Van der Valk Hotel Emmen

There where renovations going on next to our room. This was not communicated to us. If we knew we wouldn't stay here because we wanted a nice relaxing trip. After going to the reception to complain about this they say it is on there website. We booked this via vandervalkexclusief.nl and not hotelemmen.nl, so we never went to "their" website beforehand. We didn't received a mail about renovations so how would we know there where renovations? When I checked even when I would go to their website on my moble you first have to scroll down to the welcome text which most people don't read and there is one sentence really small about this and that would be sufficient according to them. I didn't agree ofcource but they kept saying 'it is on our website'. This would mean that everytime I book a hotel I have to put on a Sherlock cap and investigate if there is anything going on in a hotel I booked. Next to other things like airco was broken and when you want cold water it is scolding hot, what they tried to fix because there was someone in our room leaving a mess. But his someone also thought let just keep the door unlocked and open!!! This was just rediculous. There was so much more what was just wrong about his hotel and stay but I just keep it short. After contacting their "sales" department because they apparently are also the customer service department. It was the same old same old, saying it is on our website and they could do not anything for us. Even going on the attack that we could possibly could have been bothered by the construction noise. Basicly saying we are liars.

I called he hotel to seen if they had a room. Room costs 82 Euros a night, but they do not tell you that when booking by phone, they told me and charged me 119 Euros. Is terrible that the management trains the staff to rip off people like this ! The do not even have the decency to be honest and fair!

We had rather good experience with Van der Valk before, but boy, was this one a mistake! There were children running everywhere, on and off the stairs, in the corridors, around the pool..., accompanied by shouting ( themselves AND their parents), till 10.30pm. We had asked for a quiet room! The room was dark ( no adequate lighting), dated ( rusty radiators, peeling off wallpaper, broken tiles...), the mattress and pillows far too soft, the shower pressure went on and off... Positive: the breakfast and the friendliness of the reception staff.

Like all Van Der Valks this is a good hotel, clean, friendly staff and located in a easy to reach spot. The restaurant is good as well, they serve a good lunch and sound dinner as well for a fair price.