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Summary of reviewsWaterside Mariestad is well-regarded for its superb location. Nestled close to the city center and surrounded by picturesque scenery, the hotel offers easy access to the charming town of Mariestad, its bustling harbor, markets and natural reserves. The historic building, once a prison, adds a unique flair and a distinctive historical ambiance. Despite being centrally situated, the hotel maintains a quiet and peaceful environment, making it an ideal retreat for both short and extended stays. The spacious rooms, excellent parking facilities and proximity to public transportation, all contribute to its appeal.
The breakfast at Waterside Mariestad is generally praised for its quality and variety. Guests appreciate the fresh and plentiful selection, the clean and pleasant dining atmosphere and the opportunity to dine in a cozy courtyard or on a terrace. While there are some mentions of limited hot dishes and occasional darkness in the breakfast room, overall, the breakfast is considered a strong point offering good value for money.
Dinner experiences, however, receive mixed feedback. Though the staff is often praised for being helpful and friendly, the restaurant’s operations sometimes fall short. Issues such as inconsistent service, early closing times and lack of operational bars or minibars have been noted. Enjoyable moments like occasional live performances add a nice touch, but there’s room for improvement in the restaurant’s functioning.
Room reviews highlight the unique lodging experience with the old prison cells ranging from large and spacious to small and simple. Cleanliness is a recurring positive theme with many guests noting well-maintained rooms and facilities. However, there are occasional reports of untidiness in shared areas. Guests appreciate the comfortable beds, large windows offering scenic views and the historical elements like large photographs and a small museum. The pricing is considered fair, balancing basic amenities with the unique experience of staying in a historic location.
Cleanliness is a significant highlight at Waterside Mariestad with many guests describing the hotel and rooms as clean, tidy and well-maintained. Despite occasional lapses, such as in the shared bathrooms or breakfast area, the overall sentiment is positive, making it a reliable choice for cleanliness-conscious travelers.
Staff at Waterside Mariestad are generally seen as friendly, helpful and welcoming. While there are mentions of occasional communication issues and limited staff availability, the overall impression is positive. The breakfast staff receive particular praise for their friendliness.
The hotel’s free wifi is appreciated for its good signal, though some guests experience connectivity issues depending on the room location. Parking facilities receive positive comments for their convenience and security, especially for motorcyclists, despite some minor inconveniences for cars.
For families, Waterside Mariestad is a great option due to its spacious family rooms and fun activities for children. The beds are frequently praised for their exceptional comfort, contributing to a restful sleep experience. Lastly, the hotel is pet-friendly, warmly welcoming dogs, although some consider the pet charge to be on the higher side.
Overall, Waterside Mariestad is celebrated for its unique and comfortable accommodation, excellent location, cleanliness and friendly staff, making it a favored choice for various travelers. Show more
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Categories
Dog Friendly Hotel
This hotel is pet-friendly and welcomes dogs. Spacious family rooms are available. Some consider the pet charge to be on the higher side.
Hotel with Parking
This hotel offers parking. It features an American restaurant on-site.
EV charging stations
Hotel with EV Charging Stations
Hotel near Golf Courses
Family Friendly Hotel
Business Hotel
Hotel with Tennis Courts
Room Types
Single Room with Shared Bathroom and Lake ViewThis single room features a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and lake views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Single Room with Shared BathroomThis single room features a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Double Room with Shared Bathroom and Lake ViewThis double room features a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and lake views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Double Room with Shared BathroomThis double room has a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and an inner courtyard view. The unit has 1 bed.
Twin Room with Shared Bathroom and Lake ViewThis twin room has a shared bathroom, a wardrobe and lake views. The unit has 2 beds.
Family Room with Sea ViewFeaturing free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The family room features a wardrobe, heating and lake views. The unit has 3 beds.
Double RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a wardrobe, heating and an inner courtyard view. The unit has 1 bed.
Family Room with Sea ViewProviding free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The family room provides a wardrobe, heating and lake views. The unit offers 4 beds.
Guest Reviews
7.8
Good
Location
Waterside Mariestad is perfectly situated for those looking to explore the charming town of Mariestad and its picturesque surroundings. Nestled near the city center, the hotel offers easy access to an array of amenities, including the atmospheric harbor, bustling markets and Karlsholme People's Park. Guests appreciate the beautiful scenery surrounding the hotel, which includes views towards Lake Vänern and the convenience of being next to the river.
The historic building itself, a former prison, adds a unique flair and provides a distinctive historical ambiance. Despite its central location, the hotel maintains a quiet and peaceful environment, making it an ideal retreat. Handy for both short overnight stays and longer visits, Waterside Mariestad is described as an affordable accommodation option with the added benefit of spacious rooms and excellent parking facilities, including secure parking for motorcycles.
In addition to its prime location, the hotel is noted for its proximity to public transportation, ensuring that exploring Mariestad and its beautiful natural reserves is a breeze. The friendly and supportive staff, along with a very good breakfast, further enhance the guest experience, making Waterside Mariestad a favored choice for travelers.
Breakfast
Waterside Mariestad receives generally positive feedback for its breakfast offerings. Guests frequently highlight the breakfast as good, delicious, very nice and even exceeding expectations for its quality and variety. Many guests appreciate the fresh and plentiful selection available with a number of reviews praising the breakfast buffet for its richness and quality. Specific mentions include a very tasty and exceptional breakfast buffet, indicating a commitment to fresh ingredients and a varied spread.
Despite the positive consensus, some guests note areas for improvement. There are comments about the lack of hot dishes and limited choices at times with a few visitors mentioning the absence of items like juice, milk, scrambled eggs and bacon. Additionally, the breakfast room being a bit dark occasionally detracts from the overall experience. Nonetheless, the breakfast is generally deemed functional and adequate for the price with some guests describing it as minimal but sufficient.
In summary, while Waterside Mariestad's breakfast may not be luxurious, it is widely regarded as a strong point of the stay, offering everything one might need from a standard hotel breakfast, accompanied by a pleasant ambiance and good value for money. Guests particularly appreciate the fresh bread, the clean and pleasant dining atmosphere and the opportunity to dine on a cozy terrace or in a lovely courtyard.
Dinner
The dinner experience at Waterside Mariestad has garnered mixed feedback from guests. While the hotel staff are often praised for being helpful, pleasant and courteous, the same cannot be said about the dining facilities. Many guests have expressed disappointment with the restaurant, noting that it wasn't open or operational during their stay. When it was open, the service seemed lacking with instances of long wait times and food arriving cold.
Additionally, the restaurant's early closing time, often before 6 PM, has been a common grievance among guests, especially those who expected evening dining options. Some guests missed the availability of a bar or minibar, which was also frequently inactive. Moreover, there were complaints about misinformation regarding breakfast times, leading to some guests missing their morning meal altogether.
On a positive note, the occasional live performances, such as those by Andreas Johnson, added a nice touch to the evenings. However, the general consensus indicates that while the staff's demeanor is commendable, the restaurant operations at Waterside Mariestad leave much to be desired.
Rooms
Waterside Mariestad offers a truly unique lodging experience by repurposing an old prison into a hotel, providing guests the rare opportunity to sleep in former cells. The rooms vary in size with many described as large, spacious or even huge, while others are notably small and more reflective of their historical use. Despite the simplistic décor and lack of basic amenities like mirrors, TVs and bedside tables, guests commonly find the rooms to be comfortable, clean and tidy.
Cleanliness is a recurring positive theme with many guests noting that both the rooms and shared facilities are well-maintained and fresh. The shared shower rooms are deemed particularly new and clean, contributing to a satisfactory hygiene standard. However, some reviews mention instances of old ingrained dirt and occasional untidiness, reflecting a need for more consistent cleaning in certain areas.
The furnishings in the rooms are straightforward, often described as simple or Spartan, but they suffice for a modest stay. Beds are frequently highlighted for their comfort and rooms are often praised for their bright and pleasant ambiance, thanks to large windows offering scenic views, including sights of Lake Vänern. However, some rooms without windows or adequate lighting can feel cramped and cold.
Guests also appreciate the unique historical elements of the hotel, such as large historical photographs and a small museum that tell the story of the building's past. While the hotel lacks some conveniences like in-room toilets and showers in certain accommodations, the communal facilities are reportedly clean and functional.
The pricing of the rooms is often seen as fair, balancing the basic amenities with the unique and interesting experience of staying in an old prison. Staff presence is mentioned as infrequent but generally helpful when available. This spot is great for those looking for an affordable, clean and distinctive stay in a fascinating location by the water.
Beds
The accommodations at Waterside Mariestad have received glowing reviews regarding the beds. Guests consistently praise them for their comfort with many describing the beds as very comfortable, super comfortable and even amazingly comfortable. The duvets and pillows complement the great sleeping experience with several remarks specifically highlighting the comfort of the pillows. Some guests mention that the beds feel cozy and delicious, while others point out that the beds are fantastic and of good quality. There is a variety of bed sizes available, including wide double and French beds, which have been appreciated for their spaciousness. The clean linens and blankets also add to the overall positive experience. Though there are mentions of the bed arrangements and room space being occasionally tight, the comfort of the beds seems to overwhelmingly outweigh these minor issues. Overall, Waterside Mariestad is celebrated for providing a notably restful and satisfying sleep experience.
Cleanliness
Waterside Mariestad receives largely positive remarks for cleanliness, a key highlight for many visitors. Guests frequently describe the hotel as clean, tidy and well-maintained. Rooms are often noted as being fresh, neat and equipped with everything needed with some guests finding them spotlessly clean and cozy. Regular cleaning appears to be a standard, contributing to the overall cleanliness of the hotel with clean corridors and well-maintained common areas adding to the pleasant experience.
However, certain areas such as shared bathrooms and toilets seem to have occasional issues. While some visitors found these areas clean and fresh, others reported them as being dirty or poorly cleaned at times. The breakfast area, although cozy, sometimes had crumbs. A few guests mentioned lapses in room cleanliness, such as untidy rooms with cobwebs and unvacuumed floors.
Despite these occasional inconsistencies, the overall sentiment leans towards a positive and clean environment, making Waterside Mariestad a generally reliable choice for cleanliness-conscious travelers.
Staff
The reviews of 'Waterside Mariestad' highlight a mixed but generally positive experience regarding the staff at the hotel. Many guests found the staff to be friendly, helpful and welcoming, creating a pleasant and accommodating atmosphere. The reception staff, in particular, often received praise for their friendly demeanor and helpfulness with some guests noting the warm welcome they received.
However, there were also mentions of challenges. Some guests felt the availability of the staff was lacking, especially in the evening and noted instances where there was no staff presence at all during their stay. Communication issues were occasionally a problem with some staff members having difficulty speaking English, which led to misunderstandings or reluctance to provide detailed explanations.
Despite these issues, the hotel's staff managed to leave a generally positive impression by being kind, accommodating and ensuring guests felt welcomed. The breakfast staff also earned commendations for their friendliness. Overall, while some improvements in staff availability and communication could enhance the experience, the friendly and supportive nature of the staff contributed significantly to the positive aspects noted by guests.
Wi-Fi
At Waterside Mariestad, guests generally appreciate the good wifi and strong signal with multiple mentions of a reliable network. However, some visitors have encountered issues with the wifi connection in the rooms, where it sometimes doesn't work well except near the window or in the corridor. These challenges are likely attributed to the building's structure. Overall, when it works, the wifi serves guests well, enhancing their stay at the hotel.
Parking
Waterside Mariestad generally receives positive comments regarding its parking facilities. Guests appreciate the availability of free parking around the hotel, which is particularly convenient and often described as good. For motorcyclists, the parking in the locked courtyard is highlighted as excellent and secure, offering peace of mind. There are mentions of a spacious and clean parking area, which adds to the overall appeal. However, some guests did find the parking options to be somewhat limited or hard to find at times and a few pointed out that the parking space might not be sufficient for everyone. Despite these occasional minor inconveniences, the consensus suggests that most guests find the parking arrangement at Waterside Mariestad to be satisfactory and beneficial.
Family
Waterside Mariestad offers a great experience for families with its perfect location and easy accessibility. The hotel features a variety of spacious and suitably large family rooms, where guests can comfortably stay together. Specifically noted are the cute and nice family rooms, which cater well to families, albeit with a minor disappointment for some regarding the lack of in-room toilets. Activities and the overall atmosphere at the hotel are fun for kids, making it a favorable choice for family vacations.
Dog Friendly
Waterside Mariestad is notably pet-friendly, embracing daily visits from four-legged guests. Dogs are allowed and the staff warmly welcomes both guests and their pets. This makes Waterside Mariestad a suitable choice for travelers with dogs. However, some reviews highlighted that the charge for dogs, set at 250 SEK, is considered quite high, especially since no additional amenities are provided for pets.
No, Waterside Mariestad doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Waterside Mariestad.
Yes, Waterside Mariestad welcomes dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Waterside Mariestad.