ibis Styles Nivelles

The place is well located, the rooms are clean, and it's good value. But basic room checks seem to be missing. The air con didn't work, and the sliding bathroom door stuck so badly I had to pull it open from the bottom. I slept poorly, and my son got trapped in the toilet and woke me up. When I mentioned the air con, their answer was that it usually works, which didn't make me feel they took it seriously.

After a 1,100-kilometer drive, I need a comfortable standard room, and I've stayed at this hotel often. In 45 years of frequent work travel, I'd never had an experience like this, here or anywhere else. I wish they'd offered me another room before assigning this one. I arrived late on February 26 for two prepaid nights. There was a little electric heater on the floor because the heating wasn't working, apparently due to nearby reconstruction. The website hadn't mentioned this, and when I asked at reception, I was told it was “not allowed” to disclose it. I don't think the room should have been rented in that state. The bathroom sink also had paint on it, and I couldn't get Wi-Fi on either of my phones or my iPad, though reception said there were no issues. By chance, the sink was cleaned and the internet was back the next day.

We stayed two nights with two adults and two children, and would happily come back if we're in the area. The hotel is good value compared with others nearby, and free parking was a plus. The location isn't especially interesting, but it's fine when you're driving. Our children's connecting room could only be reached through ours, which felt secure. Both basic rooms were clean and had a TV, though there was no kettle. The staff were all very friendly, from check-in to breakfast and housekeeping. Breakfast had a good range and was very good for what we paid. It was very hot during our visit, so the working air conditioning was useful, and the window could be opened for fresh air.

We missed the entrance twice because it isn't easy to see in the dark. Once inside, though, everything worked properly, and the room was clean. Staff were friendly, the location was convenient, and there's a large parking lot. A good place for an overnight stop.