Carlton Beach — Restaurant in The Hague

I recently had the unfortunate experience of staying at the Carlton Beach hotel, a supposedly 4-star establishment, and I must say that the hotel service left much to be desired. Despite choosing this hotel specifically for its parking facilities and the availability of electric vehicle (EV) chargers, I was sorely disappointed with the overall experience.

Upon our arrival, we were informed that the parking was completely booked out and that we should have made an advance reservation. Nowhere during the booking process were we informed about the necessity of reserving parking in advance, which was quite frustrating. The receptionist suggested that we try the public parking in front of the hotel, assuring us that it is always available. However, when we arrived at the public parking area, we were faced with the reality that it was not only unavailable but also more expensive than the estimated costs we had anticipated from the hotel parking. This was a major inconvenience and an unexpected additional expense.

Adding insult to injury, the receptionist's attitude was extremely rude and unhelpful. When we expressed our disappointment about the parking situation, she callously blamed us for not booking in advance. Instead of offering any sort of assistance or alternative solutions, she simply dismissed our concerns and made us feel unwelcome from the start. Her lack of empathy and professionalism was truly disheartening.

Furthermore, when we inquired about the hotel's facilities, the receptionist pointed us towards a brochure in our room and suggested that we find the information there. It was as if no effort had been made to provide any kind of comprehensive introduction or overview of the amenities available to guests. This lack of communication and hospitality was completely unexpected and far from the welcoming experience one would hope for.

To make matters worse, our daughter was particularly excited about using the hotel's pool, which according to the brochure had stated that it was open until a certain time. However, when we arrived at the pool around 7pm, we were met with disappointment as it was already closed. It seemed as though the hotel failed to update their information or communicate any changes in operating hours. This left us feeling frustrated and as though our needs as guests were not being considered or prioritized.

Furthermore, to add to the list of disappointments, I must mention that the hotel charged us double for our stay. It was evident that the receptionist failed to check the system properly and ended up overcharging us. This blatant error and lack of attention to detail only further highlighted the hotel's disregard for its guests and their overall satisfaction.

It is evident that the Carlton Beach hotel lacks the necessary level of care and attention that one would expect from a purported 4-star establishment. The combination of the parking fiasco, the rude receptionist, the lack of information about hotel facilities, the inconsistency in operating hours, and the double charge for our stay all contributed to an extremely dissatisfying experience. Paying such a hefty price for a subpar service is simply unacceptable. It is clear that the hotel management needs to reassess their priorities and make significant improvements to ensure that guests are treated with the respect and quality service they deserve. I strongly advise potential guests to seek alternative accommodations that prioritize customer satisfaction and uphold the standards expected of a...

The staff was respectful, the housekeeping very cute and ready to help, but couldn't solve our problem. Respect for housekeeping! If we pay more than 500Eur. for two night, we have high expectations. It is a no-go if the room and AC smell old and moldy (AC should be cleaned), bed sheets / pillow cases smell like they been left to dry somewhere for too long in a moist environment. We asked for fresh ones and they smelled the same. We asked for new pillows at least, never got them. Picture of room were made a long time ago when the hotel was new / newly renovated? Furniture is old and used, carpet lost color and is more grey than anything else, one cheap plastic hanger was broken, hallways are dark and smell. Room door not soundproof. There is even light shining from the hallway under the door. You hear every word from outside, even when they whisper. Balcony is big, but tiles are uneven, rusty, old furniture and not clean. On booking.com (I wanted to book on their own homepage, nowhere to be found, please paste if you can): parking can NOT be reserved, we arrived and asked if there was a free spot? First receptionist told us, all are taken: "first come, first served". Next day we saw a car leave and asked if we could have the spot. New receptionist said, it's reserved and then said: "You should've reserved ahead." 2 elevators very slow, dark and one with screeching noises. Housekeeping needs to use the same as guests = always busy (not houskeepings fault) Advertises "Welcome Drink". Self-service bucket of lemonade in paper cups with overflowing bin next to it at the entrance? Set the bar quite low... Mini-bar nicely stacked, pricey, but for executive suite it was included in the room charge. Did not check pool or spa area, because of so many bad reviews. Did not try breakfast. 20Eur./night/person: Are you serious?! Modern laptop does not fit into safe. (stated: laptop safe) Picture misrepresented: hotel has no beach chairs / wind covers or sunbrellas for guests, but you are allowed to take the hotel towels to the beach.

Sad to say, but all in all disappointed, would not visit again and do not recommend. This is probably not on the staff, but fault of inconsistency, bad communication and maybe carelessness of management. Expected more for this price and...

We booked this hotel last minute through EXPEDIA and got a really good price. I think it was 138 € per night, but excluding breakfast. If you want breakfast, you can book it at the reception. We chose the hotel because it is right on the beach, but also because it has a sauna area and a fitness centre. Unfortunately, we found out on site that you have to pay an extra 10 euros per person for the sauna and I find that rather unpleasant, I would rather have a complete offer where I already have all the possibilities such as sauna + gym included in the price of the hotel room. I like the fact that breakfast is exclusive, as I don't always want to get up early and especially don't eat breakfast every day, so this was a good offer for us.

As for the room, I was extremely thrilled. It is very spacious and you have at least 20 m² of space. The bathroom is very small, but that doesn't bother me at all. I would have liked to have more space next to the sink, my XXL toiletry bag did not find a place. The water pressure is excellent, i.e. water is really hot to wash even his storage container brought along from his long car trip. The bed was a dream, not only did I sleep excellently well, but I could also slide my suitcase open under the bed so that you don't lose space in the hotel room with your bulky suitcase. I also really liked the hook on the wall, because you could just hang the heavy hotel room door so you wouldn't have any problems getting your luggage in or out. I would definitely come back, I will remember this hotel for the next beach holiday in...