Overnight stay at the Hotel Budersand Sylt, the Sylt luxury hotel with golf course. A trip to Sylt – for many of my friends and acquaintances a matter of course, the summer is spent on the northernmost German island. Westerland, Kampen, Keitum I was allowed to hear over and over again and yet my only visit to Sylt was more than 15 years ago. As a child I experienced the island once, for just six hours – a typical tourist tour. But this time I wanted to experience SYLT differently, to enjoy SYLT, and that started with my hotel. I wanted to experience the Travellers’ Choice winner 2015 – the house with the best reputation – the BUDERSAND Hotel on Sylt.
Arrival and first impression – Budersand Sylt
As I’ve often said, in the luxury hotel industry it’s often the little things that can make or break a first impression. I decided to travel over the Hindenburgdamm with the Deutsche Bahn. The ride over the dam with a view of the Wadden Sea unique in Germany and on arrival, as confirmed in writing in advance, the transfer was already waiting.
No cheap cardboard sign – a framed lettering, the BMW 7 series limousine parked directly in front of the station, before starting the journey already a small greeting from the patisserie and then for the approximately 20-minute drive, the first information about SYLT and the Budersand Sylt Hotel.
The last curves before the Budersand Sylt Hotel, past overgrown dunes, the well-known Sansibar (the “in meeting place on Sylt”) and arrived in Hörnum. That Hörnum that a few years ago was still considered the GDR of Sylt, but it has changed a lot since the demolition of the former barracks. The architecture of the hotel especially and upon entering it immediately becomes clear, there is enough space – a large lobby, lots of glass and a friendly reception.
For me, always a clear plus point, the check-in of the Budersand Sylt on your own suite – on the way to the top floor already the first information about the house. Again and again new views arise, once on a large terrace – once on the North Sea and everywhere I discover special art.
I had arrived – in my suite – on SYLT. The colors bright and friendly, a beautiful bouquet of fresh roses, fresh fruit and a thoughtful concept. But what fascinated me immediately, the view.
DREAMINGLY beautiful, floor-to-ceiling windows with a direct view of the Wadden Sea, the islands of Föhr and Amrum just a few kilometers across the water and the harbor of Hörnum, to the side of my suite at Budersand Sylt. The lighthouse shines in the evening sun – I enjoy the moment, the sound of the sea and I had also arrived first – on SYLT – in the BUDERSAND Hotel.
SYLT experience, was always one of my wishes for the travel year and one of my top destinations that I wanted to see necessarily once. After only one short visit to Sylt, the North Sea island simply belonged to me once. After it had taken me almost twenty years to visit Mallorca again, I wanted to experience the second favorite island of the Germans faster. The only condition of course – SYLT with style – as one imagines Sylt. As a hotel for this, there was only one address for me at that moment – the Budersand Hotel in Hörnum, in the south of the island.
The lobby of the Budersand Sylt is a large reception area, on the left side the two cozy desks for check-in, on the right side the passage to the restaurant and the wine cellar and at the end of the long and generously designed room after various cozy seating, the bar. On the right side the elevator and a long staircase with a direct path to the hotel’s own library in the Budersand Sylt.
79 rooms and suites at the Hotel Budersand Sylt
That art, culture and literature are important at the Hotel Budersand Sylt is already apparent from the selected paintings and the special interior by Jan Wichers with shades of the Wadden Sea and individual blue accents. In this hotel with its 79 rooms and suites, understated luxury is lived and wants to be experienced above all in the hotel. Spending the afternoon with a good book in one of the comfortable chairs, accompanied by tea and the sound of the waves. That’s how I imagine Sylt and that’s the feeling I got from the terrace of my suite with a view of the Wadden Sea, as well as Föhr and Amrum.
For me one of the most important factors during the whole stay is the first impression when you enter the suite. Is it bright and friendly, comfortable and cozy or rather cool and above all – how is the view. For me, it’s often less than five seconds and I get a premonition whether I can feel “at home here” for the next few days.
My suite at the Budersand Sylt during the days on Sylt a dream. A large balcony with deck chairs and a view of the sea, in front of it a comfortable couch with a small bouquet of flowers and on the opposite side once again a sufficient working area. Perfect! But the real highlight you realize only when you have crossed the bedroom and are in your own bathroom.
A free-standing bathtub in front of your own terrace, two washbasins and the direct invitation to take a hot bath by candlelight in the evening after a walk on the beach, to see the lighthouse in the distance, the last fishing boats and excursion ships coming in and just let your soul dangle once.
The 79 rooms and suites have a pleasant size and a view of the special golf course with sunset or of the sea and the first sun in the morning. The furnishings in the Hotel Budersand Sylt are each bright and friendly and in addition, the large dimensions of the corridors a pleasant calm. Here you feel as a guest undisturbed and can simply enjoy his “own” vacation on Sylt and perhaps start with a massage in the spa area.
Spa, Pool & Wellness at Budersand
The large spa and wellness area with the adjoining terrace extends over an area of more than 1000 square meters for the guests of the house. Simply once in peace can swim and look afterwards in the own beach chair on the terrace on the sea, sounds perfect nevertheless or?
If you want to be a little more active, you can of course use the hotel’s own fitness area (also with sea view) and choose a massage or a beauty treatment from the generous application program.
I opted for the Sylt breeze during the days with a reference to the region. An intensive peeling with sand from the Sylt beach and subsequent pampering program and already long for it again. This is how I imagine wellness in a luxury hotel, just like a good restaurant and a delicious dinner.
Star cuisine & bistro cuisine
At Hotel Budersand Sylt, the balance between upscale star cuisine succeeds in the fine dining restaurant “Kai 3” under the direction of Jens Rittmeyer, as well as in the Strönholt Restaurant with a view of the North Sea and the golf course.
The star restaurant “Kai 3” is characterized by a very regional cuisine, whose ingredients are mostly from the region or Scandinavia and are refined in each case with special sauces. During the interview with chef Jens Rittmeyer, you can see shining eyes when he talks about his kitchen concept, the meticulous work and the consideration of offering star cuisine also once vegetarian.
During my stay, I thought about trying exactly this concept and was thrilled. It is hard to imagine how many different taste experiences you can perceive in the evening and would immediately try it again. For a nice evening on Sylt, an absolute recommendation! Be sure to reserve a table in advance!
The restaurant Strönholt is only five minutes walk away and is located “above” on the golf course “Budersand”, which belongs to the hotel. Regional cuisine is served with classic and simple dishes, but seasonally inspired throughout. Lamb, matie or duck can be found at Strönholt, as well as selected dishes with fish, mussels or lamb.
Whether for a delicious breakfast, a midday snack on the terrace or a multi-course menu for the evening, the restaurant’s menu always offers a good selection and also has a small but special selection for wine lovers, which was compiled by Thomas Kallenberg, sommelier of the “Kai 3”, for the restaurant Strönholt.
Of course, the Strönholt Restaurant is also the perfect place for a piece of cake with a view of the North Sea or a hearty dinner after a round of golf on the special golf course.
Budersand Golf Course Golf Club
The Budersand Golf Club on Sylt is one of the few typical 18-hole links golf courses and stands out from many well-known golf courses in Europe. Due to the location between the seas, the golf course and the vegetation are exposed to completely different influences and also the golf game changes.
The weather influences change constantly on this golf course and also I was able to notice on a calm morning what a “little” wind can do on this surface. To hit the right tee shot, to hole the ball accordingly, on the golf course of the Budersand Hotel on Sylt a challenge of its own and just therefore probably so appealing, just like exploring the island on your own.
Rent a car for the island tour Sylt
As a hotel guest, you have the opportunity at the Budersand Sylt Hotel to explore the island, borrow a car and thus also reach the north of the island once for a day trip. An absolute recommendation on my part is to drive up once to the elbow, that quiet little park (toll 5 EUR), where the sheep still run freely on the road, where you can look in good weather to Denmark and is simply for himself.
Another alternative, if you are already on Sylt, are of course trips or excursions to Westerland, Kampen or simply once in the traditional Sansibar – whether in summer in one of the countless beach chairs or in winter with a glass of hot tea … You simply have to experience Sylt and the possibility to borrow a nice car is very special.
Conclusion – Hotel Budersand Sylt
The Hotel Budersand in Hörnum in the south of Sylt is a hotel with a special architecture, spacious corridors and large rooms and suites and gets just thereby the special charm. Once you have arrived at the Hotel Budersand Sylt, you will not want to leave it, precisely because of the tranquility, seclusion and high recreation factor.
The restaurants of the Budersand Sylt Hotel offer an extremely high quality cuisine, which makes you want to experience, discover and stands out from the otherwise often offered restaurants by the individuality.
This is also noticeable directly at breakfast, which in my opinion, especially through the extremely large selection of fresh fruit, is one of the best breakfast offers in Germany. In summer, enjoy breakfast on the terrace with a view of the rising sun – a dream!
For me, it was now the first longer stay on Sylt and I am already looking forward to a reunion, in the winter months or in the spring, as well as long walks on the beach and moments to simply let the soul dangle. Many thanks to the Hotel Budersand Sylt and the staff for a very nice time.
