Bungalow on Texel Near De Koog Beach

I’d been meaning to stay at the Van der Valk Hotel on Texel, and wanted to try its lunch or dinner, breakfast, and an overnight stay. When I arrived on Texel, I drove straight there. There was plenty of free parking. My room wasn’t ready yet, which I expected at lunchtime, so I had my favorite hot lunch first. Afterwards, a friendly, helpful receptionist let me check in a little before the official time. My room was on the second floor, and I got there by elevator. A small tablet in the room showed a welcome message and hotel information, though I already knew the details from the website. The room had a comfortable double bed, a shower and toilet, and a sitting area for two. There were coffee and tea facilities, a mini-fridge/mini-bar that wasn’t stocked, a safe, and a hairdryer. There were plenty of power outlets by the bed and around the room. The TV was easy to watch from the bed, and the lighting was excellent. I still have breakfast to come, and expect it to be well organized according to Van der Valk standards.

The room was spacious, and the bathroom was roomy too, with a bathtub that was a nice touch. The bed was comfortable, but there were lots of hairs on it, which was disappointing, and the coffee machine was dusty and dirty. We came for Valentine’s Day and stayed two nights with dinner. The food was good, but service was very slow, with nearly an hour’s wait before we were served. There were good and bad parts to the stay, but cleanliness and service need improvement.

The reception closes at 10, and after that it feels like survival of the fittest. I ordered a cocktail at the hotelbar at 11:20, 40 minutes before closing, and the bartender sighed right in my face. Some staff were extremely rude, while others were very friendly. Some hotel rooms are decent, but they also rent out private apartments without bedding or towels. We paid 120€ for linen and towels. I lived in a Van der Valk for a couple of months, and this has nothing to do with the chain. Avoid this place at all costs.

We had a one-night stay and really enjoyed it. The staff were very welcoming, the room was spacious, and the bathroom was great. It was quiet, and breakfast was excellent.