Utopia Hotel

We were a little unsure after reading other reviews, but for a couple of nights this was a good base for Pairi Daiza, about a 20 minute drive away. It’s a quiet spot away from the main town, and the staff were very friendly from check-in through check-out. We enjoyed the food, especially the delicious evening meals. The room was basic for what I expected from a comfort room. Each bed had one cushion-like pillow, and more or firmer pillows would’ve been nice. Some wiring was visible, and a few wall fittings were coming loose and held with tape, so the electrics seemed a bit dodgy. They’ve clearly put a lot of work into reception and the dining areas, but I’d have liked the room to be in better shape, even with a fresh lick of paint. Fine for a short stay, though for longer you might want to keep those things in mind.

I was here on business in 2018 and would definitely recommend it. The meals were generous, and the staff were extremely kind and helpful. It’s close to Mons but still peaceful, so you can enjoy some privacy without morning traffic. Everything was excellent, from the location and service to the rooms.

The restaurant was the highlight of my stay. I’d seen negative reviews and was a bit concerned, but both the service and food presentation were excellent. I’m not a native French speaker, and the staff were used to helping with that. The menu was clear and consistent. I had the special veal starter with tuna sauce, a classic Italian dish, and it was one of the best I’ve had. The ribeye and fries were cooked perfectly. I was too full to try dessert. Breakfast had a smaller selection, but was fine. I stayed one night at Utopia while travelling from Denmark to France. I picked it for the location out of town near the motorway, the reasonable price and the car charging facilities. The car park was functional but not well maintained. The charging stations were hard to spot and unlike any I’d used before, so I couldn’t make use of them. Check-in was 9/10: helpful, pleasant staff, no extra fees, and everything explained. The room was perfectly fine and clean, with a comfortable bed and working AirCon, much appreciated with 30c outside. It could use a refresh and a bit of paint, and the two pillows were very soft, so better pillows would be an easy improvement. The forest surroundings were great, and the garden has a pool and a play area for kids. My experience was far better than some of the reviews suggested.

Stay away. I left a detailed review on other platforms, but the short version is that they don’t clean. The rooms are gross, and even if they were cleaned, they’d still be mediocre because of the outdated, worn furniture, mattress and pillows, and the old restrooms. Don’t pay before you’ve seen your room, and skip the breakfast: it’s very low quality for the price. I wish we’d left without paying, but we’d already paid, so we stayed. After changing rooms twice because they were dirty and broken, we ended up in one with no working heating and almost no lights, apart from the bedside table ones. Miserable weekend.