" Lovely personal hotel with very nice rooms. The staff was really helpful and friendly from the reception to the breakfast room. Such a pleasant stay. "
27 October 2023
Anynomous
" Of my hundreds of hotel stays in more than 30 countries, I’ve never felt the need to write a review of a hotel. My experience a couple of days ago, at Villa Provence in Aarhus, however, was truly shocking and I feel the need to warn other travelers. For full review, see Tripadvisor (space constraints).
We booked a one-night stay the same day, and arrived in the afternoon. As the hotel seemed quite nice and rooms were scarse in Århus that night, we asked whether it was possible to stay another night at this same hotel. We were informed that the hotel was fully booked, but the person at the front desk was going to let us know if they got any vacancy. We were further pleased to hear from her that they indeed got a vacant room as she called me at 7 pm that night. I asked if we were to get the same rate, and she informed that she thought so, but would have to check with the hotel owners (a married couple that owns and runs the hotel as far as I can read from other reviewers in the bottom-tier category) and provide me a clarification on this issue before night. So far so good. When we came back at 11 or so, the attendant informed us that she hadn’t gotten a definite price on the room, but we could discuss this with the owners/managers the next morning. She said that since there is little vacancy the room could end up maybe two hundred DKK more expensive (but to be fair she also said that she did not know exactly how much). This left us slightly annoyed, as it left us unable to plan our onward journey. The morning after, after breakfast, we went to the reception and got to meet the owners. What happened next was both very surprising, uncomfortable and truly shocking.
We first talked to the wife. She informed us in a decent, although slightly condescending tone that the room they had left was a suite, and this would cost us 1000 DKK more than our current rate (that is 2500 DKK altogether). We then said that we were not interested in such a room at that rate. We also told her that we felt that this was poor service, as they must have had that piece of information the night before (remember, the info about the room being available came at 7 pm). It felt like a classic bait and switch tactic. Up until now, this was basically a relatively minor nuisance for us, that would would have ended up with a shrug and eye rolling for poor service from our side.
But it ended quite differently. Upon commenting on the poor service, the husband, a > 190 cm tall, probably > 95 kg, brusque guy, who up until then had been on the phone, spoke up. He basically yelled that we had to speak nicely to his wife. From there on we kept on defending why we had complained about poor service, while he kept on yelling and generally behaving in a very menacing way for several minutes. He actually two times explicitly threatened to physically through me off the premises, and – as he said – this would not be too hard (and I’m sure he was right as I’m 70 kg on a good day). As we left, I informed him that there would be reviews about this incidence. He then followed me into the hallway and asked if I thought I could threaten him? I informed him that this review was not a threat but definitely going to become a fact. He then basically told me to get off his hotel and that I should “go back to Norway”.
Several other reviewers at Tripadvisor have had what seems to be bad and unpleasant encounters with the owners, especially the male. As our encounter his seems to be the most extreme, I felt the need to share this incidence with other travelers. Although I did not directly fear for my security (despite direct threats of being man-handled off the premises), I think many others would. Given the high general rating, the hotel must be doing something right, but if anything goes wrong or you have any sort of complaint I hope you’ve invested your money elsewhere. "
16 August 2023
Anynomous
" Fantastic family run hotel, friendly atmosphere, boutique themed great place to explore Aarhus. "
11 February 2023
Anynomous
" One of the best hotels in Denmark. Comfy beds, great breakfasts, secure parking. "
31 December 2022
Anynomous
" Very nice little hotel, very good breakfast at the price.
Rooms are clean and comfortable and the beds are average hard so most should have no issues with them.
Anynomous
" Lovely personal hotel with very nice rooms. The staff was really helpful and friendly from the reception to the breakfast room. Such a pleasant stay. "
27 October 2023Anynomous
" Of my hundreds of hotel stays in more than 30 countries, I’ve never felt the need to write a review of a hotel. My experience a couple of days ago, at Villa Provence in Aarhus, however, was truly shocking and I feel the need to warn other travelers. For full review, see Tripadvisor (space constraints).
16 August 2023We booked a one-night stay the same day, and arrived in the afternoon. As the hotel seemed quite nice and rooms were scarse in Århus that night, we asked whether it was possible to stay another night at this same hotel. We were informed that the hotel was fully booked, but the person at the front desk was going to let us know if they got any vacancy. We were further pleased to hear from her that they indeed got a vacant room as she called me at 7 pm that night. I asked if we were to get the same rate, and she informed that she thought so, but would have to check with the hotel owners (a married couple that owns and runs the hotel as far as I can read from other reviewers in the bottom-tier category) and provide me a clarification on this issue before night. So far so good. When we came back at 11 or so, the attendant informed us that she hadn’t gotten a definite price on the room, but we could discuss this with the owners/managers the next morning. She said that since there is little vacancy the room could end up maybe two hundred DKK more expensive (but to be fair she also said that she did not know exactly how much). This left us slightly annoyed, as it left us unable to plan our onward journey. The morning after, after breakfast, we went to the reception and got to meet the owners. What happened next was both very surprising, uncomfortable and truly shocking.
We first talked to the wife. She informed us in a decent, although slightly condescending tone that the room they had left was a suite, and this would cost us 1000 DKK more than our current rate (that is 2500 DKK altogether). We then said that we were not interested in such a room at that rate. We also told her that we felt that this was poor service, as they must have had that piece of information the night before (remember, the info about the room being available came at 7 pm). It felt like a classic bait and switch tactic. Up until now, this was basically a relatively minor nuisance for us, that would would have ended up with a shrug and eye rolling for poor service from our side.
But it ended quite differently. Upon commenting on the poor service, the husband, a > 190 cm tall, probably > 95 kg, brusque guy, who up until then had been on the phone, spoke up. He basically yelled that we had to speak nicely to his wife. From there on we kept on defending why we had complained about poor service, while he kept on yelling and generally behaving in a very menacing way for several minutes. He actually two times explicitly threatened to physically through me off the premises, and – as he said – this would not be too hard (and I’m sure he was right as I’m 70 kg on a good day). As we left, I informed him that there would be reviews about this incidence. He then followed me into the hallway and asked if I thought I could threaten him? I informed him that this review was not a threat but definitely going to become a fact. He then basically told me to get off his hotel and that I should “go back to Norway”.
Several other reviewers at Tripadvisor have had what seems to be bad and unpleasant encounters with the owners, especially the male. As our encounter his seems to be the most extreme, I felt the need to share this incidence with other travelers. Although I did not directly fear for my security (despite direct threats of being man-handled off the premises), I think many others would. Given the high general rating, the hotel must be doing something right, but if anything goes wrong or you have any sort of complaint I hope you’ve invested your money elsewhere. "
Anynomous
" Fantastic family run hotel, friendly atmosphere, boutique themed great place to explore Aarhus. "
11 February 2023Anynomous
" One of the best hotels in Denmark. Comfy beds, great breakfasts, secure parking. "
31 December 2022Anynomous
" Very nice little hotel, very good breakfast at the price.
25 October 2023Rooms are clean and comfortable and the beds are average hard so most should have no issues with them.
Location is pretty much as central as it gets. "