Novotel Rotterdam Brainpark

The Novotel Rotterdam Brainpark is a conference hotel next to the university. I came for a conference, and that is really what it is for. The welcome was friendly, the room was very clean with a design of its own, and the breakfast was good. The desk is tiny, the shower weak, and there is not much around the hotel.

Quick verdict: A clean, friendly conference hotel on the Executive Floor at the very top, with a cosy breakfast and a room that does not look like a typical Novotel. The queen bed is tight for two, the bathroom is small with a thin shower jet, the desk is far too small, and you have to go into the city for anything else. JCI Score 2.4 out of 5.

Location

I came from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport by train to Rotterdam Central Station. From there I took the tram for about 20 minutes, and then I walked a little further. The hotel is not very central. You really have to want to go there.

It is a conference hotel in the surroundings of the university. There is not much nearby that is worth a visit. For restaurants and everything else, you have to go to the city centre, where Rotterdam has a lot to offer. Because of the conference, the area was busy, and the prices were correspondingly high.

Getting There & First Impression

We were a group of four, with a double room for two of us and two single rooms. We were welcomed very kindly. The lobby is large and has a bit of a 90s atmosphere. Everything was clean and nice.

Check-In & Loyalty Experience

I got an upgrade to the Executive Floor. We took the lift to the very top, to the 17th floor. In the corridor there were some cookies, a small snack station for the Platinum guests.

I had my welcome drink in the bar on the ground floor. It is rather functional, a bar on the way to the restaurant somewhere in the corridor. It is not fancy or special.

The Room

Room 1711 was pleasant and friendly, and it was very clean. It did not look like a Novotel at all, because it had a special design of its own. The floor is carpet, and there were two nice, comfortable chairs.

The bed was only a queen-size bed. It was okay, but not a huge bed. There were two of us, so it was a bit tight. I did not sleep really well, and it was not that great. For two guests, I would only recommend this room to honeymooners, or to people who are very much in love. There was a small, cosy seating area.

The view was onto a street behind the hotel and a few sports fields. It was not loud. The land is flat, so the view was wide, but not spectacular.

There was a tiny desk. It was far too small to work at. I was there for a conference, but for working I can only give half a point.

The bathroom was simply small, and nothing special. The shower jet was very thin, and not much water came out.

Food & Drink

The breakfast was good. There was a large choice, and it was really tasty. You sit very comfortably in the restaurant, and it was very good. It was a rich selection.

Digital Customer Experience

Nothing digital to report.

The Bill & Value

Three nights for two guests cost €518.63 (about $613) in total, which is about €173 (about $204) a night. I earned 1,172 Reward points and 666 Status points. The conference made the prices high. You can check current rates and availability on the official Accor page for the Novotel Rotterdam Brainpark.