Our final weeks in San Francisco were a mad rush, so we didn’t have time to research the hotels we booked. On the train here to #Hallstatt yesterday, Kenric started reading Google reviews of the hotel. One said the lady watched them like a hawk at breakfast, and asked why they took so much food. Another said she gives nasty looks if you bring outside food into the hotel.
Hallstatt, Austria
We decided to eat in their restaurant the first night just to show some goodwill, and hopefully build some rapport since we’ll be here for five nights. Check-in was OK, the room was great, dinner was OK, but not one staff member has smiled since we arrived. The first page of the menu says something like The Holl Family welcomes you yadda yadda yadda. Haha! Holl means hell, just like the Zur Holl (To Hell) restaurant.
The view from our room was nice.
Woke up to a good view. Went down for breakfast, and met the breakfast lady. No greetings, no smiles, pointed us to a table. When she brought the coffee, she scanned through our plates to see how much food we took. She didn’t scold us, but it was really unpleasant, like we’re really eating for free.
Hot Water?
Kenric mentioned he would ask her for a cup of hot water to take to the room since there’s no kettle in the room. I needed it for my Chinese medicinal tea. I had a feeling it would be challenging, but hey, better he than me. A person of color knows better than to make special requests lest they think me uppity. I know how it works. A person of color asking for an extra teabag is greedy, but a person deemed worthy simply likes her tea strong.
Breakfast was supposed to be from 8 to 10. Around 9:50, she started taking things away. We got the hint, and got up to leave. Kenric asked, “Can I get a cup of hot water to take to the room?” She angrily uttered a few words in German, and walked into the kitchen to set the food down. When she came back out Kenric asked again. She refused eye contact, and walked pass us, grumbled more. The husband walked in, and Kenric asked him. “Huh? Hot water?” Mumbled to himself in German, and walked into kitchen. Came back out, “Hot water one Euro.” Fine, whatever.
My 1€ hot wasser. That’s $1.18 USD.
I started reading TripAdvisor reviews of this place. Doris Holl apparently, has been an extremely rude hotel owner since at least 2008.
“Can we get more orange juice?” “Drink apple juice!”
“Can you unlock the sauna?” “Sauna closed today!”
“Can I get another towel for my child?” “We put two towels in the room. Your child staying for free!…….One Euro for extra towel.”
Stories from other reviews we found
A couple with a young child wanted to eat in the restaurant, but the restaurant closed early for a special event. Mom stayed in the room to put the child to bed, and Dad went to get take-out. Came back, hotel front door was locked. Knocked. Doris Hell asked to see what’s in the bag. Told him to go away. Cannot come in with food. Locked door.
Another couple. Eating in the room. Suddenly, Doris Hell unlocked the door with her master key, came into the room, and yelled at them to take the food away. Can’t eat in the balcony either. Must leave the hotel with the food immediately. Reviews involving the son are equally outrageous.
The White Lamb
Mrs. Hell wears a one-piece white dress that looks like a nurse dress uniform. At least she’s not abusing grandmas and grandpas in convalescent homes.
Translated into English, the hotel name is “The White Lamb”. The tag line is “Make yourself at home”. Laughable, if it wasn’t so insulting to paying customers. More like “The Holl Family gives your family Holl.” Or, “The White Lamb is the black sheep of Hallstatt.”
The Weisses Lamm looks so sad 🙁
Please don’t give any undeserving businesses your money.
Map of Places Visited
Hallstatt
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Hallstatt47.562200, 13.648600
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