Hotel ibis De Panne

The location is great, but the room was only okay. The beds weren't great, and the odd topper kept shifting around on the mattress. The bathroom was tiny, the water pressure terrible, and there was a horrible drain smell. We also heard lots of road noise and noise from the bar opposite. Breakfast was very expensive for what it was, and at those prices the croissant shouldn't be stale and crunchy. Staff were efficient, but not chatty or friendly. They insisted we fill in more paperwork even though we'd already checked in online, something we've never had to do at any other Ibis. Parking is very limited, though much cheaper options are a short walk away. Prices feel far too high for the quality of the building and the experience.

Getting around this part of Belgium is easy from here, and the rooms are clean and comfortable in the usual Ibis style. The staff are all very welcoming and pleasant. This was our third stay, and we plan to come back again.

The smart TV with casting was a real plus, and the hotel is well placed for both De Panne beach and Plopsaland. The room itself was fine, but there wasn't enough shampoo in the dispenser. Late-night music from the nightclub next door was loud and made sleeping difficult. It's a fairly standard Ibis and felt overpriced. For parking, the public car park at Koningsplein is much cheaper and just a three-minute walk away.

The room still wasn't ready at 2:00 pm, so we ended up waiting another half hour in the lobby with our child. We'd arrived 20-30 minutes early and asked about checking in ahead of time, but were told that would cost an extra €20. That wasn't much of a welcome for a family trip to Plopsaland. I'd stayed at Ibis hotels in several countries, and this was my worst experience. I booked a double room at nearly twice the usual rate, with pricing that seemed extremely “flexible.” Later, the water pressure was so weak at 10 pm that a shower was almost impossible. The shampoo and shower gel dispensers were empty or nearly empty, and there was hair and staining on the towels. For what we paid, the quality and service were unacceptable. The whole stay was a disappointment, and I'd strongly advise looking at other options in De Panne.