a meal). I'm not normally compelled to do this, but I had to buy the Chef a drink. I would not be lying if I said that these were probably the best meals I've ever had.

One day I had grilled Red Fish, in a creamy beetroot and horseradish sauce, with boiled potatoes. It was a fantastic meal. Another day I had Fallow Deer, in a rich sauce, with red cabbage and croquets - the description really doesn't do it any justice at all, to say it was divine would be an understatement and all for 15 Euro - I suspect in London you would pay £20-30 for the same meal.

Breakfast is from 06:30. There are a range of continental type things, fresh fruit, brad, cold cuts, fruit juice etc.

*** Check out ***

As I had to leave early on check out day, the waitress who looked after breakfast also checked me out, the whole process was completed very quickly.

Check out is by 10.00

Prices

Single room 46 Euro
Double room 72 Euro
"Comfortable" room 75 Euro
Junior suite 95 Euro

Although, I booked direct by ringing them up, and got my room (a comfortable room) for 50 Euro per night.

Booking

Telephone
0049 5051 8870, 8085, 8086

Landhotel Michaelishof
Hauptstrasse 5
29303 Bergen/Offen
Landkreis Celle
Germany

*** General ***

All of the staff speak perfect English, even if they start speaking quickly in German, if you tell them your German is not too good, they immediately break into English.

Also the staff seem to remember you, and what you like, every morning for breakfast, the waitress made me tea, as on the first day I indicated that I wanted tea. In the bar/restaurant, the Manager welcomed me with my name - considering the last time I ate there, about 30 Dutch were in, and I sat quietly in the corner, I was impressed to say the least.

The only downside for me was that there was no Internet access, I just drove into Bergen and used an Internet Café.

Thanks for reading this, and if you are ever in this part of Germany and need somewhere to stay, you really couldn't go wrong with this family run hotel.

Larry 

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