Van der Valk Hotel Gent — Hotel in Ghent

My partner and I have just returned from this hotel after a two night stay. This is a genuine review for which I am happy to share my Expedia booking reference – 73195896977810.||||Whilst the hotel itself is wonderful in every way, albeit set amongst other industrial units yet within easy reach of the highway, there is something that happened to me on my last day, which not only terrified me, but also haunted my experience in every way.||||On the last day of our stay, I was visiting the gym on the 9th floor at around 10:30am on Tuesday 20th of August 25. I gave my key card to my partner so that she could return to the room and get ready. The gym/spa area was totally unstaffed and there was no one in the gym itself. I tried to use the lift to get back to the third floor, I couldn't as I had no key card to activate it. The lifts here require a key card to not only go up, but also down. ||||I saw a staircase for a fire exit that looked like a safe bet, it was one fire door behind another (set approx. 2m apart). To my surprise both fire doors opened on the 9th floor and I started to make my way down only to discover that every single floor required a key card to open (which I didn't have!). I was absolutely terrified as I walked down from the 9th floor, trying each and every door to see if it would open. I tried shouting and banging for help, but no one could hear me. There were also no cameras in sight on the staircase, I had a ferry to catch that same day and I had no phone either! || ||I was beginning to think that no one will ever find me. At which point, I somehow carried on trying and managed to make it up to the 10th floor. The 10th floor hosts a Japanese bar/restaurant called Mr. Sato, which of course was closed and only opens on selected days only.||||I walked in and around the closed restaurant looking in hope of it having a telephone that I might be able to call for help on, however, not a single phone in sight. The only thing in sight was a till, bar and bar supplies. They have cameras in the restaurant, but it seems that no one saw me asking for help - shouting and screaming. At which point I was contemplating ringing the fire alarm so that someone could come and help me - it was that desperate.||||Through desperation and sincere panic (after being stuck on the staircase and restaurant for 20 minutes now), I thought let me try and walk all the way down to level 0 via the stairs, after all, it was the only level I hadn't yet tried. To my surprise there was sight of human beings to what looked like a conference taking place, at which point I asked one of the ladies to please help me. I’d never been happier to see another human being. ||||The young lady I approached mentioned that she was there for a seminar. At which point I told her what I’d been through. She pointed me to a set of stairs that would lead me to reception.||||At reception I was greeted by a young Indian girl to whom I explained what had happened, to which her reply was "oh no!” Somehow, I don’t think an “oh no” would have cut it, had it been a child or perhaps someone elderly finding themselves in my exact situation. ||||I am back at home now but still can't get over the ordeal I went through, in fact I still visualize in detail the concrete staircase that I found myself stuck on for...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Van der Valk Hotel in Ghent, a four-star establishment that genuinely delivers on quality and comfort. Its convenient location near a major route makes it easily accessible and well-connected for travelers, making it an ideal choice whether you’re visiting for business or leisure.

From the moment we arrived, the hospitality was impressive. The staff were warm, welcoming, and always ready to assist with a smile. As a wheelchair user, I was delighted to find that the hotel is fully accessible. Every aspect of my stay was accommodating, from navigating the hotel’s entryways and shared spaces to the accessible features in the room and bathroom. It’s evident that a lot of thought was put into ensuring comfort and accessibility for all guests, and I truly felt welcomed and supported.

One particular convenience was the hotel’s underground parking, which is accessible for vehicles up to 2.1 meters in height. My relatively long Ford Custom fit without any issues, which was a huge relief. One word of caution: while the parking is spacious and accessible, the ramp leading in and out is quite steep. I would recommend driving slowly when navigating this ramp, as the slope requires careful handling, especially for longer vehicles.

The room we selected offered a unique panoramic view of the surrounding area. Though the area has more of an industrial character, the hotel’s proximity to a large stadium adds a touch of vibrancy to the setting. Staying for three nights, we were able to enjoy breakfast each morning, and I must say that the quality and variety were outstanding. There was a rich selection of fresh, high-quality options, making each morning a delightful start to the day.

The room itself was spacious, with a large, comfortable bed that offered a restful night’s sleep. The bathroom featured a generously sized bathtub, perfect for relaxing after a busy day. I also appreciated the in-room coffee machine, which added to the comfort and made mornings feel just a bit more luxurious.

My experience at the Van der Valk Hotel in Ghent was excellent, and I hope to return in the future. For any travelers, especially those with accessibility needs or large vehicles, this hotel goes above and beyond in creating a welcoming, comfortable environment. If you’re looking for a place with high standards of service, comfort, and accessibility in Ghent, I highly recommend Van...

We stayed in Comfort room. The price including breakfast and parking was €180. The staff were very helpful. The hotel is very new, and the beds were comfortable, but the room itself was a disappointment. There was a weird lighting and heating panel, which I found very difficult to operate. The toilet was in a separate enclosure, and the light was motion controlled, but went off if you didn't move after 5 seconds! There was no shelf in the toilet, so if you need to use feminine hygiene products, you would have nowhere to put them, apart from the floor. The shower room only had 2 hooks to hang towels. Shower gel and shampoo are provided, but no body lotion. I asked at reception for body lotion, and they provided me with some. There was no shelf in the shower area, so nowhere to put your own hair conditioner apart from the floor. There was no grab rail in the shower, so nothing to hold on to of you felt unstable (from bending down to pick up your hair conditioner, for example!). There were only 4 hangers in the cupboard. The safe was at a low level and had no light so it was hard to see what was in there. The Spa area was nice, with 2 saunas and a steam room. I thought there might be a jacuzzi, but there wasn't. There was an area of footbaths, but they did not have bubbles, so were basically just foot wash areas. There was a nice relaxing area . There were towels available, but no slippers, so the floor was very slippery to walk on. The gym had bikes, treadmills and weight machines, and overlooks the city skyscape, so nice to use! The breakfast was good, but the cutlery and serviettes were provided in very basic paper packages, which seems a shocking waste of paper. The serviettes were very poor quality, and the cutlery presentation felt a very 3 star approach to a breakfast experience. There were no fresh tea leaves. 😔 The breakfast for was lovely, with a healthy choice of a selection of food. We also had dinner in the restaurant, which...