Hvedholm Slotshotel

My partner booked Hvedholm Slotshotel for a special occasion, hoping for a royal experience in a castle. What we got felt more like a dusty attic than a royal retreat. Old carpets, dust everywhere, and enough random chairs to host a meeting of invisible guests. The curtains were more decorative than useful – they let the sunlight in like it was their full-time job. The bathroom had enough mould to start its own ecosystem. I'm still wondering how housekeeping doesn’t see it. Also, no water bottle or basic toiletries in the room – BYO. Breakfast was... consistent. The same fake scrambled eggs and bacon every morning. That was it. Oh, and really bad coffee, like it had been filtered over and over without changing the beans. Dinner was a mystery game. No menu online, none at reception, and even the staff didn’t know what was being served. We didn’t risk it. The building has charm and potential, but it badly needs a refresh, better management in every department, and far fewer chairs.

From a distance, Hvedholm Castle looks like something out of a fairytale. A grand building, beautiful park, well-kept lawns, and a peaceful atmosphere. But behind the lovely facade lies an experience that feels more like a mix between a nursing home, a thrift store, and a moldy furniture warehouse. As soon as you enter the reception, you're hit by a strong odor. Not of history and old-world charm, but of stale air and disinfectant. Well, it is an old castle so let´s take it easy and see the room before we judge. We were placed in one of the wings, which at first glance seemed quirky and full of character. With many chairs, drawers, and heraldic crests on the walls. But closer inspection revealed poorly enlarged .png images, printed and framed, with dead flies trapped behind the glass. I get the idea, but it all felt like a fake Disney set. A theme that would continue throughout the entire stay. The room smelled as if it hadn’t been aired out in years. The shower was covered in black mold, the toilet seat was loose, the faucet had no spout, and the sink had no stopper. Just a direct hole down the drain. A health and safety notice wouldn’t have been out of place. We chose not to dine in the restaurant. If this was what they proudly presented (our room), we didn’t want to imagine the state of the kitchen and even if we wanted to, there was no menu on display anywhere, and none of the QR codes worked. Breakfast the next morning was a very mediocre buffet, seemingly tailored to the retirement crowd. It felt more like something from the late '80s or early '90s than a modern hotel experience. We explored the castle. Seating was not in short supply. Never in my life have I seen so many misplaced chairs. The massive rooms were almost cramped due to the sheer number of sofas, armchairs, dining chairs, and... well, chairs. Our first room had five. For two people. Yes, we switched rooms. The second was just as stuffy, but eventually we got one in the same wing as the reception that seemed to have been vacuumed within the past week. This one only had three chairs but featured five standing lamps and four massive vases in the windowsill. That made it quite the challenge to air the room. Does your ventilation system actually work? The air felt stagnant everywhere. I got curious and tried climbing up to the tower. You can get up there. But be prepared for what may be the region’s largest fly graveyard. The view is incredible if you dare go out on the balcony. I’m not sure I was allowed to be up there, and the railing only reached my hips. It didn’t feel very safe. Paint is peeling from ceilings everywhere, it’s not clean, it smells, and the indoor climate is truly poor. Whatever you do, don’t check above doorframes, beds, or the top of the shower unless you enjoy disappointment. So much wasted potential.

My room was very small. Wifi did not work. Breakfast served late (starting at 8am). Bathroom extremely tiny and shower drain did not work causing room flooding. Stinky carpet. No blinds. When I arrived at 5pm there was nobody at the reception because "it was too late" (???). Not recommended.