Haagsche Suites by Andrew Mueller

From the outside, Haagsche Suites looks like an anonymous late 19th-century terrace house in a well-to-do neighbourhood of The Hague. Inside, it's what might be thought of as a monument to good taste. Haagsche Suites may well be the world's most opulent Bed & Breakfast. ­ The owners live in an equally exquisite terrace next door, and breakfast is taken in their dining room, or on the terrace overlooking the distinctive square ponds in their large, minimalist garden. There's a cosy, club-like lounge on the ground floor, with a generously stocked drinks cabinet ­- all complimentary for guests. The Haagsche Suites' proprietor, Guido, is also willing to take interested guests on a brief car tour of The Hague.

The rooms
There are only three rooms at Haagsche Suites, each taking up an entire floor of the building.

Suite 1, on the ground floor, has the feel of a well-cultivated live-in antique shop, thoughtfully decorated with furniture, artefacts and books sourced from local markets, as well as a piano. The lounge area of this suite is housed a glass-roofed conservatory, leading directly into the garden. Suite 1 also has a well-equipped kitchenette cunningly secreted in a closet, and bathroom fixtures incorporated into the bedroom ­- the large bath is thoughtfully fitted with a rack capable of holding two champagne flutes.

Suite 2, on the middle floor, is apparently, and understandably, a frequent choice for wedding nights. Like Suite 1, the decorations accomplish the rare trick of being a mile over the top while somehow elegant. Presided over by a bust of the Austrian emperor Franz Josef, who wouldn¹t have found much to complain about here, Suite 2 has a small balcony overlooking the garden, a separate lounge and bathroom, and a complete kitchen, including an espresso machine.

Suite 3, on the top floor, is closer in character to a modern boutique hotel, with modern furniture in restrained shades blending with antique pictures. It also has a balcony, separate lounge and bathroom, and a complete kitchen.

Staying at Haagsche Suites may well drive the compulsively nit-picking traveller to distraction, as they attempt to find something wrong with the place; they are likely to be disappointed. All suites are equipped with small flat-screen televisions and Linn stereos, and well-stocked ­- and, again, complimentary - mini-bars. The bathrooms are well-supplied with everything that might be expected, the drawers in the rooms contain CDs and candles, and there is a small library of books and magazines in the downstairs hall. The only drawback is the price, but everyone should stay somewhere like this at least once.

Come for:
- A definitive experience of opulence
- The pervading atmosphere of comfortable peace
- An unbeatable backdrop for a romantic weekend


Not suitable for:
- Families - no children under age 14.
- Smokers ­ rooms are non-smoking
- Embittered survivors of recent break-ups

Eating in, eating out: - Cook your own in the suites' kitchens, or ask Guido for advice on local restaurants.