Harry Maes

Review of Hotel de Echoput

As a couple we have reserved a Grand Echoput room,...

As a couple we have reserved a Grand Echoput room, upon arrival in the room we experienced that the room smelled like chlorine because of the swimming pool that is located underneath. This implies that the ventilation in the hotel is incorrect. Due to our health we asked for a different room where we were moved to a normal Echoput room but had to pay the same amount. This has been partly compensated by a stocked minibar and a free drink, but I think we should have been able to cancel what was not allowed on the basis of a not equal room. Looking at the waiting time of the service in the restaurant (due to understaffing) they should have canceled us better than it would have been better for both parties.
Switching to a normal echoput room is a disappointment because many conveniences are no longer available: much less space, no coffee in the room, no separate seating area, TV did not work, the temperature of the room was also very warm and could not be cooled we were forced to open the sliding door to the balcony which caused a lot of noise from the passing traffic.
Also striking was the poor quality of the wifi and that there is only 1G at this location.
The long wait at dinner was somewhat offset by the sommelier trying to make the most of it. What we often notice about restaurants with a Michelin star is that they go overboard and that there is little atmosphere and ambience left. We do not find the arrangement in the restaurant intimate and awkward.
The breakfast was poorly supplemented due to understaffing and the waiting time was also extended as a result. The final breakfast was decent, little variety in bread and the quality of the coffee was mediocre.
The impression we ultimately have is that the customer focus of the Echoput has deteriorated sharply and that the importance of the Echoput itself is too much of a priority. As a customer we expect much more service from a 5 star hotel and this 2nd visit is definitely the last visit.