Novallure Nassau Residence

The worst part was being locked out at 1 a.m. in my pajamas, in the cold, with no way to get back inside. The key link used to open the hotel door deactivated twice. I had to wait about half an hour before I could return to my room. No gesture of goodwill was offered, even after that. There were other problems during the stay. Towels, coffee, and similar supplies weren’t restocked. Checkout was meant to be at 11 a.m., but at 10 a.m. a man stood at my door shouting “housekeeping” over and over until I opened it. There’s a school across the street whose very loud alarm woke me early. The ceiling air vent couldn’t be turned off and made noise the entire stay.

The building is beautiful, with a distinctive style and lots of character, and the location is excellent. But the guest experience doesn’t live up to its appearance. It feels designed to look good in photos, while comfort and practical needs could use more attention. The room was very poorly lit, especially in the evening. Reading lamps sit awkwardly right over the bed, while the rest of the room stays too dark. The only large mirror is in a dark corner, with too little light for doing makeup or getting ready, and there’s no mirror in the bathroom. Outlets are inconveniently placed. The shower has no partition, so water gets all over the floor every time. Check-in was frustrating too. You can’t enter before the official time, and there’s nowhere to leave luggage if you arrive early, which adds stress after a long journey. The property is entirely self-service, with virtually no human contact or hospitality. The location is wonderful, but comfort, function, and attention to guests could be better.

We could walk to plenty of sights, bars and places to eat from here, and bikes were available too. The room was roomy and tastefully decorated, and the location worked out perfectly.

The location is both central and surprisingly quiet, with a back exit leading right to Frederikstraat and Denneweg. There are lovely little shops and really good restaurants along those streets. Our room had a warm atmosphere, was spotless, and had a comfortable bed, with a nice mix of traditional and modern touches.