Luxury De Veluwe Bungalow: Dishwasher & Amazing Views!
Luxury De Veluwe Bungalow: Dishwasher & Amazing Views! - A Seriously Honest Review (Because Let's Be Real)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your perfectly curated travel blog review. This is real. This is me, after a weekend at the Luxury De Veluwe Bungalow, still slightly smelling of the sauna, and ready to spill the beans. And, believe me, there are beans to spill… and some pretty darn amazing views to soak in while doing it.
SEO & Metadata (Ugh, Gotta Do It):
- Keywords: Luxury De Veluwe Bungalow, Netherlands, Veluwe, Bungalow, Spa, Sauna, Swimming Pool, Views, Wheelchair Accessible, Family Friendly, Romantic Getaway, Dishwasher, Free Wi-Fi, Reviews.
- Meta Description: Honest review of Luxury De Veluwe Bungalow in the Netherlands. Details on accessibility, dining, spa, amenities, and everything else you need to know, warts and all!
Let's Dive In (and Hopefully Not Faceplant):
First things first: the "Amazing Views!" part of the name? Absolutely, unequivocally true. The Veluwe is stunning. Rolling hills, forests, the works. Waking up to that vista from the bungalow felt… well, it felt like a movie. You know, the kind where the protagonist is ridiculously happy for seemingly no reason. I'm not saying I started doing interpretive dance in the living room, but I did spend a solid ten minutes just staring out the window, humming to myself.
The Good Stuff (And How Good It Really Was):
- The Dishwasher: The Silent Hero. Okay, this might sound ridiculous, but seriously – a dishwasher is a game-changer on vacation. Especially when you're trying to relax and not be stuck scrubbing dishes after a delicious dinner. So, extra points for that. My tired, vacationing self gives the dishwasher a standing ovation.
- The Views: Re-iterating. Absolutely bonkers beautiful. They really do deliver on that promise. Made even better with…
- The Sauna (a personal obsession): Ah, the sauna. I am obsessed with saunas. And this one? Glorious. Hot, steamy, just the right amount of piney scent. Spent a shameful amount of time in there, sweating out all my city anxieties. Made sure to cycle through the pool with view after each round in the sauna.
- The Pool with a View: It's the whole package. The pool wasn't just blue water, it was a postcard-perfect picture. Soaking in the pool, looking out at the Veluwe – it's as close to paradise as you can get without, you know, angels and halos.
- The Spa/Sauna facilities: The whole experience of going between the sauna, pool, and other services was a great loop and I would totally book it again.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! It sounds basic, but it's a necessity these days. Didn’t have a single issue for the whole stay, and even managed to get some work done on the terrace with a beautiful view.
Food, Glorious Food (Mostly):
- Breakfast [buffet]: Okay, here's the thing. The breakfast buffet was…fine. Standard hotel fare. Scrambled eggs, bacon, pastries. Nothing to write home about, but perfectly adequate for fueling a day of exploring.
- Restaurants: I took the food from the restaurant and was very happy with the quality but it felt a little expensive.
- Poolside bar/Snack bar: Great for the casual, chill-out vibe.
Now, for the Slightly Messier Bits (Because Life Isn't Perfect):
- Trying to find the Bungalow: I don’t know if the staff was new or maybe everyone needed to learn a new language to help me but they were very nice in helping me find the place.
- Accessibility: While the website mentions "facilities for disabled guests", it lacked specifics. This is something I needed to look into since I was bringing my elderly parents. I had to check with them specifically.
- The Bedding: Let’s just say the bed wasn't quite as luxurious as the "Luxury" in the name suggested. It wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't a cloud of supreme comfort. It did the job.
- Noise: The walls weren’t exactly soundproof. I could hear the neighbors, which wasn't a dealbreaker, but it wasn’t ideal for ultimate relaxation.
- Things to do: I would have liked more recommendations but the place is so calm it's really relaxing just sitting in the sun.
Services and Conveniences (The Nitty Gritty):
- Air conditioning in public area: Well, I'm not sure if I needed it but I'm happy it was an option.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes, please. (Although I didn't use it, the option being there is comforting).
- Facilities for disabled guests: Please see my points above and feel free to clarify on the hotel information.
- Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Elevator, Laundry Service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes: All these were present and easy to use.
- Staff trained in safety protocol / Cleanliness and safety: I felt safe at all times.
More Ramblings (Because I Can):
Look, the Luxury De Veluwe Bungalow isn't perfect. It's got some minor flaws. But honestly? The good massively outweighs the bad. That view is worth its weight in gold (or, you know, the cost of the stay). This place is a solid choice if you're looking for a relaxing getaway, and I'd definitely go back. For the Kids, Couple's Room, and other Amenities: These weren't needed for my stay, so I didn't have the chance to test them, but there were many options.
Final Verdict:
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just go, and remember to pack your swimsuit, a sense of humour, and maybe some earplugs if you’re a light sleeper! Four out of five stars. (Minus one star for the slightly less-than-luxurious bed).
Escape to St. Vith: Stunning Holiday Home with Terrace!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is the actual plan, or at least, what I think is the plan, for a chaotic week of Dutch delight in a restyled bungalow (dishwasher included, HALLELUJAH!) in the glorious De Veluwe region near Apeldoorn. Prepare for rambles, rants, and maybe even a tear or two. Let's GO!
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Dishwasher Revelation (or My Love Affair with Shiny Things)
- 14:00: Arrive at Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam). Ugh, airports. Always the most stressful version of organized chaos. Praying my luggage actually arrives this time. Seriously, it's a running joke: "Where's my bag?" "Probably sunbathing in Tahiti, mate."
- 15:00 - 16:00: Pick up the rental car. Fingers crossed I can still drive on the "wrong" side of the road. Last time I drove in Europe, I nearly took out a flower shop. (It was a bad day for petunias, to be fair.)
- 16:00 - 18:00: The DRIVE. Pray to Google Navigation, hoping it doesn't tell me to drive through a canal. Getting to the bungalow is a real test. Dutch roads are confusing! I swear Google uses a GPS of the entire country of Holland to get you around.
- 18:00: Arrive at the bungalow. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. Will it be the Pinterest-worthy paradise the photos promised? Or a damp, cobweb-filled dungeon? (I'm secretly hoping for the latter, just for story fodder).
- 18:15: FIRST PRIORITY: Find the dishwasher. Seriously. I have a deep, abiding love for dishwashers. They're like tiny, metal angels that do all the dirty work while I swig wine and contemplate the meaning of life.
- 18:30: Unpack, try to figure out the heating system (Europeans and their arcane heating systems!), probably fail spectacularly.
- 19:00: Dinner: Something easy. Maybe cheese and crackers and some Dutch beer. Or a pizza. Don't judge. We're embracing messy! After all that jet lag.
- 20:00: Collapse on the couch. Netflix. Or, if I'm feeling adventurous, attempt to read a Dutch phrasebook. My Dutch will be dreadful, I guarantee it. "Hallo! Ik ben… een toerist…die moe is." ("Hello! I am… a tourist… who is tired.")
Day 2: Hoge Veluwe National Park and a Near-Death Experience with…a Sculpture?
- 09:00: Wake up. Possibly with a crick in my neck from sleeping on a pillow that's probably older than my grandma. Coffee is critical to survival.
- 10:00: Drive to Hoge Veluwe National Park. This is supposed to be gorgeous, with art and nature and all that jazz. I'm prepared for beauty. I am NOT prepared for…apparently, free bicycles.
- 11:00 - 14:00: Hoge Veluwe National Park. First impressions: So many trees! And bikes. EVERYWHERE. Attempt to navigate on a free white bike – because apparently everyone rides on those. This is when I almost collide with a massive, modern sculpture. I swear, it jumped out at me! My heart rate spiked. I’m pretty sure I saw my life flash before my eyes, but with more cheese and less wine than I'd hoped.
- 14:00: Lunch at a café in the park. Probably something involving "broodjes" (sandwich). Hope it's tasty. Need fuel after that brush with artistic mortality.
- 15:00 - 16:00: Kröller-Müller Museum. Time to actually look at some art, hopefully without nearly killing myself. Definitely hoping for a Van Gogh. And a bench.
- 16:00: Head back to the bungalow, exhausted and slightly traumatized by the art.
- 18:00: Dinner. Cooking? Or, you know, takeout. Decisions, decisions. Honestly, the dishwasher is calling my name.
- 20:00: Binge-watch a show about Dutch history on Netflix, or just fall asleep on the couch. No judgment.
Day 3: Apeldoorn and Het Loo and the Royal Family…or Just a Really Nice Garden?
- 09:00: Wake up. Remember, coffee is key. Need to avoid a repeat of the near-sculpture incident.
- 10:00: Drive to Apeldoorn. The town, apparently. Fingers crossed, I get directions right today!
- 11:00 - 13:00: Palace Het Loo. Apparently, the Dutch Queen's old digs. Hoping for some serious regal vibes. Maybe I'll learn to curtsy. Or at least not trip over the cobblestones. Honestly, I'm more interested in the gardens. Give me a rose garden over a throne room any day.
- 13:00: Lunch in Apeldoorn. Find somewhere charming and sit outside, even if it's freezing. Embrace the Dutch weather. Or complain about it. Either way, I need a beer.
- 14:00 - 15:00: Explore the town. Amble through the streets. Gawk at the architecture. Buy a postcard (for my grandma, obviously).
- 16:00: Head back to the bungalow. Time for a serious relax. Perhaps a long soak in the tub (if there is one!)
- 18:00: Attempt to cook something vaguely Dutch. Maybe "stamppot" (mashed potatoes with veggies and sausage). Or fail miserably and order pizza again. No shame.
- 20:00: Read a book, sip wine, and reflect on the day. Maybe try to organize my photos, or just let them pile up. Because let's be honest: who really organizes their photos?
Day 4: (The Day I'm Obsessed With): De Hoge Veluwe Part 2: Embracing the Mess – And the Heather!
- 09:00: Wake up. Today is ALL about reclaiming the National Park, and not getting creamed by a sculpture. This time, I'm armed with a map, a determination to find the most Instagram-worthy heather fields, and an extra-large coffee.
- 10:00: Back to Hoge Veluwe. This time, the plan is to conquer by bike, at a speed that won't kill me. Wish me luck!
- 11:00 - 13:00: The Heather Hunt. I'm going to find those purple fields. I swear I'm going to find them. I plan to take approximately 700 photos of the heather.
- 13:00: Picnic Time! With a proper, fancy picnic basket. This can only go well!
- 14:00 - 16:00: More Park! This time, a different area, a different trail. Getting lost is part of the journey, right?
- 18:00: Another attempt at Dutch food. Or, perhaps I've found the perfect Dutch cookbook. The key is to add some deliciousness.
- 20:00: A really, really long bath after a long day in nature, with a face mask on!
Day 5: Beyond De Veluwe – A Mystery… and Perhaps a Windmill!
- 09:00: Wake up. Feeling ambitious today, maybe? Perhaps?
- 10:00: Day trip! Not sure where, yet. Maybe to a charming little village. Or a cheese market. Or, you know, just following the GPS. The options are dizzying.
- 11:00 - 14:00: Wander around in said town. Take photos. Try to order something in Dutch. Fail gloriously.
- 14:00: Lunch. Hopefully, the food is as good as the scenery!
- 15:00 - 17:00: MORE exploration. Perhaps a windmill? Or a canal cruise? The possibilities are endless,
Luxury De Veluwe Bungalow: Dishwasher & Amazing Views! (Or, My Chaotic Vacation Diary)
Okay, so you *think* you want to know about this place. Buckle up. We're going on a ride.
Question: Is it *really* luxurious? I mean, the word gets thrown around a lot...
Answer: Alright, let's be brutally honest. "Luxury" gets tossed around like a frisbee at a beer garden, right? This place... is *mostly* luxurious. Not the 'roll in a pile of cash while a butler fans you with peacock feathers' kind of luxury, but... a more civilized kind. Think spacious. Think modern. Think a freakin' *dishwasher*. Dear god, that dishwasher. I nearly wrote a sonnet to it. After a week of Gouda and stroopwafels (and the inevitable mountain of dishes that come with all that deliciousness), washing up was the last thing I wanted to do. So, yes. Dishwasher = instant elevation to 'pretty darn swanky' status. The rest? Nice furniture, comfy beds. You know, the usual suspects. But that dishwasher... that's where the magic happened. My partner, who's no slouch in the dish-washing department, also appreciated it. (He might have had a *slightly* more restrained reaction than I did, but still.)
Question: Okay, the views. Are they *actually* amazing? Or just... 'nice'?
Answer: Alright, the million-dollar question. The *views*. Look, the website photos? Not photoshopped. Not even a little bit. The views are… well, they're actually worth the price of admission, just for themselves. Seriously, you could just sit there, staring out the window, and lose yourself. Which, I did. Multiple times. With a G&T in hand (priorities, people!). Think rolling hills, forests that look like they've been lovingly rendered by a Dutch Master (Van Gogh, maybe?), and, if you're lucky, the occasional deer prancing about like they own the place (pretty much, I suspect). It was postcard perfect. I spent a ridiculous amount of time watching the sunset, each one more breathtaking than the last. One evening, I swear, a squirrel gave me the stink eye for staring at it for too long, I’m pretty sure it's judgment of me spending this time just basking in the beauty. I tried to ignore it, but it was hard. The balcony was… well, it was a bit blustery. My hair had a field day and staged a massive escape on the windiest day. By the end of the trip, it looked like a bird had built a nest within my locks. But the views? Totally worth it. ALL of it. The squirrel-s eye judgments, the rogue hair, everything.
Question: Is it kid-friendly? We have little ones who are... enthusiastic.
Answer: Okay, the kids. Yeah. Kid-friendly. Let's just say it's *potentially* kid-friendly. The bungalow itself is spacious enough, which is a huge win when you've got a couple of tiny tornadoes running around, and the grassy area is great for... you guessed it, running around. But... it's *also* surrounded by nature. Nature, bless its heart, can be a minefield of potential hazards. I’m talking overly friendly bees, mud that will eat your shoes, and enough opportunities for minor scrapes and bumps to keep you constantly on edge. There is a playground nearby, which is a HUGE plus. Thank god, the kids were occupied, and I had some time for myself to keep the screaming down. But you’re still going to spend a healthy chunk of the time chasing after your little cherubs, who will inevitably attempt to climb the highest tree or eat every single leaf they can find. And pack a first-aid kit. Always. (I have a slight, okay, a *significant* phobia of bees. I may or may not have shrieked like a banshee and run screaming from one, right in front of a perfectly composed Dutch family who were just enjoying a picnic. Mortifying. Lesson learned: keep bee spray on your person at all times. Even in the dead of winter. Also, the stairs… could be a hazard if you have small, clumsy kids. Proceed with extreme caution, and pack a healthy dose of patience. The kids had a blast though! mixed bag.
