Van der Valk Hotel Gent

We had a very enjoyable stay and would happily come back. The hotel felt comfortable and welcoming, especially for a family, and the rooms were spacious. The small gifts for the kids made them feel special. At breakfast, the children were warmly welcomed and got special outfits so they could help the chef make omelets. That was such a nice memory. Breakfast itself had an excellent range of options, and there's a dedicated children's corner, though I think it needs some maintenance. Parking was difficult during the hotel's busy first week of January, even in the third lot. We were also surprised there was no swimming pool, since most Van der Valk hotels usually have one.

The location may not be great, but the hotel was excellent value and I'd definitely stay again. Our room was comfortable, clean, and well equipped, and the staff were helpful and friendly throughout. Breakfast had lots of fresh, tasty choices and made for a really good start to the day.

The restaurant, limoncello, was amazing, and the rooms were comfortable and clean. Underground parking was handy. Still, it was too expensive, and the service varied a lot. Some staff were great and flexible about what we needed; others wouldn't serve us when we sat one table away, even though other staff said it was fine. On our first night, one waiter said the bar was closing, then another came over five minutes later to ask for our next order. Be ready for elevator waits of 5-10 minutes. They're small and in constant use, which gets frustrating. There's also a huge stadium next door, so there might be commotion outside afterwards.

The rooms were modern, clean, and very quiet, and breakfast had a fantastic range of choices. Physically, the hotel met the Van der Valk standard I'm a big fan of. It's not right in the center, but getting there by taxi or Uber was easy. The reception staff really spoiled the experience. They were so unwelcoming and haughty that checking us in seemed like a huge favor. The only friendly face we saw all weekend was the lovely Nepalese cleaning lady. It's a great hotel let down by arrogant service at the front desk. Management needs to address their attitude.