Detective Hotel
Detective Hotel descritpion
Situated in the center of the city of Etretat, the Detective Hotel has a unique decor, which gives tribute to famous detectives around the world and it is 800 feet from the beach.
Each room is individually decorated to represent a different detective’s story and character. All rooms are equipped with private bathrooms and a TV.
There is private grounds, a tearoom and a library so guests can relax and enjoy a drink. Free Wi-Fi is available. The Hotel Detective is close to the stores and restaurants.
The Detective Hotel has a privileged location from which guests can explore the picturesque Normandy region, the Bridge of Normandy, and the D-day Beaches.
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The staff speaks English——Detective Hotel's staff speaks:French,English
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Facilities of Detective Hotel
Outdoors ：Grounds | Terrace
Pets ：Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.
Activities ：Golf Course (within 2 miles) | Hiking | Library | Casino | Playground
Food & Drink ：Bar
Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking ：Public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs EUR 5 per day.
Services ：Baggage Storage | Shared Lounge/TV Area | Meeting/Banquet Facilities | Fax/Photocopying
General ：Non-smoking Rooms | Family Rooms | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)
Languages Spoken ：French | English
Reviews for Detective Hotel
Review 1：Such a fun hotel! Take a little time and search the room and see what you can find! The clues to the hidden bathroom the detective the room is modelled after! Fantastic!
Review 2：The hotel does not have lift. In some places we find unusual smell. At times we find the hotel to be strange for couples. With a group of friends, we really dont get scared. But for family, the hotel must be properly lit and that staff must be doing few rounds to ensure smooth stay for couples
Review 3：The hotel is placed very close to the beach. Friendly staff
Review 4：The hotel added a lot to the charm of the town. The concept is great and implemented perfectly: the design, the retro furniture, the gramophone in our room (!). The common room offers a nice spot to relax, some tea and coffee, board games. On top of that the staff was very kind and helpful!
Review 5：There is no tea or coffe facilities in the room, and the dining room where you can get it and we used to enjoyed during our previous stay now is closed after 10.00 PM, as well as all the restaurants outside, so if you watched summer sunset then its too late to get any food or drink... Its little bit noisy outside, as this is the main street. Wifi disconnects very often and you have to enter code again. Rooms are old and small, and sometimes you feel some smell from the bathroom, but generally it is OK. You can only stop the car in front of hotel to leave the luggage and then you have to remove it.
Review 6：This was our second stay in this hotel as we liked its unique design and atmosphere. We parked the car in the big parking 250 m away for 3 eur/day. It is only few minutes walk to the sea through the center. Good breakfast and value for money.
Review 7：Monsieur Poirot, the Woman in Red, the secrets of Arsene Lupin, the game room, the garden, the care for details, the pictures, the smiles, the bullets in the walls...definitely a comeback at the kids favourite location! "Je travaille!"
Review 8：De site gaf aan dat parkeren gratis is. Dit is alleen s avonds mogelijk. Overdag raadde de eigenaar aan het risico te nemen om onbetaald te parkeren, omdat er toch niet gecontroleerd wordt.
Review 9：Sfeervolle kamer op mooie locatie in Etretat. Prima faciliteiten en goede prijs / kwaliteit verhouding.
Review 10：Every room has a detective theme and you can look for hidden items. Just a 2-3 block walk from the water. This is not Ritz Carlton, but the bed is comfortable, place is is older but clean, and the staff is friendly. We had no issues. If you have issues with stairs, ask for a room on a lower floor.
Review 11：The bed had a wooden board at the end of it, thus making it very difficult for persons over 1.80 m to sleep in it. I know the furniture was in a XIXth century style, but still... Ah, and the lamp near the bed wasn't of any help because you couldn't find anywhere to plug it near the bed.
Review 12：The theme of the hotel and the search for different things, like the bathroom :)) The stuff was very kind and the living downstairs was extremely cozy with nice armchairs and books to read.
Review 13：The lounge for coffee and tea all day long ! Great seat, comfy and so welcoming. The Herge room is perfect for the Tintin fan I am. The rooms and the decoration are great. The breakfast room is beautiful.
Review 14：The mattress on the small bed was not very good, and I felt like I was being tipped out of it. But after having spent a long day walking along the cliffs, it definitely didn't keep me awake.
Review 15：The creative furnishings and architectural highlights really made the rooms feel welcoming. Very good breakfasts with homemade jams and yogurt. Staff very friendly with an understated playfulness.
Review 16：There is a musty smell in the lobby and around the stairs, I guess it kind of goes with the theme. We were here at the end of February and parked at the tourism office. There was just enough parking in the town for the people with cars I imagine it being difficult to park during the peak seasons.
Review 17：Etretat is small town none the less the hotel is a small walk away from everything. A 3 minute walk behind the hotel will lead you to the boardwalk where yoh can see the rock formations. Back to the room...the bed is comfortable and the room is cozy.
Review 18：- breakfast not included
Review 19：- great atmosphere, the owner put a lot of effort in making it a special place. A lot of detail in the decoration -very friendly - close to the beach
Review 20：Nonr
Review 21：Name each room for a unique detective! I live in room " Frank Columbu". I can find a coat in the closet, which make me really look like a detective! And the employee is so kind to take the picture for me!
Review 22：the shower was small
Review 23：Breakfast was very good,you could choose many things to eat,i like the common room where you can relax in the evening and drink coffe and tea and also your child can play there,the room was small but clean and with view to the Cliff.Staff are so friendly and helpfull.Thank you for everything!!!!
Review 24：Reception hours are erratic (there's no one to pay your bills at 7 am and it closes are 6pm, too) The rooms are charming but a bit worn out and rather small A bit overpriced
Review 25：Overall atmosphere Location is great Free tea/coffee and a playroom
Review 26：Poor mattress
Review 27：Hotel is good value in a lovely beach town. Great location. No elevator. Bed was old and sagged and room was tiny - we were expecting small and did not stay there long.
Review 28：Parking in Etretat is a real pain but this is not of course the hotel's fault
Review 29：Good location and near an excellent bakery. Room was small but nicely decorated and clean
Review 30：It would have been nice if the bar was open but no problem as some others are close by. No lift so be careful if you are dodgy on your feet.
Review 31：The Lupin Room reminded me of a typical provincial French Hotel of the thirties - lovely. Not keen on the Charlies Angel Room - tacky but so were they! Breakfast was great - more than the normal French breakfast. 5 minutes from the beach and views of the Arch.
Review 32：The gun for a door handle and the spray of bullet holes across the wall (pretend) could perhaps not be the best choice of decor for a family room! Woke twice in the night with either large ants or small beetles crawling over me which wasn't very pleasant, I informed the owner of this in the morning thinking we might be offered a discount, but no.
Review 33：Bedding clean and room well laid out for a family of four
Review 34：None
Review 35：We loved this place, our room was entitled to detective Magnum, and recalled me my youngers years, when I used to watch his adventures. Everything was well styled with Magnum's years and we had a beautiful woodden stair to connect our two rooms. It was clean and the bathroom was brand new. Even nicer was the common space downstairs, with a large living room full of table games and amenities recalling all the most famous detectives. The hotel was in the center of the town and very close to the beach.
Review 36：In general, all the hotels in Etretat are overpriced. This one is not an exception. The rooms are really, terribly small! Just a space for a bed and tiny wardrobe. Think of this if you wish some space :)
Review 37：I believe that for Etretat it's a good value. The city is so small that everything is around. We could see the famous cliffs out of the window (which itself was very small)
Review 38：Stayed in the Hercule Poirot / "Moustache" room. Loved everything about it. Hidden gems everywhere. Staff was very friendly. Coffee and tea at the bar downstairs. Clean. Excellent location right by the mairie (town hall). Will definitely come again.
Review 39：creative
Review 40：Unusual and interesting, lovely rooms with lots of thought to the decoration.
Review 41：Quirkiness of the rooms. We had the Sherlock Holmes room. There is an en suite, but where is it?
Review 42：No elevator for 3ieme etage room. On street parking only. Old and tired. Slow internet Wifi.
Review 43：Location, close to everything.
Review 44：Parking a problem
Review 45：the room and bed were smaller than what we imagined.
Review 46：location, staff and wifi
Review 47：Very charming hotel, room decore was very engaging. The room was quiet at night even though it overlooked the main street into Etretat.
Review 48：The dark hallways until i found the light switch that is on a timer.
Review 49：The proprieters and front desk staff are very warm and helpful
Review 50：Location Quirky pleasant staff
Review 51：Loved the detective theme. We stayed in the Magnum Room which was really cool. The staff were really friendly.
Review 52：No complaints.
Review 53：Original decoration with a personal touch. Good breakfast buffet. Welcoming staff. Good price-quality -relation.
Review 54：all was good
Review 55：The perfect hotel for any crime story fan (but great even if you are not). Simply perfect!
Review 56：no parking
Review 57：The fun themed rooms The excellent service Convenient location
Review 58：Reasonable price and location for the novelty themed hotel
Review 59：Quirky decor, good staff in a lovely town.
Review 60：Cleand and tricky room, very well designed! Nice and helpful stuff!
Review 61：Parking the car for free was a bit complicated but we got help from hotel staff.
Review 62：We loved the themed room and the location of the hotel.
Review 63：nothing bad
Review 64：Everything is just great.
Review 65：Quirky and interesting room, close to shops, beach, walks, helpful staff, great lounge.
Review 66：it's an old building, the woodfloor makes noisy sounds if you walk on it, poor soundproofing between rooms
Review 67：spacious room for family. close to the shore & town centre.
Review 68：There isn't an elevator.
Review 69：Caroline was very nice. When she saw it was difficult for me to climb stairs she gave us a room on the second floor instead and helped us carry our bags. The rooms are charming, clean and comfortable. The breakfast was the best we've had in France.
Review 70：The staff was very friendly. My room was on the fourth floor and there are no elevators. The gentleman at the desk carried my very heavy (50 lb) bag upstairs for me. He was so gracious and refused a tip. The room was small but very comfortable. The location is excellent. And the price was a great value. I would definitely stay there again.
Review 71：The staff were unfriendly, the hotel was very tired, and needs refurbishment. The so called 'Bar' served beer or coffee! The lady at reception was unwelcoming, and altogether not a pleasant stay.
Review 72：The position was good
Review 73：- Carrying bags up 3 flights of stairs to room. - Room didn't have a desk. - No tea/coffee in room although you could have it downstairs in a nice bar/library. - Poor drainage in bathroom sink. - Parking was a bit awkward but worked out ok.
Review 74：Bar/library with tea/coffee. Location near beach. The decor! Lovely staff.
Review 75：We were very disappionted in this hotel. It was very dowdy and tired. The owners were not very welcoming and the so called bar only sold beer!! There was a building site outside our bedroom window were work went on until midnight. We would not recommend this hotel.
Review 76：We hardly could place our suitcase somewhere in the room but for the rest: we recommand highly this hotel.
Review 77：Everything was perfect, but the room was a bit small. Very nice and helpful lady, excellent location in town, very good breakfast and so many funny things to discover in the breakfast room - just go and have a look, you won't be dissapointed !!!
Review 78：It neded a bit of tlc. There were signs of wear and tear.
Review 79：It was a bit quirky and unusual. The bedroom was nicely furnished and the bed comfy. The location was good - a short walk to the beach and nice restaurants
Review 80：Parking was a bit of a pain, bit you can park right outside the hotel for up to an hour .
Review 81：We loved the themed room and that you had to be a "detective" to find your bathroom. Our host Noel was super friendly.
Review 82：Detective Hotel is a most charming and atmospheric place, worth visiting even if you are not going to stay in it. Staff was quite helpful, and breakfast was good. 2 min walk from the bus stop. Etretat is a beautiful place, don't hesitate to visit!
Review 83：Horrible smell throughout the hotel- either a fusty, damp sort of smell or a cleaning fluid smell. Very old and disgusting carpet on floor in bedroom. Dark depressing atmosphere.
Review 84：Good shower pressure
Review 85：We spend a night in the TinTin room, which is really tiny but ok for one night. Breakfast is fine when you are among the early birds. Nobody seem to care about food and beverages in the meantime to refill bread, hot water, etc.
Review 86：Not a huge problem but parking and unloading/loading the car was a bit problematic on busy road. Parked out of town centre for the majority of our stay. The price of breakfast is not included in the room price so that's another £30 for each night having said that you can eat as much as you want and the croissants and jam were good.
Review 87：There was plenty of room in the family room and the children had their own sleeping area. The children enjoyed the detective theme but thought it was slightly odd. The hotel is just across the road from an excellent boulangerie.
Review 88：The place is in need of a deep clean - the lobby / hallway is musty to say the least, all four children with us kept holding their noses. Comfort was lacking in some rooms. We had a front facing room and the staff cleaning their shop fronts at 5am or 6am woke us up.
Review 89：Location is right in the middle of Etretat and the beach was less than 10 minutes walk away. Restaurants and shops were all at hand. Breakfast was good and reasonably priced, esp as children were free.
Review 90：No lift, no hairdrier
Review 91：Really unique rooms with vintage furniture and small things in the room and round the hotel, complementary tea, coffee in the lounge downstairs, which is not usual in France, close to everything.
Review 92：The staff ok. Not customer oriented. It was ok, just not great.
Review 93：The room and facilities were very comfortable and clean for the price Ipaid. The room was almost comparable to a 4 star hotel in other citiesthan the two stars it's rated. It's also a nice 5 minute walk tothe beach and right by the bus station; very easy to find.
Review 94：The room is really too small. It is difficult to put two baggages. No place to put clothes in the bath room.
Review 95：The location is only 20 to 30 meters from the bus station. The staffs are nice. Although there is no elevator, but the staff can help with taking your baggages to the room.
Review 96：Staff reception could have been more jovial Lack of pictures of room on Internet site
Review 97：Quirkiness of the rooms We will definitely be back and try another room.
Review 98：It was quite difficult to manoeuvre in the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet and then getting up was quite a challenge.
Review 99：The location was excellent - close to everything. Staff were friendly. Parking was easy. Breakfast was superb. The décor was really interesting and fascinating in the detective theme.
Review 100：Room was very small and you could hear noises from the staircase which was a bit annoying in the morning
Review 101：very good location, good value for money, nice breakfast
Review 102：The street lamp outside our window shined into our room all night - the curtains could have been larger to block out this light. The plastic linoleum in the hallways slightly diminished the charm of the rest of the house. Too bad.
Review 103：The original theme and decoration were fun to discover. The common areas - library, café, breakfast room were very cozy and comfortable. We loved the old manor house feeling mixed with funky decor. The breakfast was tasty and great value. Despite our room being on the street side of the main street in Etretat, we weren't bothered by noise of cars. The library/café was very inviting with a large array of books and hot drinks available all day long. GREAT value for money and good location to discover Etretat or have a quick and cheap getaway.
Review 104：We liked the location close to the tourist office and bus-stop. The internet connection was very good - even for me to stream video for remote courses. The theme made it fun. Good for families since there are toys and games in the common area. The cliffs are gorgeous!
Review 105：The interior spaces... stairwell, hallways... were musty. They could use a bit of an airing– but the room was spotless and fresh! The wifi, if it's important to you, is spotty at best. The proprietress was helpful about getting it going in our third floor room, but it still blinked off frequently.
Review 106：The proprietors are charming and helpful, and the room we had was very nice, with a great view over the town of Etretat. The detective theme is amusing, with each room named after a different fictional detective. That theme is not too heavily emphasized, fortunately! Good buffet breakfast with delicious jams!
Review 107：The internet didn't work for 90% of the time of our stay. The walls are so thin, you can see people in other rooms talking, snoring and flushing the toilet, not even mentioning closing doors or closets! Room is very small, not much space around the bed. Bathoom sliding doors have a terrible noise, everyone wakes up if someone goes to the bathroom at night. Noise from the street is very loud.
Review 108：Location
Review 109：It rained a bit over two of the days staying there and it was the noiseof water dripping onto a flat roof outside the room that irritating.
Review 110：The staff were very helpful during any contact I had with them. Itwas close to the centre of Etretat and on this occasion there wassecure parking.
Review 111：The building is very old so the rooms are a little bit noisy.
Review 112：the room was beautiful, searching for the bathroom was very funny, location is very good. The detective flavour was everywhere. There's private parking in a friend of the owner garage, very funny.
Review 113：We had high hopes for the Detective Hotel due to the good reviews, but they were largely not met. I think it may all be down to unrealistic expectations. We were disappointed because, the room was very small, there was no storage apart from 2 small bedside tables and a small projecting bracket for hanging clothes on so almost everything had to stay in the suitcase, the bathroom was small and smelt musty, the doors didn’t shut unless forced to do so and were in need of a coat of paint (much like everywhere really) particularly on the bits that were bare wood, there were gaps on the floor where the carpet tiles didn’t meet, and the whole place was run down and in need of a facelift. If it had been a cheap stay, it maybe wouldn’t have been so bad, but it wasn’t cheap. We stayed the first night in a Holiday Inn Express for less money and twice the comfort. Parking was almost impossible and involved driving around for some considerable time to find a space, although I know that we were there at the height of the season and the town was very busy at all times.
Review 114：On the positive side, breakfast was good value compared to if you ate out, and the location is ideal, with the beach and restaurants being only a few minutes walk away.
Review 115：The hotel was a themed hotel and looked as if it had been furnished from an assortment of junk shops. It had a rather sinister smell and the stairs would have been treacherous, had we had much luggage.The room was very small (Tin Tin) and the provdided hairdryer looked positively dangerous. We were only staying for one night so the positives outweighted the negatives.
Review 116：The staff were very friendly and spoke good English. The hotel was conveniently located and it catered well for our one night stay en route to the South of France. We managed to park right outside the hotel but could have parked locally also, in a free car park. The beach, restaurants and cliffs were just a short walk away and when we came back, there was free tea and coffee set out in the bar.
Review 117：The stairs, and rooms with baths low
Review 118：We stayed here because it was near the Bruneval war memorial, it is okbut the stairs are difficult no good if you are disabled in anyway
Review 119：No facilities in rooms for drinks not even water. Strong chemical typesmell in the entrance area, No receptionist to accept keys when leavinghotel to go out, No staff in bar area only coffee and hot wateravailable in lounge "type" room. The breakfast on both mornings we werethere was inadequate for the charge of 8 euros. Only half a jug of milkto serve how ever many guests were in and you had to go and look forstaff to replenish the "buffet"
Review 120：Convenient for the purpose for which we were there.
Review 121：Very dark interior. Very difficult stairs, poorly lit. No elevator. Owner was burning strong incense which permeated the hotel. No tea or coffee in the room.
Review 122：If you are a tall person like me (190 cm, 6ft3in) the beds might be alittle short for you.
Review 123：This hotel was different from all other hotels we've ever stayed in...But in a positive way! It really has a charming unique style.
Review 124：No lift ! Thin walls.
Review 125：Quirky decor. Very friendly and helpful manager. Excellent value for money. Good location near beach / shops / restaurants.
The Fine Print
Please note that the hotel has no lift and some rooms are located on the third floor.Please note that check-in is not possible from 12:30 to 14:30 as the reception is closed at this time.Extra beds and baby cots are available on request.