An hour long drive from the Frankfurt Airport led us down highway and country roads to the BollAnt´s im Park Romantik Hotel and Vital Spa on the edge of Bad Sobernheim. Between the few words of German we knew and the reception desk staff person’s English we were able to check in with relative ease. After a short wait in the adjacent bar while our room was readied (we arrived in the early afternoon) we settled into a centrally located comfortable room.
Sandwiched between a hill and a river the Spa Bollant’s position made Feng Shui enthusiast happy, according to Nicole Prass-Anton, the spa manager. The understated reception belied the spa’s spacious facilities. Once inside, we discovered a variety of rooms, decorated oriental style, that filled the various floors of the modern building. Although it was located in a village at least an hour’s drive from a major city, the spa was sold out during our Monday afternoon visit in late winter.
A young and enthusiastic chef whose love for and ability with fish and seafood were evident made this restaurant stand out. Our romantic window side table faced Lake Constance, allowing us a sunset view of the lake and, in the distance, the lights of nearby towns across the lake in Switzerland. A single white rose in full bloom and a tall white candle were the sole adornments on our round table, allowing us to focus our attention on the parade of pretty dishes and handsome dinnerware the staff served us. Small touches like a moist towel to cleanse our hands before beginning the meal, a diversity of pre and post meal palate teasers and the staff’s enthusiastic attitude enhanced our dinner experience.
While Frankfurt is popular with business travelers to Europe, it is also an excellent jumping off point to some of the most beautiful tourist areas in that region of Germany. The nearby excellent network of highways (although we came across much construction on the smaller roads) places a wide variety of scenic and historic points of interest, including the famous Black Forest, within easy reach. While we only spent a short time in the city itself we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to various small towns a comfortable drive from Frankfurt and look forward to returning soon.
