Guesthouse Bernardin

The room was lovely, and the location was great. I'd happily stay again. Bring mosquito repellent, though!

We found the guesthouse quiet and comfortable, with spacious, bright rooms, including the bedroom upstairs. It's very close to Antwerp's historic center. Getting up the spiral staircase takes a bit of care since it's narrow, though that seems common in the city's central buildings, and you need to be fairly sturdy. Breakfast was just right. The owners bring it straight to your room when you ask, at the time you choose. It included bread, pastries, butter and jam, orange juice, natural yogurt, a hard-boiled egg, and cold milk. There's a pod coffee machine and a kettle for hot drinks. Mosquitoes were the one real nuisance. They kept us awake on our last night, so a small burner to keep them away would help. Recommended.

The studio was tidy and looked well cared for, but it wasn't worth the price to us, especially since we'd booked months ahead and it didn't seem very busy. It's an old-fashioned setting, so be prepared for a lot of climbing, and if you're tall, there's not much room. It's completely unsuitable for anyone with a disability. The stairs are essentially a steep, narrow, slippery ladder, and you need them often because the bedroom, bathroom, and water are upstairs. The bed is small and not made for taller people. Downstairs, the sofa sits too low and feels uncomfortable, with a seat that's too long and mediocre cushions. It's also badly placed in relation to the TV. There's no water tap below, which makes using the kettle or rinsing cups awkward. You have to climb back up, then find that the kettle won't refill from the tap anyway. All rather clumsy, and we wouldn't repeat the stay.

Breakfast was tasty, but the place felt expensive for what we got. We booked through Vlaanderen Vakantieland, and the landlord made a fuss over entering the voucher codes. It was an unnecessary source of stress on Sunday, and we were made to feel almost like criminals. There was dust around, so it wasn't especially clean. The bathtub wasn't practical for a morning wash, and it drained by itself. Earplugs were provided, which made sense once the neighbors started partying at night. That's not really something the hosts can control. There was also a mini-bar with no price list, so we didn't feel comfortable taking anything. Missed opportunities.