Die Port van Cleve Hotel: Reviews

What a pleasant surprise!!!

I am truly mystified by the critical reviews of this hotel. My room was spacious, very well equipped, warm and clean. Both room service and housekeeping were excellent and prompt. All the staff were exceptionally helpful and went to great lengths to check that my return flight was not cancelled because of heavy snow in the UK before my departure. Breakfast is neither cheap nor expensive but fairly priced for the choice of the extensive range of breads, pastries, cereals, cold meats, cheese, and "full cooked English" (proper bacon, incidentally, not the usual frizzly scraps!) and compares well with Amsterdam's luxury hotels. It was significant that on my visit I found several people who were staying at a nearby hotel which was not so good had discovered the Port van Cleve breakfast and were eating there as non-residents and considered it excellent and good value for money. Reading some of the other reviews I find it amazing that they are referring to the same hotel which I stayed at. I happened to stay at Port van Cleve this time because my usual, much smaller Amsterdam hotel was fully booked. I am in no doubt which one I shall be returning to.

Great for: Romance, Nightlife, Beds, Internet Connection

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Oh Dear! What a disappointment!

Chosen at the last minute when other arrangements failed, we accepted the booking agent's recommendation and paid a higher tariff for 4 stars. Star ratings are, of course, allocated on the existence of facilities - not on their availability or condition - or even the quality of service by staff. An electric iron locked away in a computer room on level 6 qualifies as being available, but nothing more.

Despite a specific request for a double, my wife and I spent our 25th wedding anniversary in twin beds and, quite honestly, staff couldn't care less. We tipped a porter in advance to deliver our bags to an alternate room, but they simply failed to do anthing and even lost one of the bags. Added to this were wake up calls that never came; four separate trips to get tea-making facilities; collapsing shower rails; constant unfulfilled promises of extra towels (they had left one of our sons without a towel at all); curtains in need of repair and stained chairs.

The list could go on, but it was perhaps the uncaring and unsmiling attitude of the majority of the staff that did most to destroy this hotel's credibility. As Australians involved in the tourist industry at home, I always susected that the Europeans would have the edge on customer service and I had hoped to learn from them. I now know that the Australians - and the Asians (where I have previously travelled) - leave them far behind.

A good location; rooms generally clean and tidy, but more focus on customer service needed to ensure happy and positive memories. The star rating could not be justified if service was a criteria (which, unfortunately, it is not).

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Average

Totally average. Room amenities were sparse, shower was complicated, and the toilet ran constantly. A good room to sleep in, but you wont want to spend any time there.

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