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Summary of reviewsDen Gamle Arrest in Ribe, Denmark, garners high praise for its exceptional central location within Denmark’s oldest town, offering a unique experience due to its historical charm as a former prison. Guests are captivated by the rustic atmosphere original preserved furniture and superb views, particularly those overlooking the cathedral. The hotel’s prime positioning provides easy access to key attractions and the village square, enhancing the overall experience. Complementing this are the well-received breakfasts and friendly service, contributing to a memorable and distinctive stay.
The breakfast options at Den Gamle Arrest are frequently lauded for their quality and variety, featuring fresh pastries, delicious bread and an array of cheeses. The cozy and charming breakfast atmosphere, bolstered by welcoming staff, ensures a pleasant start to the day. Despite minor criticisms regarding limited selections or occasional shortages, the overall sentiment about the morning meal remains positive.
Guests find the rooms at Den Gamle Arrest uniquely intriguing, encapsulating the historic essence of a former prison. Rooms or cells, are small but cleverly laid out with quirky features adding to the experience. Cleanliness is generally commendable and guests enjoy the tidiness and comfort, particularly noting the friendliness of the staff and quality of the coffee. However, shared bathrooms often fall short with recurring issues of mold and cramped conditions, affecting a few guests’ comfort.
While overall cleanliness is noted positively by many, consistent concerns about mold in bathrooms and other areas detract from the experience. Some guests highlighted significant mold issues, along with occasional lapses in hygiene, particularly in communal spaces.
Staff at Den Gamle Arrest consistently receive high marks for their friendly and accommodating demeanor. Guests appreciate the helpfulness and welcoming nature of the staff, who ensure a pleasant experience with their attentive service. Special touches for pet owners amplify the inclusive atmosphere.
The beds receive mixed reviews. While some find them comfortable and authentic, others report issues with overly soft or uneven mattresses, noisy beds due to assembly issues and ill-fitting mattresses. However, the hotel’s responsiveness to special requests, such as providing gluten-free options, is noted positively.
In conclusion, Den Gamle Arrest offers a unique and memorable stay in an extraordinary historical setting, bolstered by its prime location and generally well-received services. The clever use of its former prison layout provides a distinctive experience, although some practical challenges, particularly with bathrooms and beds, need consideration. The overwhelmingly positive interactions with the staff and the delightful breakfast significantly enhance the guest experience. Show more
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Dog Friendly Bed & Breakfast
This unique bed and breakfast in Ribe allows pets. Its central location on Torvet offers easy access to Ribe's attractions, making it convenient for pet owners. The accommodation provides a historic and charming experience.
Bed & Breakfast with EV Charging Stations
Small Bed & Breakfast
3-Star Bed & Breakfast
Room Types
Grand Lit Bed Cell With Shared Bathroom/ToiletThe double room features soundproof walls, a seating area, as well as a shared bathroom boasting a shower and a hairdryer. The unit has 1 bed.
Four-Poster Bed in The Prison Inspector's BedroomThis suite is comprised of 1 bedroom, a seating area and 1 bathroom with a bath and a shower. Featuring a patio, this suite also offers soundproof walls, a dining area and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 2 beds.
Double Room with Private Bathroom - CellThe double room offers soundproof walls, a seating area, as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. Among the room amenities are a dining area, a carpeted floor, heating as well as a patio and an inner courtyard view. The unit has 1 bed.
Small Gable Room (Double Bed) on 2nd floor. Shared Bathroom/ToiletThe double room features soundproof walls, a seating area, as well as a shared bathroom boasting a shower and a hairdryer. The double room has a carpeted floor, a patio and city views. The unit has 2 beds.
Double Room with Private Bathroom in the Inspector's HouseThe double room offers soundproof walls, a seating area, as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. Among the room amenities are a dining area, a carpeted floor, heating as well as a patio and an inner courtyard view. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
7.2
Good
Location
Den Gamle Arrest in Ribe, Denmark, receives high praise from guests for its phenomenal central location. Positioned in the heart of Denmark's oldest town, the hotel offers an extraordinary setting with its historic charm, being a former prison. Visitors appreciate the unique experience and the rustic original atmosphere of staying in a building with preserved furniture and interiors from its days as a detention facility.
The views from the hotel, particularly those overlooking the cathedral, are frequently highlighted as superb and add significantly to the delightful ambiance. The proximity to key attractions and the square provides guests with convenient access to exploring the historic village, enhancing the overall stay experience. Guests also note the lovely breakfast and the good service provided by the friendly staff, which complement the hotel’s prime location.
In essence, the hotel's unparalleled central positioning, coupled with its unique charm and historical significance, contributes to a memorable and distinctive stay in the charming city of Ribe.
Breakfast
At 'Den Gamle Arrest,' breakfast has received a commendable amount of praise for its wonderful and delicious offerings. Many guests have highlighted the quality and abundance of options, from fresh pastries and delicious bread to a good selection of cheeses and other accompaniments. The breakfast atmosphere is described as cozy and charming, further enhanced by the friendly and welcoming staff who ensure a pleasant dining experience.
While some guests have found the breakfast to be modest or lacking in certain items like fruits, eggs or yogurt, the overall sentiment remains positive. Many appreciated the extensive and well-presented buffet with healthy options available. Experiences have varied with some noting occasional shortcomings like limited selections or an empty buffet upon arrival, but these instances don't overshadow the general satisfaction with the morning meal.
Additionally, the blend of a unique, historical setting and a hearty breakfast creates a memorable experience that guests seem to value. Despite a few critiques regarding the variety and freshness of certain items, the breakfast at 'Den Gamle Arrest' continues to be a highlight for many visitors.
Rooms
Staying at 'Den Gamle Arrest' is certainly a unique experience. Housed in a former prison, this hotel offers an ambiance that is both historic and intriguing. The rooms or cells, are notably small, which is to be expected given the building's original function. Some guests found the experience of sleeping in a cell exciting and different with well-utilized layouts and quirky features like small indoor balconies.
Cleanliness is a strong point, as many guests noted their rooms were tidy and they slept well. The staff are described as cozy and the coffee is praised highly. For families, the hotel does offer larger rooms that come equipped with everything needed.
However, certain drawbacks can't be overlooked. Shared bathrooms are a common feature and the conditions of these facilities are frequently mentioned as needing improvement. Mold and issues with cleanliness, as well as cramped spaces in the bathrooms, were recurring concerns. Additionally, some guests found the beds uncomfortable and noticed that room furnishings were minimal, lacking things like wardrobes and TVs.
Guest reviews often highlighted the necessity of understanding what you're signing up for—staying in a former jail means facilities will be basic and space is limited. While some found the experience fun and the ambiance charming for a short stay, others felt the price did not match the level of comfort and amenities provided. Centrally located in Ribe, the hotel's unique setting does offer a memorable stay, but it's advisable to weigh the novelty against the practicalities noted by previous visitors.
Beds
The bed situation at 'Den Gamle Arrest' seems to evoke mixed feelings among guests. Many appreciated the comfort and found the beds to be good with some even describing them as comfortable and authentic. Adjustable beds also received praise for their convenience. However, a significant number of guests reported issues, citing discomfort due to overly soft or uneven mattresses. There were instances where the slats were incorrectly assembled, causing the beds to be noisy. In some reviews, the four-poster bed's mattress did not fit properly, leading to further discomfort. Despite these varying responses, the hotel does take requests seriously, such as providing gluten-free rolls for breakfast, which highlights their effort in addressing guest needs.
Cleanliness
Den Gamle Arrest has received mixed feedback regarding its cleanliness. On the positive side, numerous guests described the hotel as really clean, super clean and cozy with many noting that the rooms were clean and tidy. The breakfast also garnered praise in some reviews. However, a significant number of reviews mentioned mold issues, particularly in the bathrooms and on ceilings, which detracted from the overall experience.
Some guests found the bathrooms to be mold-infested with a strong moldy smell making it uncomfortable to shower. There were also comments about mold on windows and other parts of the room. Instances of poor hygiene and dilapidated bathroom conditions were noted, along with complaints about dust and cleanliness issues in communal areas.
In summary, while Den Gamle Arrest has its charm with clean and cozy rooms, the mold problems and inconsistent cleaning standards, especially in the bathrooms and communal spaces, are significant areas of concern for guests.
Staff
Den Gamle Arrest boasts a staff that consistently wins praise from its guests, who describe them as friendly, super friendly and accommodating. Whether it’s the host who is right there to assist, the cook who goes out of their way to be accommodating or the welcoming staff making guests feel right at home, the service seems to leave a positive impression. Staff members are noted for providing good information about check-in procedures, even sending out parking maps before arrival.
The breakfast experience is often highlighted with terms like excellent and delicious coming up frequently and the welcoming behavior during breakfast stands out as well. Even though there are mentions of the staff being absent on Sundays and Mondays, communication remains reliable through various means.
There are special touches appreciated by pet owners, such as catering to dogs with beds and food bowls, creating an inclusive atmosphere for all guests. Despite occasional feedback about the staff being busy or check-in being somewhat impersonal, the overall sentiment leans heavily towards positive interactions.
Guests enjoy their stays as they find the staff sweet, helpful and attentive with lovely smiles and a pleasant demeanor that ensures they feel welcome throughout their visit.
No, Den Gamle Arrest doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Den Gamle Arrest.
Yes, Den Gamle Arrest welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Den Gamle Arrest.