Marienpoel Hotel Leiden

We went to Leiden because our son who was on vacation had a major heart attack. In our haste to make arrangements we inadvertently booked for the day before we were to arrive. We notified the hotel within 2 days prior to arriving by email because no one answered the phone. The manager informed us that we were too late and had to pay for the room. Since all the other hotels near the hospital were booked, we had no choice. Upon arrival, our room was not ready, even though we had paid for the night before. When we told the manager, who knew why we were in Leiden, that if he had booked the room for the previous night he should not charge us for it, his response was "What do you think, if you don't show up for a flight they don't resell your seat?" That nasty, mean-spirited attitude continued for the entire week we were there. We purchased cans of coke in the grocery instead of paying the outrageous prices for the minibar. Without explanation, the manager took the coke out of our room, and when we confronted him, said it was too crowded in the minibar. That didn't explain why he also took the cans that were on the dresser. He took four cans, but insisted he had only taken three. We learned there was availability in other nearby hotels. When we asked after the first day how much notice they needed for us to leave with no additional charge, we were told once we checked in we couldn't leave with no additional charge. There are more examples but suffice it to say the manager's surley attitude has soured us on The Netherlands. Don't book this hotel. There are many less expensive hotels in Leiden with much better service.