Carlton President

When I came back this year after staying here two years ago, prices seemed to be the only thing that had changed. The staff were helpful, and the rooms are pretty good, clean, with a comfortable bed. Just be prepared for the cold: there’s no heating in the rooms, so you may wake up chilly.

The stay was okay, the hotel was generally clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. But I found several short hairs on the pillow and blanket when I went to bed, so we asked staff to change the bedding. They said they’d tell housekeeping, with very little response otherwise and no proper apology. After the bedding was replaced, I found more hairs on the pillow, including a white one. That shouldn’t happen in a hotel.

The spa was tiny and crowded, the jacuzzi water was cold, and there weren’t any towels available there. My husband asked reception, and they gave us two bathrobes and two towels. Another spa guest had already taken two of the towels when I went to get them. I said they were ours, but we told her one would be enough; she apologized and returned one. Later reception told my husband we owed 35 euros for the robes and towels, supposedly because the website mentioned a charge. I couldn’t find any such information there. I feel this was an unacceptable way to overcharge guests. Our room was 234. We were also disappointed that there was no balcony, and it felt as if the hotel wanted extra money for everything. This ruined our experience, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

The hotel itself was very good, with spacious, clean rooms and good restaurants, though they’re a bit pricey. My complaint is about the location: there are no shops or other restaurants within walking distance, and it feels far from everything. There’s a bus stop less than five minutes away on foot, and Utrecht Central Station takes around 22-25 minutes to reach.