Gasthaus und Pension Zum Stausee

This hotel has a great location right next to the Nahe river. We turned back from our planned route to pull in and see if they had any rooms available! We're so glad we did, the location, room and staff were excellent. Even though the rooms were not ready yet, they allowed us in to them to change (we were on motorbikes) and to leave our gear there while we had a stroll along the river. When we returned the rooms were fresh and clean. Luckily we were given a room with a balcony, over the beer terrace to the side of the hotel. The other couple travelling with us were in a room with a balcony over-looking the river - very beautiful. The bathroom in our room was very small, but had everything you need with a good shower. The beds were comfortable and we had a good couple of night's rest there. The restaurant staff were excellent, with one helpful young lady who explained the menu items to us as they didn't have an English version. We probably could have muddled through with our limited knowledge of German, but this did make it easier for everyone to select dinner. The chef was out and about talking to his patrons, and the food was top-notch. We recommend the spare ribs! Breakfast was good, the usual array of cheese, ham and eggs. Good coffee as well, I'm told. A nice bunch of guests as well, a mixture of ramblers, cyclists and bikers. The hotel owner was not as pleasant as the rest of the stay. He didn't make an effort in the same was as the restaurant staff, and insisted that we pay cash for the whole lot which seriously depleted our reserves of Euros. However, had this been explained at the time that we first asked for the rooms we would have at least been prepared for it. It came as a shock after we were unpacked and settling down with a beer. Also recommend a trip to the Gestollen mines which are a good half hour walk away through the woods, or a 20 minute drive round the other side of the hills. Not open Sundays and Monday though! We'd stay there again, lovely setting.