This is a wonderful hotel, right in the center of Den Haag (or centrum as the locals call it). I…read morestayed here for 3 weeks while completing a summer law program in Den Haag, and enjoyed every single moment of it.
The hotel has a few anomalies, for example, while the entrance is on a popular shopping street, guests have to take a lift up to level 3 (no help with bags is available at check in or checkout), where they enter the lobby/cafe/breakfast room/lounge. Yes, it's all one room! At my check in, I exited the lift right into the middle of the breakfast crowd and stood there like a bewildered little sheep searching for the check in desk. I was approached by a young lady who introduced herself as Jaqueline (?) and showed me to a makeshift desk against the wall.
To me, this was the downside of the hotel - the entire lobby/cafe/restaurant/breakfast crowd can see your bags on display and your ongoing check in. But our check in was smooth, and we were given a special discounted rate for breakfast since we had booked an extended stay (10 euro instead of 15euro).
We took our bags to our rooms (we booked 2 rooms beside each other), which were fantastic. The rooms were large, with a sink, microwave, separate toilet and bath (fantastic), large queen bed, mirrors, and PLENTY of storage space! The funniest thing about the room was that the shower area did not have a door, just a curtain! So if you share with a friend, your utter nakedness will only be separated by a thin curtain!!
Just beware if you're staying here for the purposes of a business visit - there is no desk, just a coffee table. I thought this was slightly impractical initially but after I surveyed the crowd, I realized that more families stayed here than business travelers.
The breakfast/lounge area is open, with colorful tables scattered around, and a special kiddy section with toys. Morning brekkie is very good, but no other meals are served during the day, and there is no room service. You will not be deprived however, because the moment you step out of the hotel, there are about 50 places you can eat at or takeaway from (or try the local delivery service - Thuisbezorgd - who will deliver to the lobby from one of their listed restaurants). The hotel is right next to the bus stop that takes you directly to key areas in Den Haag such as the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) and the beach (Scheveningen).
The lobby is a nice place to hang out if you have some free time - free tea and coffee is on offer 24 hours so you can walk down and grab a cappuccino, some green tea, or even Rooibos (they had a great selection). Alternatively, you can get a drink from the bar, but you have to wait for the staff to pour it for you as there were no bartenders.
The staff is young, energetic, willing, and friendly. They are quick to help, give useful advice, and work tirelessly. I saw them juggle breakfast duties, check ins, room issues, guest enquiries, travel advice, everything! I was really impressed with the overall service.
During my 3 week stay, I grew attached to the hotel, got acquainted with the staff, fell in love with Den Haag, and had the most wonderful time. The Suite Novotel has an unpretentious ambiance, and tends to embrace a more casual style (as opposed to the regular Novotel, the Sofitel, or even the Pullman). In spite of this, it still maintains high hygiene and customer service standards.
