The Hague NL: Hotel Des Indes

Very Nice for a Euro

The Hotel des Indes is five stories of muted yellow in the otherwise red-brick town of The Hague. The building is 147 years old. Wonderful facilities, staff and location.

Many hotel pools are too small for real “swimming” (some hotel pools are too big (or showy) for swimming like in Las Vegas.) The des Indes has a “rodeo” two jet-stream endless pool – the largest of these types we’ve ever used – where you can determine the resistance by swimming closer to the jets and, after getting used to it, swimming wildly like a shark riding a bucking bronco all over the place.

Some rooms had balconies overlooking the Verhoort, ours had large, pivoting oval windows you could climb out of if you wanted to.

The four balcony rooms were occupied by some of the regal guests during our stay, like US “singer” Michael Bolton (he’s no Forlan!)

But all the rooms had both showers and tub.

And multiple sinks.

And sink-into bedding.

We had one dinner and one lunch in the formal des Indes dining room where you are thoroughly interviewed band your shoes inspected before being granted a table. The food was good (7.5 of 10) but did include amusing amuse buches like yellow foam with shrimp, or traditional Holland herring chopped into American-tolerable sized bites.

Easy walk to The Hague’s attractions, in any direction outside the hotel, including a “champagne cart” and these dancing youths right outside the front door.

Our final bill for the room for five nights: one euro for UNICEF (plus 48,000 Starwood points -- or 2 years of your household incidentals on the SPG Amex...)

See you on the train!