Escape to Paradise: Stunning Modern House w/ Terrace Near Almelo, Netherlands!
Escape to Paradise: My Almelo Adventure (and a Few Hiccups!) - A Totally Honest Review
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I just got back from "Escape to Paradise" near Almelo, Netherlands, and I've got thoughts. Mostly good ones, with a little side of "well, that was interesting." This place isn't just a house; it's supposedly a stunning modern escape. Let's see if it actually escapes my critical eye, shall we?
(SEO/Metadata Snippet: Escape to Paradise Almelo Review, Netherlands, Modern House, Terrace, Accessibility, Spa, Swimming Pool, Free Wi-Fi, Dutch Experience, Family Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible, Luxury Accommodation)
Let's dive in, and I'm going to be brutally, beautifully, humanly honest.
First Impressions & Getting There (The Arrival Drama!)
So, "Escape to Paradise." Sounds dreamy, right? And the photos? Gorgeous! Modern, sleek, that terrace overlooking…well, I'm not entirely sure what it overlooked, to be honest. But it looked fabulous. We'd booked the airport transfer (convenient, especially after a red-eye), and the drive was…well, a journey. Mostly flat, fields, windmills in the distance. Classic Netherlands. The problem? The driver, bless his heart, seemed to have a GPS that was actively trying to lose us. We circled back, then took a detour through a tiny village where the cobblestone streets nearly rattled my teeth out. When we finally arrived, after some serious questioning of the driver, I was actually relieved, and a little bit cranky.
Accessibility (For the Able-Bodied & Beyond)
Now, this is where things get interesting. The website promised accessibility. Truthfully, I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I always appreciate a place that considers it. The listing mentioned "Facilities for disabled guests," which raised my hopes. But I'm not sure it entirely delivered. The entrance was mostly flat, which was great. But inside, the hallways were a bit tight. The description says "wheelchair accessible," but it's definitely better suited for someone who is not super large and agile. The outdoor terrace would be lovely for someone who uses a wheelchair, but I'm still kind of on the fence about whether accessibility was truly seamless. (And this is something I'd want to know if I or someone I was with was in a wheelchair).
The Room: Luxurious, Mostly. With a Few Quirks.
Our room? Oh, the room. It was lovely, no question. "Stunning" as the website claims? Perhaps. It had all the things: air conditioning (vital!), a comfy bed (extra-long, even!), a mini-bar, a coffee/tea maker (praise the caffeine gods!). The decor was minimalist, modern, lots of clean lines and neutral colors. I liked the aesthetic. And the Blackout curtains? Genius. Got some serious sleep in those. And yes, free Wi-Fi – in all rooms! Crucial. My only real gripe was… the lighting. At night, it was a bit difficult to find the right amount of light. Maybe a few more lamps here or there? Minor, but still worth mentioning.
Dining & Drinking (The Buffet Bonanza!)
Breakfast. The buffet. Oh, the buffet. My friend told me that the breakfast was pretty good. Everything was fresh and there was plenty of choices. The food was good, the breakfast was amazing, I would recommend. You want to know the best part? Well, I will tell you.
It's hard to go wrong with an omelet station. However, I'm not going to lie, I went a little wild with the pastries. And the coffee was strong. So, it was good. Good enough to make me want more! Because there was a buffet, I obviously had a big appetite!
There's also a restaurant for lunch/dinner with a la carte options, so something for everyone.
Spa & Relaxation: Paradise Found… Eventually.
Okay, this is where "Escape to Paradise" really shines. The spa! The sauna! The pool with a view! I was in heaven. Seriously, the spa experience was divine. The pool was gorgeous, even if it was a bit chilly at first. The sauna was pure bliss. I spent a solid hour just melting away my stress. They have a steam room, too, but honestly, by that point, I was so relaxed I almost forgot to experience all the spa's facilities!
Cleanliness & Safety (COVID-19 Concerns)
This is where I felt really comfortable. They were taking COVID precautions seriously. Hand sanitizer stations everywhere, staff wearing masks, and signs encouraging social distancing. They were very serious about hygiene. They also have a doctor/nurse on call in case something does happen.
Things To Do & Ways to Relax (Beyond the Spa!)
Beyond the spa, there were also some great, relaxing activities to do. They have a fitness center, but I'm not going to lie, I spent more time at the spa than the gym. There were options for massages, body scrubs, and wraps. There was also a gorgeous terrace. I especially liked the pool area.
Services & Conveniences (The Little Extras)
Daily housekeeping? Check. Luggage storage? Check. Helpful concierge? Check. They provided all the necessary conveniences, but I can't honestly say anything really stood out as exceptional.
For the Kids (Family Friendly?)
They seemed pretty family-friendly, and I didn't see any kids, so maybe they have kids' facilities and I didn't see them.
Overall Vibe: The "Paradise" Factor
So, did I escape? Mostly, yes. The spa experience alone almost warranted the cost. The room was lovely, the location was quiet, and the staff was friendly. The "Paradise" moniker? It's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's definitely a great place to unwind and forget about the real world for a few days. The few minor hiccups I had…they were ultimately just part of the adventure. I'd absolutely recommend it, with the caveat that the whole "accessibility" thing could be improved.
Montmarault Seafront Apartment: Your Dream Vacation Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is a messy, glorious, and probably slightly chaotic journey to a modern house with a beautiful terrace near Almelo Wierden, Netherlands. Consider this your permission slip to embrace the glorious mess of travel.
Subject: Operation "Tulip & Terrace Tango" - (May Contain Excessive Cheese & Mild Panic)
Phase 1: The Great Departure Debacle (And a Burger King of Doom)
Day 1: Sunday - D-Day (Departure Day…hopefully)
- 7:00 AM: My alarm blares. Actually, it screams. I'm pretty sure the neighbor's cat is now in hiding in sheer terror.
- 7:00 - 8:00 AM: The frantic scramble for packing. Honestly, why do I always wait until the last minute? My suitcase looks like a toddler got hold of a rainbow and threw up. Missing socks? Guaranteed. Underoos and a rain jacket? Definitely missed those.
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast. Or, more accurately, a frantic attempt to find something edible. Found a stale bread crust and a jar of peanut butter that probably predates the invention of the internet. Fueling up for adventure… sigh.
- 9:00 AM: The "Where did I put my passport?" panic attack. Turns out it was cleverly disguised as a bookmark in a book about… wait for it… travel. The irony is killing me.
- 10:00 AM: Depart from home. After 45 mins or so, find a Burger King. Gotta love those pre-flight cravings: I devour the "Whopper Meal" which, later I discover, will become a monument in my gut to this trip.
- 11:30 AM: Arrive at Eindhoven airport- a beautiful airport. Check-in. Security? A breeze. And then, I'm off! (hopefully)
Phase 2: Arrival and (hopefully) Architectural Appreciation
Day 1: Sunday (cont.) - The Dutch Descent
- 1:00 PM: Touchdown in Eindhoven! The Netherlands greets me with a slightly overcast sky, which, according to local lore, is just an average morning. The airport is surprisingly orderly. My internal "organized chaos" system feels a bit threatened. But for now, things are good.
- 2:00 PM: Public transit to the train station. The ride is uneventful, which, honestly, is a win. I am terrible at following directions and end up accidentally buying a ticket to the wrong town. (Or maybe I do it right. That's the joy of travel, no?)
- 3:30 PM: Train to Almelo - scenic views. Cows. Windmills. Fields of green. It's all very postcard-y. I catch myself actually enjoying the scenery. This might be a first. Note: the train smells slightly of cheese. Which, you know, is appropriate, right?
- 4:30 PM: Arrival in Almelo. I find a friendly taxi driver. He doesn't speak a lick of English. Me neither.
- 5:00 PM: FINALLY, arrive at the modern house. And… wow. The pictures didn’t do it justice. The terrace is gorgeous. I almost wish I had a fancy camera to take pictures with. The house is sleek, minimalist, and the air smells clean, like money and freshly mown grass. I wander to the living room. The windows! The view! It's… actually quite perfect. This might be the closest I've ever come to feeling like I'm living in a glossy magazine.
Phase 3: Terracing and Tasting (A Very Dutch Affair)
Day 2: Monday - Terrace Time and Tea
- 9:00 AM: Wake up. The bed is ridiculously comfortable. I could linger here, but adventure awaits.
- 9:30 AM: Coffee on the terrace. This is what I'm here for. Fresh air, sunshine (fingers crossed), a perfectly brewed cup of Joe, and a moment of sheer, unadulterated bliss. I watch (and wave) a bicyclist, who in turn, waves back.
- 10:00 AM: Wandering around the house. I'm already scheming about how I can live permanently in the place, but for the life of me, I can't seem to figure out how the lights work.
- 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Attempt to figure out how the house's heating system works. Fail. But, by some miracle, the lights are working! Yesss.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. I have no idea where to get lunch, so I take the bike they gave me. This is… difficult. I haven't ridden a bike in years. I nearly run over a small dog and then nearly fall into a canal. I'm pretty sure the dog is still traumatized.
- 2:00 PM: Attempt to find some local food. I find some cheese! And stroopwafels! I may have to declare this the greatest afternoon of my life.
- 3:00-5:00 PM: I go back to the house. The terrace beckons. I spend the afternoon reading, daydreaming, and getting mildly sunburnt. I watch the clouds roll by, lost in thoughts. This feels like the true holiday.
- 6:00 PM: Cook. I attempt to prepare a simple dinner, but I'm a terrible cook. The fire alarm goes off. I blame the smoke detector. Then, I quickly realize my own cooking is the problem.
- 7:00 PM: I get a local beer. I have no clue what it is, but I go around town and grab one.
- 8:00 PM: I decide to sit on the terrace and watch the sunset. The sky is painted with oranges and pinks. It's breathtaking. This beats the city's light pollution so much.
- **9:00 PM: Sleep.
Phase 4: Wierden Wanderings and the Unforeseen (and Possibly Hilarious) Detours
Day 3: Tuesday - Wierden, Windmills, and a Possible Existential Crisis
- 9:00 AM: Wake up with a minor hangover and an intense craving for coffee. The terrace is calling again. I decide to embrace the mess here.
- 10:00 AM: Wander through Almelo. I get a coffee. I smile at everyone. I pretend I'm a local. They probably see right through my clumsy, jet-lagged facade.
- 11:00 AM: Bike ride to Wierden. The bike is becoming less of a torture device and more of a rusty, slightly unreliable friend. More cows. More windmills. I'm starting to feel like I'm acting in a cliché travel commercial.
- 12:00 PM: Arrive in Wierden. It's charming, quaint, and full of… nothing much. Which, honestly, is exactly what I need right now. I find a lovely place, and I enjoy lunch.
- 1:00 PM-3:00 PM: Wandering aimlessly. I explore the town. I take photos. I spend some time by the river. I wonder if I should ever go back to the city, or if I should just embrace a life of cheese and windmills.
- 3:00 PM: The existential crisis hits. I question my life choices, my career, and whether I REALLY need another stroopwafel. The answer to the last question is, of course, a resounding "yes."
- 4:00 PM: I get another coffee, and I decide to buy a hat.
- 5:00 PM: I find a lovely place for a final drink. I watch the sun go down.
- 6:00 PM: I go back to Almelo, slightly more confused, but content.
- 7:00 PM: I prepare a simple dinner. It doesn't involve setting off the fire alarm this time. Victory!
- 8:00 PM: I get another beer.
- **9:00 PM: Sleep.
Phase 5: Departure (and the Aftermath)
Day 4: Wednesday - Farewell, Terrace! (And the Long Journey Home)
- 9:00 AM: Final coffee on the terrace. I soak up every last moment. I almost want to stay.
- 10:00 AM: Pack. The suitcase is in an even worse state than before. How is that even possible??
- 11:00 AM: Final strolls through the house. I stare at the terrace one last time. It's a moment.
- 12:00 PM: Taxi to
Escape to Paradise? More Like... Escaping to... Almelo? (FAQs, with a Grain of Salt and a Pinch of Dutch Wind)
Is this place *really* paradise? The listing is gushing.
Okay, let's be real. Paradise might be pushing it. You're in Almelo, Netherlands. That's not Bali. But, the house? Yeah, it's pretty darn stunning. The "stunning modern house" part? Absolutely true. The terrace is legitimately amazing, especially with a decent Dutch beer whilst watching the, well, the Dutch sky. (Which can be a bit moody, let's be honest. More "grey with potential for rain" than "glowing sunset every damn day").
The listing photos, by the way? They're *good*. Like, Instagram-influencer-level good. Be prepared for maybe a slightly smaller living room than you suspect. Hey, but that's the game, right? They're usually styled to perfection, a mirror to show you how good looking your house gonna look with a view!
Tell me about the terrace! It's a big selling point, isn't it?
The terrace... alright, buckle up. It's *the* reason you should book this place, especially if you have that ideal of a good sunny day that is really rare in the Netherlands. I mean, it's vast. Like, potentially-host-a-small-wedding vast. I spent a whole afternoon reading on the terrace, and I won’t lie, I fell asleep. Which brings me to my *one* complaint (and it's minor, folks): Dutch wind. It *loves* that terrace. So, bring a blanket. And maybe chains to tie yourself to the furniture if the breeze picks up. Seriously, I almost lost a book. It was touch and go for a few minutes.
The furniture is comfy, the views, especially at dusk, are breathtaking. Just... watch the wind. And maybe have a good Dutch windbreaker handy.
Is it easy to get to from the airport? I'm worried about navigating Dutch trains...
Okay, Dutch trains can be a *bit* of a learning curve. Don't worry, though, it's not rocket science. You fly into Amsterdam (probably), and then it's roughly a 2-hour train ride to Almelo. Get the app (NS - the Dutch train company), it's your new best friend. I'm speaking from experience. Do you wanna hear about the time *I* accidentally got on a train going the opposite direction? No? Good, because it happened. Twice. Just... pay attention to the signs. They're in Dutch, but there's usually English too (thank God). And always, ALWAYS check the departure board.
From Almelo train station to the house? A taxi's your best bet. Or, if you’re feeling jaunty and have the right luggage, cycle! (It's the Netherlands. They have bikes for *everything*).
What's the kitchen like? I like to cook.
The kitchen is... modern. The listing probably calls it 'sleek and stylish'. I'd say, "well-equipped, for the home cook". It has the essentials: a good stove, a fridge, a dishwasher (praise be!), and enough counter space that you won't feel like you're battling for elbow room. BUT. bring some your preferred equipment. If you're a serious foodie with, say, a mandoline, you might want to pack it in your suitcase.
The best thing? There's often a grocery store nearby. I ended up cooking most of my meals there. And that's where I discovered the magic of Dutch stroopwafels. (I'm addicted now. SEND HELP). So yeah. Kitchen's good. But the real highlight? The potential for stroopwafel-fueled culinary adventures.
What's there to *do* in Almelo? Beyond staring at the gorgeous house, I mean...
Okay, here's where we have to be realistic. Almelo isn't Amsterdam. It's not a bustling metropolis. Think of it as a charming, quiet Dutch town. Some say that Almelo's main export is actually the wind. But let's be positive. There's a lovely park (Gravenallee), some decent local shops, and a few surprisingly good restaurants (I had an amazing Indonesian Rijsttafel. Seriously!).
The real charm, for me, was the *pace*. You can cycle around, which is the quintessential Dutch experience. You can stroll along the canals. You can just... be. It's a place to slow down. The nearby cities of Enschede (a bit more lively) and Deventer offer more options if you're craving art or culture, and they're easily reached by train. But honestly? Some days, I just loved staying in the house, with a book, on that terrace. That was enough.
Is it kid-friendly?
This is a tricky one. The house *itself* is modern and stylish, not necessarily designed for rambunctious toddlers. Staircases, sleek furniture... you know the drill. That said, the terrace is amazing, and the park nearby is lovely. I'd say, if you have well-behaved kids, it's fine. If you have kids who like to climb on everything and leave a trail of destruction in their wake... maybe not. Think it through, consider your audience. You know your kids best.
Any hidden fees or surprises?
Always read the fine print. Seriously. I mean, double, triple-check. Airbnb, the cleaning fee (it's standard, but still stings a little) is a fact of life. Sometimes there's a city tax, check the listing. Also, be aware that, like most holiday rentals, there can be a "security deposit" or a hold on a credit card. And always, *always* check the cancellation policy before you commit. I learned *that* lesson the hard way. Don't be me.
Would you stay there again? Be honest.
Okay, warts and all, yes. Absolutely. Despite the Dutch wind, the occasional train-related mishaps, and the stroopwaffle addiction. The house is beautiful. The terrace is divine. The location, even if it's not a bustling metropolis, is perfect if you want peace and quiet. It's an escape. It's modern comfort. It's a slice of Dutch life, served up with a side of potentially gusty weather. Just... pack a blanket. And maybe a good book (for when you're not dodging the wind-blown pages).
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