Benedict Noordwijk

The design is nice, and the beach is only a ten-minute walk away. But when we registered our child, who is under one, during booking, we were directed to the expensive apartments even though we didn't need one. Our baby sleeps in our bed. The stay then felt lacking in comfort: there was no breakfast or other amenities, just a kitchen with some oil, salt, and pepper. Rooms aren't cleaned daily unless you request it. At 250 euros a night in the off season, next time I'd rather choose a hotel where I can get a daily cleaning and breakfast on site, instead of having to go to the hotel down the road in rainy weather. Check-out is at 10am, and the hosts weren't very understanding.

I uploaded a video of the suite's lovely garden patio, a peaceful spot for morning coffee before the kids wake up. The short walk to the beach made the stay even better. The hotel is wonderfully equipped, and the staff were welcoming and accommodating. We'll definitely be back!

The fire alarm on our second night exposed serious safety problems. There was no visible staff member to guide anyone out or help guests evacuate. I would have needed assistance with my elderly, disabled mother, especially since the lifts were unavailable during the alarm and the staircases are very narrow. No one checked that guests and staff were all at the assembly point. After we gathered in reception, several guests said they'd tried the emergency number, but nobody picked up. The firefighters came and left without anyone from the hotel explaining what was happening, so guests eventually went back to their rooms without being told it was safe. I had already sent feedback to the hotel about the other major problem and never heard back. The cutlery was dirty, a towel had stains, and linen on two of the four beds had bloodstains. These were cleaned up and replaced the next day, and I was told to call the emergency number. When I needed it during the fire alarm, it didn't work. This is the first time I've ever felt I had to write a negative review.

For us, this was just overpriced, and I can't understand the good reviews. We paid almost €360 a night for the suite without breakfast, then another €70 for our two-year-old for two nights, even though we'd booked the suite. On top of that, parking costs extra. There was no housekeeping or fresh towel service during our stay. They only offer it after four days, which I don't think is acceptable for a five-star hotel. I also asked for an iron or steamer and was told to go to the next building to iron, since reception is only open until 6 pm. This was our biggest disappointment in Noordwijk aan Zee so far.