De Zoete Inval

The train station is around a 15-minute walk away, though we didn’t manage to use it. You’re better off with a car here. I chose the place for an April visit to the tulip fields because it had free parking and cost less per night than Amsterdam, even if it wasn’t cheap. The room felt a little worn, but the bathroom plumbing was brand new. It’s an ordinary hotel, fine if you’re out all day and just need somewhere to shower and sleep. A lantern outside my window caused some light, but the blackout curtains fixed that. If I drive around the country again, I’d probably stay here, since free or affordable parking is hard to find elsewhere.

We were supposed to celebrate two people’s 50th birthdays, but the whole occasion was ruined. I’d called three times to confirm we wanted gourmet for dinner and to say I hadn’t received a confirmation. After bowling, we went straight to the restaurant for the meal we’d requested. Earlier, they had tried to seat us at the bar despite our group having two babies, an elderly grandma, and a woman with a leg problem. We’d mentioned that on the phone, and after talking it through they gave us a low table. The reception staff were unfriendly, and the girls were very mouthy even though it was their mistake. Then they tried to charge us for everything. We’d only had drinks and played bowling, so after a big argument with the staff, we paid only for what we’d actually consumed. We were very disappointed with the organization and especially the staff. One star is too much for Zoute Inval. We’ll never come back.

Breakfast had everything I was hoping for. The room was comfortable, well equipped, and roomy enough for two. Check-in was easy, the welcome was friendly, and the hotel was well located.

For work travel, this is a good place to stay. The staff are welcoming and polite, and take time to answer questions. Breakfast is nice, with something appetizing even if it’s nothing fancy. The fancier of the two restaurants was okay, though a bit underwhelming. There are varied dining choices nearby, but they aren’t within walking distance. You can rent bikes for about 18€ a day. One thing to know: you leave your physical room key at the front desk when you go out. It annoyed me at first compared with keycards, but I can understand the tradition. The hotel values the keys, and you can also see how occupied it is by glancing at the keys behind the desk. Rooms with low numbers, such as 101-103, may be close to a linen room. Cleaning staff can make quite a bit of noise there during the day. It didn’t bother me, but it could matter if you’re sensitive to noise.