Chateau Fontenay

My husband and I recently spent a long weekend at Hotel Fontenay after I discovered Bad Worishofen, looking for a restful place to take a break. The facilities are very beautiful, if not somewhat dated. I don't mind the classic look, although the room we were in could have used some updating. The mattress was very firm, and it looked as if maybe it was last decorated in the 1990s. One morning, a housekeeper walked into the room without knocking, while we were still in there. I mostly enjoyed the staff at this hotel, especially the older gentleman who was always present in the dining room. I didn't catch his name, but he was clearly in charge and seemed eager to help. However, it does appear that this hotel is suffering from staffing shortages. There was one very good waiter handling the whole dining room, but he seemed somewhat overwhelmed. The staff also seemed a bit flummoxed by the fact that we aren't Germans. We do speak and understand some German, though, and if they had relaxed a bit, they would have found out there was no need to worry. We ate dinner in the restaurant one night. There was a fish item on the menu that indicated it was sold by its weight. I opted for a different fish dish, which had a flat price that appeared expensive. To my shock, when the fish was ready, they brought out enough for two people. My husband had his own entree, so I was essentially left with two plates of food that I would never be able to finish. It would have been nice if this had been explained when I made the order. I would have chosen something else. Fortunately, my husband was able to eat some of the second dish. A bartender brought out Irish Coffees for us with cream on the side. The manager saw it, after she put them down, and then took our drinks with no explanation. He brought them back with cream on top. It seemed a bit clumsy, as if maybe the bartender needed more training. But she seemed very new, so maybe she's already improved. We also waited a long time before our wine arrived and was poured for us. It came after the amuse was served. Then, when we were eating, the manager insisted on pouring it for us, even though he was busy serving other people. I don't mind having my wine poured, as long as the staff is attentive. Otherwise, I'd rather do it myself. I don't hold it against the staff if they are busy, but it should be acceptable to pour our own wine if there's going to be a wait. The spa area is nice, except young children were present when we were there, so it wasn't particularly relaxing. I also thought the water was a bit cooler than it should have been. I'm certainly not sorry we visited Bad Worishofen and we did enjoy our stay, but I think there's some room for improvement. Nevertheless, Hotel Fontenay is a beautiful place, and I could see that the leadership is earnestly trying. For that, I offer encouragement.

Manager was very enthusiastic and friendly. The property is bit dated and not everyone spoke English. Overall, it was pleasant, although I think it could do with a renovation.