Franeker Dream Home: Shared Pool Paradise! (Semi-Detached Heaven)
Franeker Dream Home: Shared Pool Paradise! (Semi-Detached Heaven) - A Chaotic, Honest Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get the real, unfiltered truth about Franeker Dream Home. Forget those glossy brochures (though, honestly, the pictures are pretty), this is the real deal. I'm talking good, bad, and the wonderfully awkward – all served up with a side of my questionable life choices that led me here in the first place.
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First things first: Accessibility. They say accessible, right? Well, I'm not in a wheelchair, but my grandma uses a walker and she managed alright. There's an elevator (praise be!), which is crucial, and while I didn't personally check every nook and cranny, the main areas seemed pretty decent. Bonus points: they’ve got facilities for disabled guests, a real win, unlike places that just claim to have them.
Wheelchair Accessible? Can't say definitively, Grandma didn't get to explore every crevice like a detective, but it looked promising. Call ahead!
The Internet: A Constant Saga
Let's talk internet. Because in this day and age, Wi-Fi is basically oxygen. They shout about Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! which is fantastic on paper. Reality? It’s a bit… unreliable. Like my ex-boyfriend’s commitment to a stable relationship. Sometimes it works like a dream, letting me binge-watch terrible reality TV. Other times, you’re staring at a spinning wheel of death, cursing the gods of connectivity. There is also Internet [LAN] but come on, who even uses LAN cables in 2024? (Besides, you're on vacation!)
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Okay, so they have a bunch of restaurant choices on-site, which is good! So, I tried the "Asian Cuisine" one which has a lovely outdoor terrace with a view!
Cleanliness & Safety: Living in a Bubble (Mostly)
They're clearly trying to appease the germaphobes (and who can blame them, post-pandemic madness!). Anti-viral cleaning products are everywhere, and the staff seemed obsessed with wiping down surfaces, which, honestly, I appreciated. The daily disinfection in common areas was reassuring, and they even had hand sanitizer strategically placed. So, points for effort. They have room sanitization opt-out available, which is nice since you can request they give you this service. I'd rather be safe than sorry during these times!
Rooms sanitized between stays: This is a biggie, folks. You want to know your room hasn’t harbored a convention of sneezing goblins. Rooms sanitized between stays provides some peace of mind.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - An Adventure in Culinary Chaos
Now, the food! Deep breath. They have loads of options: Restaurants, a Bar, a Coffee shop, a Snack bar, and even Room service [24-hour]. The sheer volume is impressive. I tried the Asian cuisine in restaurant which was surprisingly delicious. Breakfast [buffet] was… fine. Let's just say the scrambled eggs weren't winning any culinary awards, but the coffee was decent.
A la carte in restaurant: I got to order my own meals, but on a budget, it's a little challenging and can be a little pricey.
Alternative meal arrangement: I'm thinking that if you have specific diets or special needs, that eating at the restaurant would be a good idea.
Poolside Bar: They have one of these, which is awesome!! I loved it!
Services and Conveniences: The Stuff of Legend
Okay, here’s where things get wild. They have Contactless check-in/out (THANK GOD, I hate awkward small talk). They've got a Concierge. They even offer Currency exchange. I didn’t need any of these fancy services, but it’s nice to know they're there. The Daily housekeeping was a lifesaver, because, let’s be honest, I’m not exactly the tidiest person on Earth.
The Spa and Wellness - Where Dreams (Maybe) Come True
Okay, so they have a Spa, and boy, did I need it after the internet woes! I indulged. I got a Body scrub and a Massage. It was… incredible. I practically melted into a puddle of buttery bliss. They also have a Sauna, Steamroom, Pool with view, Foot bath. I spent a glorious hour pretending I was a sophisticated spa-goer, sipping infused water and contemplating the meaning of life. Honestly, the spa is worth the price of admission alone. The Spa/sauna area is perfect for relaxing.
Things to do, ways to relax! The Fitness center, Gym/fitness are also amazing for people who like working out! The Swimming pool is amazing!
For the Kids: Mayhem Managed?
They’re Family/child friendly, with Babysitting service, for the kids!! They even have Kids facilities and Kids meal. My sister's kids enjoyed it. Just be prepared for the usual chaos.
The Rooms - A Mixed Bag of Good and… Less Good
The rooms themselves are… okay. They have Air conditioning (bless), a Mini bar (score!), and Free bottled water (always appreciated).
- Additional toilet: I asked for this, they gave me the option.
- Air conditioning works!
- Alarm clock: To wake up!
- Bathrobes: They have these, I love them!
- Bathroom phone: Not sure what this is for, but it is here!
- Bathtub: Great for relaxation, I enjoyed this one.
- Blackout curtains: I slept so well with this.
- Closet: Good for storage.
- Coffee/tea maker: Always a blessing!
- Complimentary tea: I definitely took advantage of this.
- Daily housekeeping: I loved this!
- Desk: If you need to work!
- Extra long bed: For tall people!
- Free bottled water: Free water is always a win!
- Hair dryer: Essential for me!
- High floor: You can request this.
- In-room safe box: For safe keeping.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: If you have family!
- Internet access – LAN: Not used by me.
- Internet access – wireless: The inconsistent WiFi.
- Ironing facilities: To press your clothes!
- Laptop workspace: Awesome for work!
- Linens: They give you these!
- Mini bar: Snacks!!
- Mirror: To check myself out!
- Non-smoking: Yeah!!
- On-demand movies: Great for inside time.
- Private bathroom: For privacy.
- Reading light: To read.
- Refrigerator: You can freeze your food.
- Safety/security feature: They have several features.
- Satellite/cable channels: Amazing TV!
- Scale: You can weigh yourself.
- Seating area: To sit.
- Separate shower/bathtub: If you want to shower separate.
- Shower: Great!!
- Slippers: Nice to have around!
- Smoke detector: Always a good thing!
- Socket near the bed: For charging!!
- Sofa: Relax and enjoy!
- Soundproofing: Pretty quiet.
- Telephone: For phone calls.
- Toiletries: Some of these are good!
- Towels: You need them!
- Umbrella: For possible rainy days!
- Visual alarm: For disabilities.
- Wake-up service: You are woken up!
- Wi-Fi [free]: Inconsistent WiFi!
- Window that opens: You can have fresh air! The Desk, the Ironing facilities, and the Laptop workspace, these all made working on my laptop easier, the Closet, and the Mini bar were convenient. The Blackout curtains helped with sleeping in too.
The Imperfections: The decor is a bit… generic. It's clean, but lacks personality. And the walls? Let's just say you can hear your neighbor's conversations. Oh, and parking! They have Car park [free of charge], and Car park [on-site] which is nice.
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Honestly? Maybe. The shared pool is brilliant, the spa is a winner, and despite the Wi-Fi drama, it's a decent option. It's not perfect, but it's comfortable, and it provides pretty much what you need. If you're looking for a luxurious paradise, this ain't it. But if you want a solid, functional, and relatively affordable base for exploring the area, Franeker Dream
Edam's CUTEST Cottage: Your Dream Dutch Escape Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because we're not planning a trip, we're living a trip! And it's going to be less “polished brochure” and more “drunk diary entry.” Franeker, here we come, semi-detached shared pool and all.
Trip Title: Franeker Frenzy - Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Dutch Wind (and the possibly questionable pool hygiene)
The Players: Me (Chief Rambler & Snack Destroyer), and… well, probably just me. Solo trip. Good lord, I hope I don't talk to myself the whole time.
Day 1: Arrival and That Dang Pool
08:00 - 10:00: The nightmare journey. Airport. Train. Another train. And then, the bus. The bus was probably the worst one, because the driver didn't speak English. I asked him something, and he simply stared back. I could only assume he was judging my travel gear. I'm starting to lose hope.
10:00 - 11:00: Finally, the semi-detached house! Found the keys buried under a ridiculously large gnome in the front yard. (Why a gnome? Seriously, the Dutch). The place is… tidy. Too tidy, almost. I'm already anticipating my destruction. Shared pool… hmm. Let’s see if it's the kind of pool you'd actually swim in or the kind you stare at and hope doesn't give you a rash.
11:00 - 12:00: Unpacking, immediately misplacing things, and battling the urge to rearrange the furniture. I have to resist that urge. I am not moving the furniture. I am not moving the furniture… Must. Resist. After that, trying to connect to the WIFI. Now, how is that even difficult? Ah, because I am a digital idiot.
12:00 - 14:00: Lunch. Found a dodgy-looking supermarket. Spent far too long staring at the cheese aisle, overwhelmed by the sheer variety. Ended up with something that looked like Gouda. Ate it on a random bench, judging the passing cyclists. These people move fast. Do they never stumble or trip?
14:00 - 16:00: The Pool Debacle. Okay, the pool. It's… small. And the water's a concerning shade of green. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Nope. Back to the house to recover. I may need a stiff drink. I may need several. The pool is going to give me nightmares.
16:00 - 18:00: Exploring Franeker. Wandered around the canals, which are lovely. Found a quirky little antique shop. The owner was a woman with a cloud of silver hair and a stare that could curdle milk. I bought a chipped teacup. It cost me more than it should have, but it's characterful.
18:00 - 20:00: Dinner. Found a classic restaurant. It was quaint. They had potatoes and gravy. I was surprised at how I felt. I'm a vegetarian, yes, but the place felt authentic and very Dutch.
20:00 - 22:00: Evening in. Attempted to read a book (failed miserably). Ate more Gouda. Wondered if I should check the pool again. Definitely not. Bed.
Day 2: The Planetarium and Existential Dread
09:00 - 10:00: Breakfast. Stared at the rain. (It's the Netherlands, what did I expect?). Made instant coffee. Regretted not bringing decent coffee. Considered staging a dramatic rescue of the coffee from the local supermarket.
10:00 - 13:00: The Eise Eisinga Planetarium. Okay, this was actually amazing. Seriously, a planetarium built in a house? Mind-blowing! Sat there, staring at the intricate clockwork, feeling a profound sense of both awe and insignificance. Pretty sure I had a philosophical argument with myself in the midst of the tour. Who am I? What is all that machinery trying to tell me?
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch. Found a cafe. Overheard a very loud conversation in Dutch. Didn't understand a word, but found myself completely engrossed. Languages are so cool!
14:00 - 16:00: Back to the house. Stared at the pool. Still green. Decided to find out what everyone else likes. I walked on the street, seeing if they were going to the pool, looking miserable. Nope.
16:00 - 18:00: Bicycle Fail. Rented a bike. Immediately fell off. A small child then proceeded to cycle past me, laughing. My dignity is gone. Decided biking isn't for me. Abandoned the bike. (I will get fined for this, I just know it).
18:00 - 20:00: Dinner. Tried to cook. EPIC FAIL. Burnt the onions. Set off the smoke alarm. Managed to salvage some pasta with pesto. Ate it while contemplating my cooking abilities (or lack thereof).
20:00 - 22:00: Wine, writing, and staring out the window at the rain. Considering moving here. Might be nice. Might also drive me completely mad.
Day 3: Farewell, Franeker? (Maybe Not Farewell to the Gouda)
09:00 - 10:00: Last breakfast. Ate the last of the Gouda. Actually going to miss that stuff. I'm changing.
10:00 - 12:00: Attempt to pack. Found the chipped teacup. Decided to take it home. It's got character. Also, found a stray sock. Where did it come from? And why does it smell like… cheese?
12:00 - 13:00: Final walk through Franeker. Said goodbye to the canals, the antique shop, and the slightly scary gnome.
13:00 - 15:00: The journey again. More trains. More buses. The whole ordeal.
15:00 - 17:00: Reflection.
17:00 - 18:00: End.
Overall Assessment: Franeker: Quirky, charming, and slightly terrifying. The pool: A biohazard. The Gouda: Delicious. Myself: More messy, more honest, and more ready for the next adventure (wherever that may be!).
Mittersill Ski Escape: Luxurious Apartments Await!
So, Franeker Dream Home... Is It REALLY a Dream? (And Can I Swim There Naked?)
Semi-Detached? Does That Mean Constant Noise From the Annoying Neighbor?
Tell Me About the Shared Pool! Really, What's the Deal? (And Are There Rules?)
Is the Garden a Glorious Oasis or a Weedy Nightmare?
What's the Commute Like? (Franeker Itself, Is it a Real Place?)
Anything I Should REALLY Know Before Moving In? Hidden Gotchas?
Tell me more about the pool... like, REALLY. What are the days *actually* like there?
