Sonnenplatz29 at Lensterstrand, Grömitz
Sonnenplatz29 at Lensterstrand in Grömitz – A Nice Motorhome Stopover with a Few Shortcomings
This time, we’ve parked Hopsie at Sonnenplatz29 at Lensterstrand in Grömitz. The site is clean and well maintained, with electricity, fresh water and waste disposal facilities available. There’s a bakery within easy walking distance and a restaurant right by the beach. So whether you need a few essentials or fancy a bite to eat, everything is conveniently close by.
The access roads around the site are paved, while the actual parking pitches have a sandy surface. A general waste container is located next to the toilet facilities.
One thing we’re not particularly happy with is the noticeable slope of the pitches. The ground slopes both lengthways and sideways, making it quite difficult to get the motorhome properly level. We’ve certainly experienced better at other motorhome stopovers, especially considering the price charged here.
During our visit, the pitch costs €25 per night. On top of that, there’s a tourist tax of €4 per person per day, while electricity and fresh water are charged separately. We find that rather expensive.
However, on the second-to-last day of our stay, we had a really pleasant encounter. We got chatting with Jörg, who helps look after the site. He was incredibly friendly and approachable, took his time and happily answered all our questions.
Among other things, we asked why the tourist tax here is comparatively high at €4 per person per day. Jörg explained that the municipality of Grömitz has so far invested more than €30 million in developing the promenade and the motorhome parking facilities. That's certainly a substantial investment and helps put the costs into perspective. Nevertheless, we still feel that staying here is relatively expensive.
Payment is handled through a prepaid card, which must first be topped up at a machine. Unfortunately, the touchscreen keyboard is a real test of patience. Some inputs simply don't register, and it feels as though the touchscreen hasn't been properly calibrated. This makes using the machine unnecessarily frustrating.
When it comes to fresh water, the information online doesn't quite match our experience on site. According to the official website (https://www.groemitz.de/camping-wohnmobilstellplaetze), 10 litres cost €0.10. During our visit, however, €0.50 buys three minutes of water supply.
This means you're paying for time rather than a specific amount of water. Since the water pressure isn't particularly strong, the actual quantity you receive depends on how much flows through the hose during those three minutes. We would much prefer a system that charges by the litre, as advertised on the website. That would be far more transparent.
In recent reviews from other travellers, the proximity to the beach and the clean sanitary facilities receive particular praise. Criticism mainly concerns the additional charges and, occasionally, traffic noise from the nearby road.
Opinions about the payment system are also mixed. Some visitors find the machine straightforward to use, while others consider extending their stay unnecessarily complicated.
Reviews on park4night: https://park4night.com/de/place/76676
Overall, Sonnenplatz29 makes a good impression and provides all the essential facilities, along with convenient access to the bakery, beach and restaurant. However, at this price, we would expect more level pitches, a properly functioning payment machine and a better solution for fresh water. As far as value for money is concerned, we feel there's still room for improvement.
One particularly positive memory from our stay, though, will be meeting Jörg. People like him, who are friendly, helpful and genuinely enjoy what they do, make a real difference. A pleasant conversation and someone willing to listen and answer questions are always appreciated.
So we'd like to send our very best wishes to Jörg once again. Thank you for the lovely conversation, and keep up the great work!