Botel Marina

The overall experience was really bad. I will try to give as much details as possible, so that it is helpful to more future hosts. BOOKING. We asked information by email a couple of days before our foreseen stay, and we were kindly given all the information and a foreseen price (about 140€ for one night, two adults and a baby cot + parking). We were instructed to book on the hotel's website, where the final price was lower (about 118€ all included). I booked, and sent the receipt by email. The hotel replied saying that, baby cot was not incluided, so I would have to pay additional 7€/night. CHECK IN. We arrived at the foreseen check in time. Apparently there were some internal miscommunications on which room the baby cot have been set up, so we had to change room number... Minor problems, but we also discovered there that the bar/restaurant presented as a nice asset of the hotel was unavailable to guests for that day and evening, due to a private party. No communication whatsoever at the moment of the booking. For us, it was a bummer and a considerable discomfort. Other guests were also compayining but the personnel did not seem to understand, not to appreciate the fact that this should be communicated in advanced. ROOMS. Rooms are small, but it is part of the boat experience I guess. However, black mold spots in the bathroom should not be. NIGHT. The private party at the bar restaurant on the boat was very, very loud and would last untile 2 am. When I complained, the lady at the information desk just replied "I mean, it is a wedding party, what do you expect!". However, we were located on a deck that was not so affected by the noise, that in the end was tolerable. But, several of the rooms around ours hosted students is some kind of school trip. Between 9 and 11, they were roaming the corridors, totally usupervised, screaming, laughing... I mean, being kids on a school trip. off course, it was a problem for us, especially with a baby that is already sleeping at this time. We complained to the man at the desk several times, he tried to help but did not manage so much. The night manager was alerted and this character, with some kind of macho attitude, basically suggested that "boys will be boys" and that we were the problem. Unpolite and totally useless, congrats man. In the end, around midnight they were able to locate the responsible adult (!!!) for the trip, that started shouting at the kids and so slowly the noise stopped... only to start again at 7, when they started to pack. When, the morning after, once again, we complained with yet another day manager, he said that the only thing he could do was to let us have the baby cot for free (that we were not supposed to pay). Again, very bad experience, never again Oh yes, BREAKFAST: food average, coffee and other beverages are machine made, so not that good.

It could so easily be 5 stars, but I’m afraid I can’t give it more than 3. The idea/concept is brilliant and so is the location. However this advantage is ruined by the fact that the inside covers on the portholes in the cabin cannot be kept open. Consequently you stay in a metal cabinet with no natural light, regardless of time of day. This was exacerbated by the fact that apart from a ceiling light all the other lights were mounted in the wall pointing upwards! So if one person wants to sit in bed and read you have to have the ceiling light on. Not smart. Otherwise the cabin and bathroom were fine. The advertised bar/cafe should be open from morning till late evening. We went there at 1230 pm only to be told that we could not buy a coffee nor were we allowed to stay there enjoying the view: “It is the manager’s. He is not here. Maybe you come back at 3 o’clock?” Well no we don’t. Neither did we go there for dinner as we’d otherwise planned. Plenty of good restaurants around with similar views. We chose those instead. They also advertise having a fitness room. When asking where to find this, we were told it had been closed! The staff in reception and the cleaners were all friendly and helpful. Full marks for that. Unless the idea of staying on a ship particularly takes your fancy I would probably rather choose one of the multitude of hotels around. You can undoubtably find them at a better price than Botel Marina and with better views.