The rooms are filthy, there’s no hot water and the guests are encouraged to dry themselves off with the curtains to save on washing. But customers of the Hans Brinker Budget Hostel in Amsterdam can never say they weren’t warned. To prevent complaints, the owners of the $22.50 (£18)-a-night hotel feel it is best to tell people in advance about what to expect, even if that means a potentially fatal disease or mental illness. A lengthy disclaimer on their website reads: ‘Those wishing to stay at the Hans Brinker Budget Hotel, Amsterdam, do so at their own risk and will not hold the hotel liable for food poisoning, mental breakdowns, terminal illness, lost limbs, radiation poisoning, certain diseases associated with the 18th century, plague, etc.’ From grotty rooms without a view to dirty bathrooms with no hot water, the owners are happy to admit it is probably the worst hotel around. The lift is broken so signs point guests towards the ‘eco-friendly elevator’ – or stairs – and by not providing hot water they claim ‘it keeps water consumption moderate.’ They even encourage those who want to shower to dry off using the curtains to save on washing and in turn ‘save the planet’.
Proud to be the world’s worst hotel: £18-a-night hostel which boasts about filthy rooms and tells guests to use the curtains instead of towels. Hans Brinker Budget Hostel warns clients in advance of filthy condition. Guests are encouraged to dry off with shower curtain to save on washing. Advertising slogans include ‘It can’t get any worse. But we’ll do our best’. But 127-room hotel’s honest approach is hit with travellers and students. The rooms are filthy, there’s no hot water and the guests are encouraged to dry themselves off with the curtains to save on washing. But customers can never say they weren’t warned. To prevent complaints, the owners of the hotel feel it is best to tell people in advance about what to expect, even if that means a potentially fatal disease or mental illness. A disclaimer on the hotel’s website warns of the dangers of contracting a potentially fatal disease. Advertising slogans include ‘It can’t get any worse.
But we’ll do our best’ as well as ‘Improve your immune system – stay at Hans Brinker!’ or the modest claim ‘Now with beds in every room.’ One traveller from Australia wrote: ‘For the reputation of the world’s worst hotel, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Pretty scabby still, very basic. The bathroom was atrocious.’ Another added: ‘I’d read other reviews of the hostel before we got there, so was a bit nervous. Unfortunately most of the reviews I’d read were completely true. The rooms were like prison cells, with rickety old beds and metal lockers that didn’t close properly.’ A more promising review reads: ‘Hans Brinker is a fun-filled hostel with great facilities, friendly staff and great location. You will not be disappointed.’ Fortunately most of the target clientele, made up of students and backpackers, seem to appreciate the honest charm the Hans Brinker offers.
The owners, who have penned a book available on Amazon about the hotel entitled ‘The Worst Hotel in the World’, insist most guests are pleasantly surprised when they arrive. Manager Tijmen Receveur said: ‘They love our humour and sarcasm – and they have diminished ( 5elected from www.dailymail.co.uk ) For more information or reservations, follow he link below the cool advertising campaign.
