Hotel Courage

This little hotel is quite simply flawless. The location, down by the river, is only minutes from the city centre. The rooms are clean, comfortable and have all the basics expected of a mid-market accomodation. Reception is friendly, helpful, informal and nothing is a problem.

Breakfast is the usual buffet but with a good selection of cold meats, cheeses, cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurts, breads and beverages - pretty much everything apart from Champagne (tho' I'm sure that you could get a bottle if you asked).

Next door to the hotel is the Velorama bicycle museum, to which guests get free entry, and in addition the hotel itself has a rack of bikes for hire.

Unique Quality: It is the simple things that make a place outstanding and here all the simple things are done perfectly. For example: on my second day I had intended to hire a bike and maybe cycle over the border to Kleve. Unfortunately the weather was really miserable and so I decided instead to spend the afternoon downstairs in the well-appointed little bar (strange but true!) and catch up on my Utrecht page. I needed to plug my laptop into a power socket and an extension lead was duly found (and BTW the freebie WiFi was excellent). My coffee was kept topped up until it became beer time and then that too replenished as necessary - "Things to Do" on a rainy day!

One other little thing, though I reckon it really should be in "Warnings and Dangers", is that the shower pressure is pretty damn powerful and so make sure you have the shower head held firmly as you release the taps - my first shower doubled up as a carpet shampoo as the shower head leapt from the holder.

I liked this hotel and the leggy receptionist too ;P

Directions: To get to the hotel from the railway station it is about 15 minutes walk, go into the town centre then down to the river and the hotel is tucked away in the corner just before the bridge.

Unique Quality: Hotel courage has opened her doors in May 2004, this hotel is situated on the Waal quay and from the rooms on the front site of the building you can overview the pleasure harbour and the remarkable Waal and its bridges. The hotel is having 19 double and 3 trippel rooms with all modern amenities. With its location in the city centre this 3 star hotel is an outstanding place for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel and restaurant are working together with the National bicycle museum which is situated next to the hotel.

Directions: Waal Quay