Best Western Zimmerhotel

Lier is a lovely little place, with easy connections to Antwerp and fewer parking hassles, so it’s worth considering for a road trip. The hotel is clean and easy to get to, with a wide choice at breakfast. It’s practical too, with plenty of parking nearby, though you may not find a space right at the door. It didn’t feel especially personal.

We’d happily stay again. The hotel was a useful base for seeing the city and getting onto the national cycle network, with secure bike storage and free parking. It’s about 800 metres from the city centre. Our economy double was perfectly adequate, with a super king bed, unless we’d been upgraded without knowing. We were on the first floor, and there was no lift. Breakfast was included, with a mix of hot and cold buffet food. There’s no bar, though you can get drinks at reception and choose from a limited range of snacks. It’s not especially luxurious, but acceptable for the price.

The food was excellent, the price sensible, and the staff helpful. The hotel was immaculate, with crisp white linen, great pillows, and wonderfully comfortable beds. Five stars.

After a long day at work, I don’t want to do my own check-in at a machine. This place used to be five stars for me, but with the new self check-in machine, I’d give it only three.