FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Villa Rothschild, Autograph Collection, Germany [Master Thread]

Oct 24, 2024 | 9:29 pm

jef7

Join Date: May 2004

Location: Portland, Oregon

Programs: AA EXP UA 2KMM AMB

Posts: 2,415

Hidden Gem

This is certainly one property that I would like to keep a secret if I could. As I look back to our short stay, sweet memories just flood back in from this boutique, and charming property. My other half has never been to Germany and I wanted his first introduction of this awesome country to be the town of Konigstein and Kronberg. During fall, as the leaves turn to their golden color, when paired with comfortable, sunny weather, these villages transform to something beautiful. And we certainly got lucky as we made our way towards Villa Rothschild, as it was hard to believe that for merely a 25 minute ride from FRA, the rolling hills and this charming village and property await to be discovered. The villa could be accessed by going through an iron gate, and then a narrow road arches in a circular path ultimately revealing this beautifully restored villa. It is honestly hard not to fall in love with it the first time you see it. The grounds are lush and green, and the area engulfs you with a serene quietness that really makes you feel at ease.

A gentleman warmly opened the doors for us as we grab our bags for check-in formalities. Inside the doors reveal an even more impressive interiors. The public areas are elegant and grand, but not imposing. In the ground floor, you can access the bar, the in house restaurant, a couple of magnificent function rooms, and direct access to the courtyard. Just from the information I could gather about this property, it seems the biggest room you can book is a family suite comprised of two bedrooms with a king and double beds. We certainly didn’t need two rooms, and so we booked the second category below which was the grand deluxe with garden view. The villa didn’t seem busy during our stay and sure enough after we were invited to a glass of cold champagne we lucked out and got what I believe is the most desirable of all the rooms here, which is a king bedroom that has a big balcony that opens up towards the spectacular backyard/garden. There is only one room of such, and this room is also called the Mahatma Ghandi room, one of the main ‘visionaries’ that the property tries to honor, by naming their rooms with individuals who have made a difference in the world. This room is not the biggest, but certainly spacious, and packs the best charm, as it has a sitting area, a big bathroom, tall ceilings, big windows, and a heart fluttering balcony that on a gorgeous, sunny day, truly makes you forget everything. The room has all the amenities one could need and L’Occitan toiletries were provided, along with several interesting books and reading materials, inviting one to just sit back at the balcony and disengage. Overall, this is an extremely high quality room, that is very comfortable. Also, a birthday greeting was placed in the sitting area along with a jar of their homemade jam, to share the special day we’re celebrating.

So what’s to do here, and why pick this property over the other Marriott affiliated Falkenstein Grand? Well, the villa is situated on a 50 acre lot, and the surrounding gardens and lawn are exceptionally maintained. Walking around the property and admiring the architecture of the villa was just relaxing. In addition, upon settling in we embarked towards the village of Königstein, a mere 20 minute leisurely walk from the villa and we explored the charming town with many shops and restaurants full of locals. In addition, we did visit the ruins of the castle, which costs 3 euro per person, and something we personally enjoyed. The trek towards the ruin was quite on an incline, so just a warning that comfortable shoes would be advisable. It appears to be a popular area for locals to visit as given the time of the year, the grounds leading up to the tower were adorned by Halloween decorations that were a hit for adults and kids. Now, let me tell you about the tower. The top is actually accessible. Whether one should climb up is left to one’s risk limits. Externally, it’ll make you question if it’s safe, and the interior steps were narrow and certainly dark, and I’m not sure how many steps one need to overcome, but surely we were sweating when we made it up there. Overcoming our initial hesitation, and I may have misled my other half by leading and by kept telling him, “just one more flight of stairs” but truly the reward up top was magnificent. The beauty of Bavaria in transition to golden colors under the fall sunshine was just hard to describe. It simply was beautiful.

Now, like many of the other hotels in the area, the in house restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. But, this is where their partnership with Falkenstein comes handy, as we were able to reserve a fantastic dinner at their restaurant which was about an 8 minute drive. And the villa transported its guests back and forth using a Land Rover Defender. The property executed this effortlessly, and the dinner at Falkenstein is something we highly recommend as well, as the restaurant overlooked a Bird’s eye view of downtown Frankfurt. Both properties are beautiful, but overall, we loved the boutique and more private experience that the Villa Rothschild provided, not to mention that all the amenities from the gym to the heated pool that apparently is opened all year at Falkenstein, are all available to the villa’s guests. In the morning, being a Platinum, we selected the full breakfast which was served in a spectacularly beautiful room. The food provided buffet style were all of high quality, and a la cart selection were also available along with Laurent Perrier champagne that made up for a truly enjoyable breakfast. So yes, this is a villa that I would like to keep a secret, but also a property I’d love to visit again, and again in the future.