We stayed at the hotel as part of large group organised through Continental Car Tours - 48 people. Check-in was quick and easy. We had a room on the lower ground floor, overlooking a public pool. Nice spacious rooms, and large bathroom. Our floor was wet when we got into the room, and we soon worked out why...the water pressure is so high that the shower tray fills up quicker than the drain can handle it so gocareful! Also the water is very hot and can scold you. There were no tea/coffee making faclities which i thought strange for a 4* hotel, but apart from that the rooms were good. The bar tender was very rude and the drinks expensive. The hotel would not allow us to charge anything to the room, so make sure you have plenty of Euros - 15.90 for two gin and tonics, albeit generous measures! The food was good, and breakfast the same on each morning, but we only stayed two nights so not a problem. Not sure if it changes for weekday stays. Lots of car parking and easy to get into Amsterdam - we took the bus (from outside hotel) number 300 to Haarlam Station and caught the train into Amsterdam central, The buses and trains run regularly and theservice cheap and reliable. Ate in the Come Back rest. in Amsterdam Sunday evening and that was really good. We tried to find a cashpoint as we had spent alot of euros in the hotel but the ones we came across were out of order and the Cash Shops would not allow us to draw money out on debit/credit cards or they we shut! We tried to pay for our meal in the rest. by card (as they had a mastercard/cirruss symbol on the door) but they did not want to take the card because of the bank charges - so take lots of euros, but beware of pick-pockets! Had alot of fun in Amsterdam taking in the views/culture(!) and overall had an enjoyable stay but having been and experienced Amsterdam, we wont be going back. Once was enough for us!!!

This hotel is part of the van der valk chain. Rooms are spacy; large bathrooms. I have stayed here several times. Prices about 85 euro per night excluding breakfast. Breakfast is pretty good, including champagne. Dinner is very good as well, but service very slow. We also stayed in the jaccuzi suite once for 150 euro, a very large and good room with jaccuzi and waterbed, great! Plenty of free parking. However you need a car to get here. Amsterdam center is about 27 kilometers from here. And yes the hotel does have an american feel to it.

My experience was a very good one, nothing like most reviews I've read here. Staff were attentive and helpful, the room ,although a little on the hot side in August and no A/C, was clean, well equipped and had a large, luxurious bathroom. The breakfasts were brilliant although service in the restaurant on the one evening I ate there was not good. Not central to either Haarlem or Amsterdam but easy enough to get to either by bus. Overall, not the 4* it claims to be but good value for money and a pleasant experience which I will repeat next time I go to Haarlem / Amsterdam.

In all fairness, I didn't select this hotel - it was part of a package deal. I would have never chosen this hotel because of the location. That being said, the rooms were the most "American/Western" I have seen in budget accommodations in Europe. The good news: - This hotel had a super nice bathtub, large bathroom, and a even a hair dryer. - It was clean and had a nice patio accessible from the rooms. - It had real TV channels - but shame on you if you are watching TV on vacation! The bad news: - The HUGE problem (at least for me) with this hotel was its location. It is NOT in Amsterdam ( I guess that is a given by its name). And, it is NOT in Haarlem either. I guess it technically has a Haarlem address, but it is NO WHERE near the town center. You have to take a bus, and there is a stop about one block from the hotel. Haarlem city center is a charming town and a nice break from Amsterdam crowds, etc - but I would suggest staying in town, not at this hotel. To top it off, the area of the hotel was shady - questionable - and there were no amenities close. - Another BIG problem I had with this hotel is that they wouldn't exchange my US Travelers checks for EUROS and they didn't have a cash machine in the hotel, or anywhere nearby. Thankfully, I had enough EUROS to get myself to the train station where I was able to access a cash machine. Be aware of this situation. Overall, I am a big fan of LOCATION. Given similar prices, I would take a good LOCATION over a more LUXURIOUS hotel any day. And given that, this hotel bombed for me.

The service is horrible. I have never stayed at a 4* establishment that had such horrible service. I needed to use the iron and ironing board and they told me that I have to bring it up to my room myself. No one told me that I had to bring it down to the front desk upon check out. Since I did not bring the items down myself, they charged me 90Euros as it was the deposit. Even after talking to the manager - Ms Miranda, she told me that unless she sees the items at the front desk, she will not cancel the charges from my credit card. I explained that there is a taxi waiting for me and I have to go and the items are still in my room. I mean what does she think? That I am going to take away the iron and ironing board and bring it back to Germany with me? Please don't stay here. The rooms are filthy and the service is really bad.