So, I picked this hotel because it had a 'Keukenhof' package which was listed on Keukenhof's website which included a room, ticket to Keukenhof, dinner, breakfast, and a shuttle to Keukenhof. I had a few issues with my stay but let me first say the rooms are very large with very nice bathrooms (I had a comfort room). As one other reviewer mentioned, the rooms are dark at night, partially due to large dark wood built in closets. Now...the problems...I was using public transportation for this trip - this hotel is out in the suburbs, not walking distance to anything. So...go here with a car OR if you are taking public transportation - PLAN AHEAD and understand the bus schedule AND the bus stops. There are a couple stops right by the hotel; understand which is which and where they are located in reference to the hotel because when you get off that bus - there are no signs that say 'Your hotel is this way', As I mentioned, I booked this hotel for my visit to Keukenhof...the only reason I visited Holland was for Keukenhof. When I arrived at my hotel at 2, I checked in, got my ticket to Keukenhof and asked the desk clerk when the next shuttle was to Keukenhof (which was open until 7 pm) - she said, 'Oh, there are no more shuttles today but I can make an appointment for you for the early morning shuttle' - um WHAT??? I was leaving in the morning! The clerk offered no help...no mention if buses go there, etc. She said she could call me a taxi but wasn't really sure how much that would cost, she thought 15-20 euros. I wasn't going to miss Keukenhof and couldn't change my morning departure date so said ok about the taxi. 30 euros later, I was at Keukenhof and since the clerk also informed me that the last shuttle back to the hotel left at 4pm (again, Keukenhof was open until SEVEN), I had to pay another 30 euros to get back to the hotel. So, basically, I had to pay an extra $100 dollars for something that was supposed to be included at the hotel. No where on the website did it state the shuttles were only at specific times. The free dinner was ok. I was sat at a table with a menu full of delicious choices. When my waitress came and found out I had a voucher for dinner, she promptly took that menu and brought me a new one that had a small handful of choices - a bit disappointing. Why not just allow me to order up to x amount of money off the standard menu?? The food was fine, the service was SLOW.
Would I stay here again? Only after investigating all other options to visit Keukenhof, and understanding the shuttle service. I would recommend this hotel to friends only after explaining my experiences above; there was nothing fundamentally wrong with this hotel.
Also to note - internet is not free.
- Sassenheim Hotel Zuid Holland
