Hotel Sebel

I can’t recommend this place. The room itself was old and the hotel needs a complete refurbishment. It’s near nice bars, restaurants, and supermarkets, but it’s a 15-minute walk to the city center and 30 minutes to the central station. I’d stayed in a luxurious hotel right in the center for €100 before checking in here, so this was especially hard to accept. I had no other reasonably priced hotel options, but €150 was still far too much for a low-quality single room in an old hotel. The staff were nice, and there were free drinks in the lounge, but that’s about it. My first room was dark and cold on the ground floor. The air conditioning was loud and took ages to heat it. When I unfolded the towels, they had long black curly hairs on them. Strange bathroom noises woke me up, so I couldn’t sleep in. The walls are thin, and other guests’ heavy walking disturbed the people below. Only the top-floor rooms are acceptable and offer some relief. The replacement room had dark red stains right in the middle of the sheets, definitely blood from previous visitors. It’s impossible to miss stains there when changing the sheets. The towels in that room had long black curly hairs again, and the air conditioning didn’t work. They could’ve checked that beforehand. All of these problems are unacceptable.

The deluxe room was beautifully furnished and had plenty of space, so it didn’t feel cramped. It was a beautiful hotel, and the bed was comfortable. There’s an elevator if the steep stairs are an issue. The room also had a mini-fridge, iron and ironing board, and kettle. Three big windows faced a quiet roundabout, bringing in lots of daylight and making the room feel even bigger.

The location worked perfectly for us: the number 17 tram made it easy to reach the center, Scheveningen, and our local friends. Plenty of good cafes for breakfast and restaurants for dinner are nearby. Staff were charming and helpful when they were on duty, though reception isn’t staffed all the time. Check that your key cards open every door you need, since one of ours wouldn’t open the important House B front door. The bed was very comfortable and the room spacious. We were on the main road rather than in the corner building overlooking the circle. Trams start early, from around 6 a.m., so that noise could bother some people; ask for a room at the back if it would. It didn’t bother us. Fresh milk for tea and coffee in the rooms would be nice, either alongside or instead of powdered creamer, since there are fridges in the room and downstairs in the common room.

There are several nice restaurants near this hotel by the Peace Palace. They also have a laundry machine, which came in handy for a longer holiday. Pro tip: rent one of their bikes and ride to the pier for dinner.