The Usual Rotterdam
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Hotel Details
Location
Rotterdam
Netherlands, Europe
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Key Highlights
- ✓The hotel boasts an excellent central location at Westblaak 10 in Rotterdam City Centre.
Expert Review: The Usual Rotterdam
The Usual Rotterdam, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns praise for its innovative design, commitment to sustainability, and prime central location in Rotterdam. While guest experiences are overwhelmingly positive, some minor areas have drawn occasional criticism.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The Usual Rotterdam generally receives very positive feedback, with an aggregated score of "Very Good" to "Superb." Booking.com rates it 8.5/10 based on over 3,500 reviews, highlighting strong scores for location (9.4), cleanliness (8.8), comfort (8.8), staff (8.9), and value for money (8.5). Similarly, Trip.com gives it a 9.1/10 from 51 reviews, and Hostelworld a superb 9.6/10 from 51 reviews. The prevailing sentiment is that it's a stylish, comfortable, and eco-conscious hotel ideal for various travelers.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently love several aspects of The Usual Rotterdam:
- Design & Atmosphere: The hotel is celebrated for its modern, quirky, and "exceptional" design, featuring a relaxed and cozy atmosphere in its communal areas. The hotel champions "circular thinking" with cork walls, terrazzo made from offcuts, and reclaimed furniture, aligning with its eco-friendly and Green Key certified status.
- Communal Spaces: The ground floor communal area, including the bar/lounge, co-working spaces, and games room, is frequently highlighted as lively, cozy, and a great place for work or relaxation.
- Location: Its central position is a major draw, providing easy access to shopping streets, local eateries, museums, and public transport.
- Sustainability: The hotel's strong commitment to sustainability, including the use of recycled products, renewable energy, and locally sourced items, is well-appreciated by guests.
3. Room Quality
The hotel offers 209 accommodations, including standard twin and double rooms, as well as unique "pod" rooms and studios.
- Design and Amenities: En-suite rooms (150 terracotta-toned) feature modern design with warm woods, calming tones, cork walls, ceramic terrazzo tiles, and even mini microclimate terrariums. They typically include air conditioning, walk-in showers, flat-screen TVs with streaming services, and free WiFi. Premium bedding and complimentary vegan amenities are also noted. Studios are equipped with kitchenettes and seating areas, suitable for longer stays.
- Comfort: While beds are generally described as comfortable, some guests have noted that double beds might have two mattresses creating a gap in the middle, and some found mattresses too soft. Pod rooms, though small, are considered cozy, but some can be noisy, especially those near shared bathrooms or corridors. There have also been a few complaints regarding inconsistent room temperatures, with some finding rooms cold.
4. Dining Experience
The hotel's modern restaurant and bar, "The U Bar," focuses on local, seasonal, and plant-based cuisine.
- Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is highly praised for its array of fresh, delicious options, including pastries from local bakeries, healthy overnight oats, savory hot dishes, fresh sandwiches, fruits, and juices. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. However, the full breakfast, priced at €18, is considered expensive by some, with a suggestion that barista coffee should be included. A more affordable option of barista coffee and a pastry for €5.50 is available.
- Other Meals: The U Bar also serves lunch and dinner, with guests admiring the visually appealing dishes and the use of sustainable practices. The truffle zucchini risotto with Vermentino wine has been specifically highlighted as a must-try.
5. Service & Staff
The staff at The Usual Rotterdam are generally described as friendly, helpful, welcoming, and "fabulous." Many guests appreciate the smooth check-in and check-out process, and the 24-hour reception. However, a few reviews mention some staff members being "offhand, scowling and sighing" when asked questions, or even talking negatively about other guests. One guest experienced being asked to move from a co-working space during cleaning.
6. Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an excellent central location at Westblaak 10 in Rotterdam City Centre.
- Neighborhood: It's surrounded by popular shopping streets, local eateries, and museums, making it ideal for exploring the city. Nearby attractions include the Maritime Museum, Markthal, and Cube Houses.
- Transport: Accessibility is a major advantage, with Beurs metro station just a few minutes' walk away (3 minutes for metro line B from Hoek van Holland, 5 minutes for E Line from Rotterdam Centraal). Rotterdam Centraal Station is a 16-minute walk or easily reachable by bus or tram. Rotterdam The Hague Airport is about a 15-minute drive or 3.7 miles away.
7. Value & Pricing
The Usual Rotterdam is generally considered good value for money, with Booking.com rating it 8.5/10 in this category. Room prices can start from around £38.52 or US$51-52 per night. Guests looking for the cheapest deals might find them in March and January, or by booking stays on Wednesdays or Sundays. While the overall pricing is reasonable for the quality and location, the €18 full breakfast is sometimes seen as a bit pricey.
8. Common Complaints
Despite the generally positive reviews, some recurring issues or criticisms include:
- Bed Comfort: Complaints about beds being too soft or having a gap in the middle due to two mattresses in a double bed.
- Room Temperature: Several guests reported rooms, and even the building, being cold.
- Noise: While pods can be soundproofed when closed, corridor noise and noise from adjacent pods can be an issue.
- Staff Consistency: Occasional feedback about some staff members being less hospitable or "impolite."
- Breakfast Cost: The full buffet breakfast is considered expensive by some, particularly without barista coffee included.
- Room Cleaning: Some guests reported no room cleaning for stays longer than one or two nights unless requested with an additional fee of €25.
- Shared Bathrooms: For pod rooms with shared facilities, the mixed-gender shared toilets/showers were uncomfortable for some guests.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •Despite the generally positive reviews, some recurring issues or criticisms include:
- •Bed Comfort:** Complaints about beds being too soft or having a gap in the middle due to two mattresses in a double bed.
- •Noise:** While pods can be soundproofed when closed, corridor noise and noise from adjacent pods can be an issue.
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