Hotel Schaepkens van St Fijt

We liked our long weekend at hotel Schaepkens. It’s close to both the centre and the train station. The hotel is older and shows its age in places, though it was clean. Our room was comfortable and big enough for three, and we could open the doors for fresh air. There’s no air conditioning. The bathroom was okay, but the shower wasn’t great. Breakfast had a nice selection, though there was a bit of a wait for the coffee machine. I’d recommend it.

The location worked well, just 5-10 minutes from the town centre. The hotel was clean, with some nice seating areas, a small pool, and a singer in one of the bars in the evening for anyone wanting entertainment. The room was comfortable enough, but there was no kettle and no way to get free hot water outside breakfast. I’ve never come across that before, in the UK or elsewhere. Staff were a mixed bag: reception and some others were great, while a couple were brusque, almost unfriendly, which felt unusual for hospitality. Food was great, especially dinner. Breakfast was Continental or English, and dinner had plenty of choice if you like meat, but I didn’t see anything vegetarian or vegan. Drinks were overpriced for this kind of hotel. We paid 8 Euros for sparkling water that sells for around 2, and the bar prices left us feeling ripped off. I wouldn’t come back.

The rest of the hotel is very nice, but the rooms need attention. They should be renovated, and it would be good to have a few complimentary basics like water and coffee, plus a fridge.

The food was OK, to be fair, but at dinner the buffet dishes had no labels, so it was hard to tell what you were eating. Having to use tokens for drinks was a hassle, and they would only give us water if we bought two drinks. The room was the biggest letdown. It felt soulless and very basic, with worn-out beds, poor-quality linen and no tea-making facilities. The towels were the thinnest, smallest and cheapest I've ever come across in a hotel. It was cold and damp when we arrived, though the heating did make it warm and dry after a day or so. For us, the room should be everything, and this one came nowhere near. The swimming pool looked nice, though we didn't use it. I wouldn't recommend staying here.