Van der Valk Hotel Mechelen

We had a great stay at Van der Valk Hotel Mechelen, and the quiet setting with easy parking worked well for us, close to the center. The building is an impressive restoration of a historic site, with modern comforts and plenty of character. Staff were welcoming and professional from the start. Our room was spacious, spotless, and nicely decorated, with a comfortable bed, good lighting, quality toiletries, and a peaceful feel. I especially liked the rain shower. Breakfast had a great range of fresh, high-quality food, including hot dishes, fruit, fresh juice, and pastries. The restaurant and bar were also pleasant places for dinner and drinks. I'd happily recommend it for business or a holiday, and I'll definitely come back! 🥰

The parking nearby and the location were the best parts, enough to bring my rating up to three. The building is lovely, but the standard rooms, breakfast, and service don't justify the price. We paid 230 euros for one night, or 270 with breakfast. I wouldn't recommend it unless you find a really good deal. I travel often and have stayed in many hotels. My partner and I stopped here last minute on a road trip and expected a lot for that price. We were pleased with the location and parking right beside the hotel, so things seemed promising at first. We needed a quiet night to rest, but little problems kept piling up. The key card didn't work until reception activated it. Then we found a big hole in the sheets, which staff replaced when we asked. If that had been all, we might have given it three stars or more. There was a party at the hotel, and the bass came through into our room. We were exhausted, so tried to sleep anyway. Around 3:30 a.m. the fire alarm went off. After it stopped, we wanted to call reception and ask whether to evacuate, but couldn't find the phone number in the room. Apparently it was in the TV info, which isn't helpful in a possible emergency, so we had to Google it. It turned out to be a false alarm because another guest was smoking in their room. It was difficult to get back to sleep. In the morning we paid 20 euros per person for breakfast. There was plenty of choice, but the food quality wasn't remarkable and the scrambled eggs had no taste. At checkout we told staff about the issues. They apologized and said these things can happen, but when we explained we expected better or some compensation for what we'd paid, they said there was nothing they could do. They showed no empathy and didn't offer even a small gesture, like coffees at the cafe or breakfast. That lack of effort made the stay feel even more average. With a price of 230 euros a night, I expected better. I'd look for another hotel.

The rooms were very tidy, and breakfast was amazing. You can walk to the city center from the hotel.

I enjoyed my stay apart from a couple of things. There's construction going on around the hotel, and the shower room had no door, which felt awkward since I'd booked a twin room.