Ekerum Resort Öland
We manage to squeeze in a final little golfing trip before the season officially felt done for this year. We opted for another new place; Ekerum Resort on Öland.
Öland is an island of the west coast of Sweden. It is quite a drive, but since it was so late in the season we had to travel south to even be able to play, and get decent weather. Öland is known for their camping in the summer times and also for having the tallest lighthouse in Sweden. It is a common place for families to go with children in the summertime, however I had never been there and J was very little the last time so it was an adventure. The drive is about 5,5 hours from Stockholm and the road is not great. It didn’t help that we travelled in the evening in pouring rain, but finally we arrived.
We stayed at Ekerum Resort, which is a actually on the golf course, but known for having a SPA and good food. We stayed for four nights in a premium room. The two night we didn’t have a package since we arrived so late we didn’t really know if we wanted to have a food package. The last two nights my parents and some other family friends jooined us and for these two nights we had the golfpackage in premium room. The premium rooms were actually two bed room apartments with full kitchen, which was pretty sweet. They were newly renovated with views over the golf course. Staying for four nights it was nice to have so much space.
The first day (we arrived midnight between Saturday and Sunday) the breakfast buffé was totally overcrowded and not many were following the Corona guidelines which annoyed me a little.
After breakfast we opted to hang out in the SPA, which on the downside was an extra charge even if staying at the hotel and the extra charge was ridicoulous. 2 hours with lunch and a small bag with a SPA kit was 545 SEK (about 61 USD / 52,5 EUR) per person (?!) and since we wanted to stay longer than two hours they would charge us an extra 295 SEK (32,8 USD / 28 EUR for two hours (per person). The SPA was not big and didn’t offer any treatments. The showers did not even have shampoo / conditioner in them, so that was a huge downside. The only good thing was that because it was so over priced we were alone most of the time.
The lunch was buffé style and was okay. In the evening we went to the same restaurant and the food was good. The service was okay, the staff was a little junior and could not offer any non-alcoholic cocktails even though the bar looked well stocked.
The following day which was a Monday the buffé had considerably less guests which was nice. We spent the day taking a trip to the light house in the south part of Öland and then the rest of our party arrived. For this evening we had a two course dinner included which was very nice. Also from this day they did have a proper bartender who could make non-alocholic cocktails, yay.
During oúr stay we played both their 18-hole courses. The courses was really nice and well maintained. The first course Långe Erik was had more water obstacles and the second Långe Jan had more sand obstacles. The first day the weather was perfect, but the second day the weather was horrible, windy and drizzling most of the time. One downside was theat we had rented gold carts, also quite pricey and we had a lot of issues with them. One was not charged at all and we had to switch it right away, the second one was only half charged, but the reception promised it was enough for the course, it was not. When indicating red midway after hole 9 we called the reception again telling them about the issue, they again promised is was okay, and then the golf cart died midway on the 10th whole. We got stuck and had to wait for them to drive another one to us stopping everyone on the course. Very annoying and no applogy or refund at return.
Dinner day 2 & 3
Review Summary:
Rooms: 3/5
We stayed in premium room, which is a two bed room apartment. The apartment was nice and clean, but lacked any luxury. No toiletries and no cleaning during the stay was provided. It is functional rather that luxury.
Service: 2/5
The service was okay, but nothing more. The reception closes at 7pm and they are not particularly helpful. The staff in the restuarant was okay, some a little junior. The hotel over charges you. For example course guides which are usually free if you have a booked time. For our arrival we had also paid extra to have chocolates and fruit in the room, these were not placed in the room at arrival.
Bed: 2/5
The double bed was small and okay, but nothing special.
Amenities: 2/5
The SPA is crazy over priced, the area is nice, but not much to do. The changing areas lacks any kind of SPA feeling.
Price: $$$
The first two nights we only had bed and breakfast and it was 1 595 SEK (around 177 USD / 151,92 EUR) per night for the room which was pretty okay price wise, although I still think they could at least have some toiletries.
The golf package including golf fee and 2 course dinner was 2 590 (287,88 USD / 246,7 EUR) which is also pretty okay, but again you do not get any “resort” feeling or extra, not even daily cleaing of your room, so because of that I still think it is a bit too much.
Stars: 3,5
Extra points for outstanding things: 0
Nothing and also I think they advertise themselves as a luxurious gold resort, but they have a long way to go.
Tips and tricks: The SPA is not worth the money. The golf package is a good deal. If you want a kitchen in the apartment make sure you book a premium room. Previously all rooms had kitchen, but now they have taken these away in the regular rooms. It states quite clearly on the website, but apparently some people miss this.
Total 9/20 points which means I think it is a little overrated, but if you do not have high expectation or want a functional stay this is the place.