Dollenberg - Schwarzwald Resort

We have been visiting Hotel Dollenberg repeatedly over many years. In the past, we were also overnight guests, but over time we decided to stop staying at the hotel. The rooms feel noticeably dated and have not been renovated in quite a while. They no longer provide the level of comfort and refinement we expect from a five-star hotel of this category. As a result, we now only visit as day guests in the spa. We also used to enjoy dining at the restaurant, which in earlier years offered very good quality. Unfortunately, the food has declined over time and no longer stands out as it once did. Service throughout the hotel tends to feel rather distant and occasionally harsh, although there are positive exceptions — especially Simon in the spa area, who is warm, attentive and professional. The spa remains the true strength of Dollenberg. While the facilities themselves are not brand new, they have aged gracefully. The relaxation areas — particularly the Zirbenholz room and the fireplace lounge — are outstanding and provide a genuinely calm atmosphere. Pools and saunas are well maintained, pleasantly heated, and paired with beautiful views over the Black Forest. We have visited multiple times and have never experienced overcrowding; finding quiet spots to relax has always been easy. Overall, the day spa still offers very good value for money. There are, however, a few operational aspects that feel unnecessarily inconvenient. Food options in the spa are limited: typical spa snacks or light, health-oriented dishes are missing and the bistro menu feels somewhat outdated and not very contemporary for a full spa day. Additionally, receiving only two towels for the entire day is a bit impractical. Another small but notable issue: as a couple, we were assigned only one shared locker, which feels unnecessarily complicated — especially in winter, when storing bulky clothing and coats. Overall, while the hotel stay itself no longer meets our expectations for a five-star property, the day spa remains highly recommendable. We will gladly continue returning for spa visits.

My grandparents were loyal guests of the Dollenberg Hotel for many years, which makes what happened during their last visit all the more disappointing. As my grandmother’s mobility had become limited, my aunt specifically requested a room with proper accessibility: no stairs and close to the elevator. Despite this clear request, the room they were given did not meet those needs in the slightest. Even worse, when my family asked for an alternative solution, the staff showed little interest in assisting them. The interaction felt dismissive, and at one point they were essentially told that if the room did not suit them, they were free to leave. So they did. The hotel neither offered an apology nor a refund for a stay that clearly could not be used as booked. If the Dollenberg Hotel could not accommodate the request, they should never have confirmed the booking in the first place. Since then, our family has chosen to stay at the Bareiss whenever we visit the Schwarzwald. The have attentive staff, comfortable rooms, a fantastic pool area, a wonderful breakfast buffet and an atmosphere that genuinely feels welcoming.

Extremely Disappointing experience. I booked the room and there was no mention on the partner website on ongoing renovations in the hotel. The room allocated to us was right outside all the construction going on in different rooms with carpets covered with construction material, construction noise, smell, and smoke in the hallway. In addition, toilet was extremely dirty with stains all over and we were told these can’t be cleaned. Exactly what i would have expected from a premium luxury resort. Never again.