Stayokay Hostel Haarlem

Excellent family inn in all its splendor, with a small garden terrace, facing a canal with a beautiful view. But also a full bar and board games, a launderette, a large number of bicycles to rent (€10 for 3 hours or €15 for 24 hours), luggage storage, a lot of tourist information for visiting the surrounding area, books to borrow. Shops not too far away on foot including supermarkets. Not to mention the National Park which is not far away and which is great to visit. The hostel is surrounded by a park full of canals, a small pond and small shared vegetable gardens, so it's "in the middle of nature" in a way. The staff is attentive, smiling, helpful and informs us on the slightest request. The style of the hostel is nice, it is very quiet. The first floor is mainly reserved for family rooms. Check in is complete, and you need a card to access the room corridor, so it is secure. The beds have lights and individual sockets for chargers, there are lockers which are practical. We don't open the window much, but it's a shame to ventilate it, it's not very practical. Comfortable bedding and very clean bed linen. The toilets are also clean and the shower is equipped to put your belongings. And a beautiful sink in the entrance. Cleaning is done every day. Large buffet for breakfast, I don't really like what was offered, only industrial things, but it appeals to families I think and the dining room is pretty. The bar in the evening is great, however the prices are expensive. At the same time in the Netherlands, it is normal to pay for a 25cl beer at the price of a pint. The staff are just lovely. On the other hand, to climb into the bunk beds, the ladders are much too high. It would be worth one more step because it makes you sit hard on the bed. At night it was hot because the dormitory is really small for 4, we left the windows ajar but it quickly got noisy with the national road passing in front. The hostel is really far from Haarlem, it's quick to take the bus to the city center. Especially since there are only every 30 minutes. And it’s also far from the entrance to the National Park. There is a tunnel that passes under the main road to join a cycle path but we are 20 minutes by bike from the entrance to the Park despite everything.