Hotel Bad Stebener Hof e.K. in Bad Steben

We come to bad Steben at least once a year and we've stayed at this hotel the vast majority of the time. We used to love this hotel.

The first time we stayed at this hotel was more than 10 years ago and we felt really at home. They even left a bottle of prosecco in our room for my birthday. It was a great first impression.
In the following years we didn't get anything on my birthday but until the last few years we always got complimentary water in our room (since then nothing anymore).

There are many things we like about this hotel:
- it's very quiet and relaxing even when full
- the rooms are spacious and have at least one table
- the balconies offer privacy and a quiet/ nature view
- the beds are big and they put one single sheet binding the 2 mattresses together so no gap forms during the night. This is a big plus for us because our son sleeps between us.
- they have 2 high chairs in the breakfast room for babies
- it's uncomplicated to check-in at late hours

Unfortunately the last few years our good impression of the hotel gradually diminished more and more, mostly because of unfriendly staff, we just didn't feel welcomed in our last stays so we no longer plan on staying again at this hotel.
Specially on our last stay, the ladies at breakfast were pretty rude and the guy at the reception charged us for parking even though there was no parking available and, when we noticed in the bill, he gaslighted us annoyed that he had to make a correction, and instead of just refunding the parking, he charged us again for the full stay and we had to contact the hotel several times and took several weeks to get a refund. We just don't feel like this is the same hotel we used to know and love anymore and we don't feel welcomed anymore.
The prices have also been increasing.

Also to note:
- it's close to the therms (you can walk although we prefer to go by car with a small child)
- there is a playground relatively close (you can walk there)
- there are 2 restaurants in waking distance (both have take out)
- breakfast starts at 7h30
- usually there are (non guarded) parking spaces at the hotel (4€ a day) but during school holidays in the summer times there won't be any (there used to be but in the last years the hotel has more and more guests) so you can either ask the hotel to reserve a parking space for you or you can park in the main road below for free if you find a space (if not, you can try the parking on the road above but it's more far away from the hotel)
- some rooms don't have black out curtains so you might want to ask for one that has, specially in the summer
- in some rooms the balcony floor is completely coming off in several small pieces. You might want to request a better balcony if travelling with a crawling baby or small toddler
- breakfast ends at 10h
- check-out until 11h