We stayed two nights at the Maritim Hotel Schnitterhof during the second wknd of January 2011. It was a €25 pppn package deal including breakfast thru HotelWeek. I seem to remember this hotel is planning to switch to a different hotel group end of 2011.

Checking in went smoothly enough as one would hope for. The hotel seemed pretty abandoned this time of year. Staff was correct but not particularly friendly to engage into the smalltalk conversation we felt inclined to make after our long journey. We were given a room in a modernish looking wing, while at first glance this hotel appeared an all authentically timber-framed building. It turned out the main building that houses the restaurant was an old farm house from elsewhere in the region that was fully torn down and then built up here to serve the hotel, while the hotel itself was rather new. It would turn out to be exemplary to how we experienced Bad Sassendorf itself.

The room was modest but clean and decent, and had a nice bath and comfortable twin washing table. Unfortunately guests are allowed to smoke in their rooms, which struck us as not of this era and made the room we stayed in smell kinda musty. The view on the fruit tree lawn through the small windows made up for it. WiFi internet was available for €15 per day at cheapest, which was more than a disappointment for a 4★ hotel.

The hotel's spa facilities were closed for maintenance, which was understandable considering the low season weekend we were visiting at. The pool was open for a limited timetable. It was a disappointment though, since we picked this hotel especially for its all-included sauna. I would expect such to be mentioned on their website, since after all this is a German 'Bad' (Spa village), and therewith a main reason for a visit for most guests naturally are the spa facilities. To relieve our discomfort, upon the second time we inquired into alternative bathing options we were granted two free entrance coupons to the SoleTherme Bad Sassendorf; instead of the (still expensive) discount tickets hotel staff initially offered. This proved to be a way better sauna and indoor/outdoor swimming pool alternative than the hotel was able to offer in general, and well-worth a visit if you're in town.

Part of why I like staying at 4★+ hotels, is because staff generally is trained to be very accommodating. It's often the little things that make the difference in whether I feel noticed and at home, or if I feel like a number. We ventured out to explore the town and nearby picturesque Soest on foot several times on both days day, while it was relentlessly raining cats and dogs. Unfortunately we had forgotten to bring our own umbrellas. I would have appreciated being offered an umbrella to borrow by the hotel staff out of their own initiative while we passed by the manned front desk on our way out at least once.

Breakfast was pretty good, and served at their atmospheric history radiating main building. It was a bit fake to realise that this nice a farm building was actually especially brought up here, instead of it being part of the village's history. We were actively served at our table, which was also conveniently cleaned in between us going for seconds. There was a wide variety of German bread and enough choice in the usual bread spreading available. It was no problem whatsoever to overstay the breakfast timeslot, and kitchen personnel did not start clearing breakfast until way after the finishing time.

Upon departure I was not amused to be charged an extra ±€15 health resort surcharge, while the package deal we paid for the hotel was supposed to be all-inclusive (including all taxes as well as eg tourist taxes). Hotel staff was unrelenting in this matter.