Golden Tulip Leiden Centre

The room and breakfast were both fine, though neither stood out, and there wasn’t any water in the room. The welcome at reception was warm enough to make the place seem more upscale than it actually felt. Also, there was a metal bar along the desk right at eye level, which was awkward.

The breakfast buffet was a great start to a day of cycling: lots to choose from, nicely prepared, and delicious croissants. We were there on a self-guided bike tour, and the hotel has a good bike cage to keep your bicycle safe. The front desk team were friendly and helpful, too. The rooms were comfortable and perfectly fine, though the place had the feel of a standard chain hotel, if it is one. The Wi-Fi didn’t work, which seems like a basic thing for a hotel like this to provide.

The room was hot and stuffy, and opening the window barely helped. There’s no air conditioning, despite how it’s advertised, and no mini fridge for drinks or food. I could hear traffic outside, and lights from nearby buildings stayed on all night. The bathroom smelled even worse than the room, and I found someone else’s hair in the shower. There were only two body towels and no washcloths. Being close to the train station was a plus, and service when I arrived was okay, but the high price I paid was definitely not justified.

The rooms are small for the price, but being close to both the train and bus stops makes up for that. It was clean, and the staff were helpful.