At first the hotel seemed attractive, but several issues soon became clear. The pool is outdoors, which was not obvious from the photos, so if the weather is bad you are exposed to the elements. The hotel also charges extra for many things, including breakfast which many Amsterdam hotels include, spa access and bathrobes, so the advertised price may not be the whole picture.
On my last night I requested a late checkout and was told there was normally a fee but that it had been 'sorted'. The next day as I was about to leave an angry staff member banged on my door, accused me of lying and demanded I go to reception to pay immediately. I understand mistakes can happen, but being treated like a dishonest guest was upsetting. The situation could have been handled far more politely, although she did apply a small discount in the end.
Some staff, especially in the bar, were genuinely lovely, so it is a shame that the experience was marred by how I was treated at the end. I have stayed at this chain elsewhere with only positive experiences, but this incident has left me questioning how new guests might be treated.