The Notary

This is a very difficult review to write. I take great care picking my hotels and most of the ones I pick are great. Writing good reviews is easy. This one is not. First the pros: the property is beautiful. The backyard is gorgeous and the canal behind the property is charming. The common areas are also quite beautiful. Now the cons. Our room, although beautifully decorated overall, was a bit of sensory overload. There were too many objects in it filling in most of the space. A bit too dark for my taste, especially the bathroom. It was very difficult to put makeup on, because it was so dark. I was told that mirrors with built-in lights were on order and will be soon installed. We didn't have breakfast at the hotel because I felt it was overpriced for what it was. Personally, I feel they should charge a bit more for the room and include breakfast. In most small boutique hotels we stayed at, breakfast was always included. The worst part happened after we left. I checked my credit card and saw that we were charged 100 euro we did not authorize. We called to ask what the charge was for. We were told that a book was missing from the room and they charged us for that. I was stunned. Nobody contacted us to politely inquire if we accidentally took the book, and nobody contacted us to let us know we were being charged. The cleaning person reported that a book was missing and they charged us! We told them, we didn't take any books. Incidentally, the room was so dark and so filled with objects that I didn't even notice that there were books in the room. After the staff talked to the manager, we were refunded the 100 euro and told that they were going to try and find out what happened to their book. That made me feel as if they were still accusing us. In the end they apologized profusely and refunded us but this incident left a very bad taste in our mouths. .

This hotel is stunning. It's more than just a hotel. It's an experience. The hotel is beautifully kept, everything is done with care and precision. We were in two minds whether to go to Bruges or a countryside escape. But this felt like both. The garden is a haven of peace and the natural swimming pool very refreshing. We took the champagne brunch, which was enjoyable and they catered for intolerances, but it was a bit expensive. However, overall, while the hotel is pricey, it is worth every penny. We will certainly come back.