Fletcher Boutique Hotel Duinoord

We paid over 200€ for one night at a hotel described as family friendly, so I was surprised by how things went. At breakfast, which ran from 9am to 10am, many things had run out. I asked reception if we could get more bacon to go with the eggs, and was told refills were only done once and that if I wanted bacon I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN UP EARLIER!!!!!!! The day before, we arrived at 12:30 and went to the front desk to say I’d already parked in the car park, since check-in wasn’t until 3pm. Reception immediately snapped that it wasn’t possible to check in because the rooms hadn’t been cleaned. That was fine, but I hadn’t asked to check in. If they’d listened, they’d have understood what I meant to say. I then asked another receptionist if we could hire two e-bikes. No, not at that time of day. Could we book for tomorrow? No, they didn’t know whether bikes would be available and told us to come back tomorrow. I also asked if they had a bike with a child seat, and was told no, there wasn’t one.

The hotel’s location is incredibly good for a coastal retreat, but its surroundings feel sadly underused. The quiet, beautiful back garden and dunes are basically a service area and temporary dump. It could be a really romantic garden, and I don’t understand why it isn’t. Walking around gave me the sense that the place isn’t cared for with love, which is how a good hotel should feel.

Room 201 was on the small side, but it was clean, well furnished, and had a comfortable bed. The bathroom had a good shower, and our car could use the type 2 EV charger for a full charge overnight. The main drawback was the lack of ventilation with the windows shut. It gets stuffy fast, so you have to sleep with them open. The staff were friendly and service was good. Breakfast was more than adequate, and a vegan option is available if requested while booking. The location is great, about a 20 minute walk to the beach, with lots of walking and biking routes close by.

The service was good, and the hotel is in a great location, but the food was unexpectedly poor, from snacks through dessert. My friends and I stopped at the cafe/restaurant at Fletcher Boutique Hotel for a hot drink and light lunch after walking in the dunes. The building looked so nice from outside that the food was the opposite of what we expected. There was also an overwhelming sewage smell across the whole dining area, making the visit uncomfortable and rather short. I hope the hotel managers address it, because it’s still a great place in a top location.