Andrei Vashkevich
Google
We stayed for two nights as a family at the Falkensteiner Hotel in Velden, booking two rooms under the same reservation. While the hotel enjoys a beautiful setting on the lake and has impressive facilities, our experience fell short of what’s expected from a true 5-star property.
What we liked:
- The lakeside location is superb, with direct access to Wörthersee and elegant hotel design.
- The wellness area is well-maintained and relaxing.
- Some staff were friendly and professional.
- Breakfast was varied and of good quality.
But several issues were unacceptable at this level:
- Room allocation: Despite a shared family booking, we were placed on different floors in opposite ends of the hotel. No effort was made to keep us even remotely close.
- Child supplement, no added value: We were charged €80 per night for our child, but received no third towel or any child-specific amenities — not even the basics.
- In-room slippers: Only size 40 slippers were provided, which were unusable for an adult with size 44 feet.
- Bathroom functionality: The towel dryer didn’t work, and the shower temperature was impossible to adjust — swinging between scalding and freezing.
- Language barrier: Several breakfast staff could not speak English, which is surprising and inconvenient in a hotel catering to international guests.
- Wine pricing: Wines in the restaurant were hugely overpriced, even by luxury hotel standards, which took away from the overall dining experience.
In summary, the hotel has the infrastructure and location of a premium destination, but the service, coordination, and guest experience need significant improvement. It felt like a 4-star stay priced and presented as 5-star.
With better attention to detail and guest needs, this could be a truly outstanding hotel. For now, expectations should be adjusted accordingly.