Your only choice in central Breda (GoldenTulip Keyser Breda)

Member Name: larsbaby

Product:	GoldenTulip Keyser Breda
Date:	20/02/08 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very well located in the centre of town

Disadvantages: No gym facilities

INTRODUCTION

Being back in Breda, South Netherlands, I find myself staying long term in a hotel, as for some reason my company is unable to secure an apartment. On this plus side, this gives me an ideal opportunity to review the hotel and maybe notice and thing or two that I wouldn't normally on a usual short term stay. What follows is the result of my experience so far. Bear in mind I've been here for about 6 weeks, so no wonder I've noticed so much!

LOCATION

The Keyser Hotel is located on Keizerstraat, which is fairly close to the centre of Breda. The hotel blurb claims that it's between Rotterdam and Antwerp, which is pretty accurate. It's about a ten minute walk to the train station, and a five minute walk to the heart of the town, the main square, known as Grote Markt. This is a fairly major road in the town, and traffic can be heavy at times during the day, which can be heard if you are located in the front of the hotel. Also audible in the evenings are revellers from the towns bars somewhat the worse for wear. The windows are double glazed though, which cuts out these nuisances somewhat, although you can open them if you find the sound of passing traffic soothing. There are 87 rooms in the hotel.

CHECKING IN AND OUT

I was the only one arriving at the time, so this was easy and quick, and I didn't have recourse to my reservation details as giving my name enabled them to find all the details quickly. A quick swipe of my credit card to be used enabled me to get my room key, in the form of an electronic pass, pushed in and out of a slot in the room door.

I have noted that at times where there are several people checking in and out that this can take some time, as there is generally only one person stationed on the front desk, so avoid peak times. Check in is after 2pm, checkout before 11am.

As is usual, you can leave luggage in the reception after you check out, in case you want to potter around town before making you final leave.

Payment methods accepted are Diners Club, Mastercard, American Express, Pin, Chip and cash. I think this includes debit cards like Visa and Maestro, but it'd be best to check if you intend to do this.

BONUS PROGRAMMES

Frequent travellers might like to know what airmiles schemes are supported in the hotel. Their partners are Ambassador Club, Connections, B&B Hotels, Pacific International, Top International, Top City & Country Line and Stella Hospitality Group. They also have their own scheme, Flavours, which I have joined up to, as I've never heard of any of those partners to be honest. The link to this is:

https://www.flavours-benefits.com/

THE RECEPTION AREA

The reception area is quite roomy, with a couple of large tables, and a sofa and coffee table, which I've seen a lot of people use to read, smoke, or generally lounge around. There are several magazines and newspaper (almost all Dutch) to browse near to the biggest of these tables.

The décor is quite plain, with few random pieces of object d'art knocking around; some sort of African tribesman carved statuette, a navel jacket of some rank, a couple of dressers, some modern art splodge paintings. Not all all co-ordinated, I would say. There is also a couple of display cabinets with some necklaces in and Cartier glasses them, of which significance I haven't worked out yet. Some large pot plants complete the scene.

Next to the toilets, in a little side area, there are three vending machines. One is a drinks machine; Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta, Minute Maid orange juice and some fizzy sparkling water are available for 2 Euros a pop. A snacks machine has Mars, Snickets, Balisto (a chocolaty muesli bar), Twix, M&Ms and Tikkels mints for 1 Euro each. A cigarette machine has ciggies such as Camel, Pall Mall and Lucky Strike; I couldn't see any prices on this. In the corner is an ice machine with some metal buckets perched on top.
Perched in a corner near with windows is a massage chair. I have never, ever seen anyone use this.

Two lifts take you up to the rooms in the main part of the hotel.
There are a couple of large function rooms, and when I come back in the evening there are usually some stragglers from business meetings hanging around.

There is a shoes cleaning service available, and shoes cleaning machines are dotted around, on each floor and one in reception.
There is a terrace just outside for the summer, with tables and chairs where you can eat, drink or watch the passing cars on the road. This is open from 11am to 9.30 pm.

THE ROOM

As previously mentioned, the key is an electronic pass, and this is also used to get power in the room by leaving it in a slot near to the door. I've noted that the TV works fine without this, but you can't operate the lights. Also handy to know is that the lights stay active for about 10 minutes even after the pass is removed, giving you a bit of time to get your coat or whatever, which I think is quite a nice feature. All the rooms are non smoking. No pets are allowed.

From what I can gather I've got a bigger one that usual, it's down a corridor from the main body of the hotel. As I mentioned before, I can hear cars and drunks, but it isn't too bad. I am in the main part of the hotel, and there is actually another wing, which you have to go outside from the main hotel to access, and these rooms are a bit bigger than mine.if you want a plush new room, ask for one in this new section.

This really is just a standard business hotel, with nothing really to make the dark wood fitted rooms stand out in any individual way. The grey carpet is comfortable enough, along with the red suede covered lounging chairs, and a dark blue stool. There is a large desk surface against the wall, facing a large mirror spanning the width of the wall, which succeeds in making the room look bigger. On the desk is a kettle, with a couple of coffee, cappuccino and tea sachets which are regularly replaced, joining it on a round black tray. There is also a phone, which is surely extortionately expensive and I doubt whether you'd ever use it, I'm sure the internet or your roaming mobile phone would be used. There is also some envelopes, paper and a pencil supplied, which you can replenish upon request. Underneath the desk lies a bin.

The 28 inch LCD TV is held up on the wall by a adjustable wall bracket that lets you move it round a bit. Although you really have to sit on the bed to see it, as it's quite high and I find this pretty inconvenient, at eye level would be much better. I have noted that some of the other rooms have the TV on a desk at eye level. There are 33 channels, including a film channel, CNN, and BBC1 & 2, albeit an hour out of synch as we're an hour ahead of you here, so I get back in time for the first time in years for Neighbours. I really haven't missed much there. As well as Dutch channels, there are a couple of Belgian Flemish, Spanish, German and French channels. Usually Dutch channels have English films and programmes subtitled, so I can fully enjoy a lot of shows, as well as channels such as Comedy Central, and maybe learn a bit of Dutch from the subtitles. The TV also has an alarm which is quite handy, though you can order a wake up call from reception too, using the phone in the room. Messages can also be accessed from the TV.

Under the TV is a little table with a couple of Dutch women's magazines on it which you can keep. Useful as they are I think I'll pass. There is also a copy of the cable TV guide for the month, which is most handy.

In my room is a separate little side room with space for clothes and hangers on a rail, along with a safe, and couple of shelves. A hairdryer and fan also reside in here. If you're not convinced by the room safe, you can also ask for things to be stored in the hotel's central safe.

The bed is nice kingsize one (well - the Dutch are tall!), with 4 well fluffed cushions, 2 cream bedsheets and a chocolate coloured cover draped over the end. I have to say it's extremely comfortable - in fact I've been having the best sleep had for ages on this bed. You can also order an extra duvet and pillow from reception.

The windows have some nice features. A large opaque white square on each window lets in the light but keeps out prying eyes! There is an outside blind which you can wind up and down from the room, as well as an inside blind and net curtains on a rail. Suffice to say if you want to keep light out you won't have any problems on that score..

Internal light is provided by big standing lamp near the TV, 2 bedside lamps either side of the bed and a desk lamp. This makes the room quite light but not too bright, which seems like a fair compromise to me.

Heat is provided by 2 radiators, and they have been on at full blast the whole time, so my room can get pretty hot and stuffy; best to open the windows now and then.

Very handily, there is an empty fridge in the room, which can be filled on request. No thanks - I have filled it with my own goodies, and with the help of plastic cutlery, plates and bowls, I can at least have some home comforts. It's really nice to be able to have a cup of tea in your own big mug and a salad or sandwich; I can't even begin to describe how great that is when you're away from home.

The bathroom looks refurbished in a contemporary style comprising of a fancy wooden laminate floor and a modern square wash basin with mixer tap and no plug. Above this is a large mirror adorned with 2 strip lights on its sides and a convex shaving mirror which I have never, ever worked out how to use effectively, it just scares me when I see how sharp the blades are. The toilet is equipped with 2 flushes, a nice environmentally friendly touch. The bath has an adjustable shower attachment on a rail which is powerful enough for me. You are provided with a small bottle of shower gel, shampoo, 2 "luxury soaps", 1 shower cap, 1 shoe shine, 1 sewing kit and 2 cellophane wrapped plastic glasses, all in a dinky little woven basket, on the tiled surface next to the wash basin. These are replenished every day, although sometimes they are a bit slack with the plastic glasses. Just above the toilet is a wall mounted box of tissues. And there is a small aluminium pedal bin in the corner. You get 2 hand and 2 bath towels every day. If you need a shaving or dental care kit, you can get these from reception.

There is no ironing board in the room, but there is one near the stairs on every floor which you can nab when necessary (but don't forget to put it back when you've finished).

When I'm lazing around at weekends, I find that the cleaners are very respectful of the "do no disturb" sign, and don't annoyingly call you asking you if you want anything cleaned or changing. On one occasion, they left fresh towels and toiletries hanging on my door outside! I have to say that they do an excellent job of cleaning the rooms.

BREAKFAST

There is a pretty decent selection of food in the breakfast buffet. As they don't check your room number when you walk in, I assume this to be always included in the price; they certainly seem to add it on to my "basic" tariff quoted in my reservation every day without checking. On weekdays, breakfast is served 7-10 am, weekends 8-11 am. You can order room service breakfast for an extra 5 Euros if you order before 11pm the previous night. You can also order a breakfast package before 11pm the night before if you leave before you can take breakfast. It isn't specified if this incurs an extra charge, and I've never taken this, but I'd be surprised if it did cost anything.

Here is a list of things available:

There is both fresh and prepared fruit available. Whole apples, oranges, bananas and kiwis are complimented by three fruits salads. There is a fresh fruit salad of honey and water melon, grape and apple, a "tutti frutti" which I assume is tinned fruit, of mixed fruits such as pineapple, and some sort of brown, preserved fruit salad, which I think is prunes, bananas and other things good for your stomach; I haven't really ventured very far with this.

There are 3 kinds of cereal on offer in 3 large containers which remind me of those old sweet dispensers where you put 2p in and twist a lever at the bottom - sweet cluster kind things, corn flakes and muesli.

Slivers of smoked salmon, cucumber and tomato comprise the cold savoury selection. The warm selection (which I usually miss on weekdays as I'm out without 5 minutes of breakfast starting) comprises of scrambled and boiled eggs, sausages, bacon and pancakes.

Cold drinks on offer are orange and multivitamin juice, both in large glass dispensers and available at the twist of a tap, using the highball glasses next to the containers. Milk is in a similarly dispensing metal container and intriguingly buttermilk stands next to these in a jug (any thoughts about what this is for in the comments please!)

2 metal containers with taps dispense hot water and coffee. The coffee is all right, nothing special, but the tea selection is fabulous. There is a box of Pickwick teas (which seem to be the usual brand here, manufactured by Douwe Egberts) with an excellent selection of at least 12 teas. This is a mix of normal tea (only English Breakfast in this case) along with a couple of fruit selections such as mango, and herbal infusions like rooibos, cinnamon, and something called Winter Warmer which I am fast becoming addicted to, just at the point when they seem to have run out of it

The piece de resistance though has to be the bread. For this bread addicted nation, this comes as no surprise. So here we go - white sliced, brown sliced, raisin sliced, white rolls, granary rolls, poppy seed rolls, sweet hot dog like rolls, mini baguettes, lovely soft ciabatta rolls, pre-packaged rye slices ... there is more that I can't even remember but you get the idea.

The bread is augmented by some sweet selections; tiny pan au chocolat, larger once with a chocolate coating (these are far too nice), a variant on Danish pastries and chocolate and fruit muffins.
BAR

The bar, known as "Bar Come Together" is in an area between at the edge of the breakfast tables and near to the restaurant area, in the corner of the room. It's quite large and has a couple of beers on tap (Hertog and Palm) as well as several bottled beers.. It's open from 11am to midnight daily.

RESTAURANT

The restaurant is a set of tables just off from the breakfast and bar area, room for about 30 people. It's all in the same big room and doesn't give the impression of anything distinct from this area. Originally, I had enclosed the full restaurant review here but I decided that this wouldn't help in a general review, and so I will fully review this separately. Here I will summarise.

The restaurant is open weekdays from 11am - 9.30pm. On Saturday it's open 5pm - 9.30 pm. It's closed on Sundays, which would surprise me had I not been familiar with the local itinerant idleness given half the chance.

The menu was divided into several sections:
Bar snacks such as chicken wings, calamari, croquettes and cheese.

Brasserie menu - a lot of small dishes ranging from 3.50 to 19.50 Euros. Options include sandwiches, lasagne, salads, rib eye steak and salmon.

Starters - 5 starters, at about 10 Euros each, including raw tuna, duck, veal and lentil salad.

Entrees - 3 dishes at about 9 Euros each - pigeon, mullet or eel soup (they naturally had much fancier names but I couldn't be bothered writing them all down).

Mains - 5 dishes at about 20 Euros each, including seabass, deer, filet of beef and cod.

Desserts - 4 dished at about 8 Euros each, including chocolate tart, orange soufflé and a cheese board.

Menu Orange - a 3 course meal - a mix of other options such as for starter, pea soup or ostrich carpaccio, mains such as vegetarian tagliatelle, salmon and jugged hare, and one dessert, cinnamon puff pastry. 3 courses are 27.5 Euros

Menu Taste of Art - some kind of taster of lots of the dishes - 4 courses at 47 Euros and 5 courses at 45 Euros. E.g. deer fried in almond, turnip, cabbage and chanterelle sauce.

The menu is, in conclusion, quite pricy and the food rather average taking this into account. The presentation was excellent, the flavour acceptable, the service not bad (or put another way, very good by Dutch standards).

INTERNET CONNECTION

Throughout the hotel is wifi internet connection; you can buy T Mobile hotspot cards at various tariffs. 180 min cards are about 15 Euros, 1 hour cards 10 Euros and a 7 day pass for about 45 Euros, which seems by far the best value for money. You can also pay directly online with credit card, or use PC in lobby which is free (but you're not supposed to use it more than 20 minutes at a time). You can buy these cards from the reception, and they can also be used in other T Mobile hotspots, although I found much to my annoyance last year, after saving up all my cards for the trip home, they only have KPN hotspots at Schipol airport - doh!

GYM FACILITIES

There aren't any. There isn't even any mention of any affiliated services, which isn't impressive. I suppose they expect you get hire a bike to keep fit.

CHILDRENS FACILITIES

You can ask at reception for a baby's cot, suitable for children under 5. Any kids under 12 who share a parent's room go for free, which is handy to know.

GENERAL BUSINESS FACILITIES

There are photocopying and fax facilities available at reception. Stamps are available from reception, and they can post things for you, too.

LAUNDRY

Leave clothes for laundry and usually they come back nicely pressed, not damaged, nor little sticky labels on which you get sometimes. Leave it before 9am one day at reception and it'll come back the day after.

You can leave this in a special bag, along with a checklist, at reception before 9am, and you'll get it back the next day around 9.30 am, although it's not available on weekends or holidays. Generally, this has come back undamaged and nicely washed and pressed. There are no tiny sticky labels on the items, which you get in some laundry services and which can be a bit annoying, leaving a mark on your clothes, so that's a big plus.

However, if something is damaged, I found it's important to make your point strongly but politely. A collar on a brand new jumper was damaged, making the jumper look worn, and having complained, I was first advised to take it back to the shop. Not really feasible, as the shop is in the UK. Another complaint led to a letter from the manager suggesting if I wanted to take it further, to contact the laundrette directly and the complaint would be judged by a third party. The hotel claim no responsibility for "shrinkage of discoloration" but the word "damage" isn't there. In fairness to the laundrette, they coughed up compensation straight away when I called them. The hotel also coughed up after an official complaint letter to the manager, and when I saw him he did this in good grace. Fair dos then, the hotel did their duty - finally!

EXTRA PERSON

You are supposed to tell reception if you have someone staying. It's not specified if it costs extra, but I assume this depends on the deal you have bought.

PARKING

The hotel itself has no parking facilities, and you have to use the big car park round the back which belongs to the Chaisse Theatre. Tickets for 6 Euros can be bought from reception. I think this is a lot cheaper that buying a ticket from the car park itself.

DOCTOR

Reception can call a doctor for you, but I would advise to have the relevant medical insurance when travelling (the European Health Insurance Cars would be advisable) in case they ask to be paid.

PRICE

I am on a special business rate, but there are several packages available to the layman, including extras such as dinner, bike hire, entrance to the nearby Casino and meals in the hotel restaurant. The cheapest package for a room is for 2, at 47.5 Euros per person. The more fancy packages are up to 189 Euros per person.

CONCLUSION

This isn't a bad hotel, and realistically it's the only choice if you want to stay in the centre of Breda. The hotels near the station are perhaps a little bit out of town if you're lazy like me, and are surely very noisy. The hotels at the edge of town are just too far out to walk to town easily. Perhaps in consequence they hadn't initially taken my complaints as seriously as somewhere with real competition, and perhaps this is the usual ambivalent Dutch attitude to customer service. To be fair, the front desk staff are very helpful and courteous as is the manager, who now knows that with me, saying sorry is not enough to resolve any problem without actually doing anything about it. I would recommend this hotel for both short and long stays on the basis of location and generally reasonable customer service. But remember to stick up for yourself if you're not happy with anything.

CONTACT DETAILS

Golden Tulip Keyser Breda
Keizerstraat 5
4811 HL Breda

Tel: +31 (0)76 520 51 73
E-mail : info@hotel-keyser.nl

Website: http://www.hotel-keyser.nl/index.php?pageid=1& setlanguage=EN

Summary: Literally your only choice in the centre of town!