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Summary of reviewsGhent River Hotel, nestled in the heart of Ghent’s historic center, is favored for its prime location and beautiful views of the river. Guests find it ideally situated for exploring medieval landmarks and enjoying the vibrant local scene with easy access to cafes, bars, restaurants and markets. Despite being in the bustling city center, the hotel offers a tranquil retreat, enhanced by proximity to public transport and parking options.
The breakfast experience at Ghent River Hotel is highly regarded with guests praising the delicious and extensive buffet that caters to various dietary needs, including gluten-free options. The breakfast room, often highlighted for its stunning views and pleasant ambiance, particularly on the rooftop terrace, adds to the dining delight. Staff service during breakfast is commendable, although some guests feel the breakfast is somewhat overpriced.
Rooms at the hotel vary, but many guests appreciate the spacious and comfortable accommodations with modern amenities combined with historic charm. Beautiful canal views, large and cozy beds and well-maintained bathrooms are frequently mentioned. However, some rooms are outdated and need maintenance and noise can occasionally be an issue.
Cleanliness at the hotel receives mixed feedback; while many guests find the rooms and bathrooms clean and well-maintained, others report inconsistencies such as dirty carpets or towels. Despite these occasional lapses, the hotel generally provides a clean and comfortable environment.
The staff at Ghent River Hotel are mostly praised for their friendliness and helpfulness. Guests appreciate the accommodating and professional nature of the team, especially the breakfast staff. There are, however, sporadic complaints about reception staff and minor inefficiencies.
WiFi at the hotel is generally good with most guests finding it adequate for their needs, although some experience weak or spotty signals in their rooms. Common areas usually have better coverage.
The gym facilities receive mixed reviews with some guests finding the equipment clean and functional, while others describe the gym as small and lacking essential equipment. Despite these drawbacks, the hotel's prime location and additional amenities, such as the sauna, enhance the overall experience.
The hotel’s central location offers easy access to Ghent's vibrant nightlife with many bars, cafes and restaurants nearby. This can result in nighttime noise, which may affect light sleepers, but the overall ambiance and convenience are appealing to those seeking to enjoy the city's lively scene.
Beds at the hotel are a particular highlight with many guests finding them very comfortable and conducive to a good night’s sleep. The quality of the mattresses and bedding contributes significantly to guest satisfaction, despite occasional variability in comfort levels.
Although Ghent River Hotel holds a four-star rating, some guests feel that its facilities and services do not fully reflect this status. The unique historical charm and aesthetic of the hotel are appreciated, but certain accommodations and amenities appear outdated. The hotel is seen as having potential for updates to meet modern four-star standards better.
In summary, Ghent River Hotel offers a charming blend of historical ambiance and modern comforts with a prime location that is ideal for exploring Ghent. While there are areas for improvement, especially in updating facilities and enhancing cleanliness consistency, the overall guest experience is positive, underscored by excellent breakfast offerings, friendly staff and comfortable beds. Show more
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Categories
Hotel for Honeymoon
Located by the river in Ghent, this hotel offers scenic views and a tranquil ambiance. Its riverside setting provides a romantic backdrop for couples seeking relaxation and intimacy. The hotel combines modern comfort with a picturesque location.
Romantic Hotel
This hotel offers rooms with river views, enhancing the romantic ambiance. Its central location allows for romantic strolls along the waterfront.
Hotel near Nightlife Spots
Situated on Waaistraat, this hotel offers easy access to the central areas of Ghent, including Vrijdagmarkt and the Korenmarkt/Graslei, known for their selection of bars and nightlife.
Business Hotel
Offers unique meeting locations in historic buildings, with rooms accommodating up to 900 people across multiple locations. Provides modern meeting facilities and personalized service to ensure smooth events. Features charming meeting rooms with views of Ghent's oldest square.
Accessible Hotel
This property is wheelchair friendly and has wheelchair-accessible rooms. The hotel has a lift and wheelchair-accessible concierge and registration desks. It is noted that the wheelchair-accessible rooms are not equipped with a roll-in shower.
Hotel with Gym
Provides a fitness center. Blends industrial history with elegant decor and modern facilities.
4-Star Hotel
The Ghent River Hotel offers comfortable and well-equipped rooms, a central location, and attentive service, ensuring a pleasant and memorable stay. The hotel is praised for its riverside setting and modern amenities.
Hotel Taking Steps Towards Sustainability
Family Friendly Hotel
Room Types
Standard Double or Twin RoomThis room has a minibar, TV and desk. The bathroom is fitted with a bath or shower. A hairdryer is provided.
Deluxe Double or Twin RoomLuxuriously decorated room. Most of these rooms have a river view.
Executive Double or Twin RoomThis spacious room has a minibar, TV and desk. The bathroom is fitted with a bath or shower. A hairdryer is provided.
Budget Double RoomFeaturing free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The air-conditioned double room features a flat-screen TV, a minibar, a tea and coffee maker and a wardrobe. The unit has 2 beds.
Double or Twin Room with Canal ViewFeaturing free toiletries and bathrobes, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The air-conditioned twin/double room features a flat-screen TV, a minibar, a tea and coffee maker and a wardrobe.
Family RoomProviding free toiletries and bathrobes, this family room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The air-conditioned family room provides a flat-screen TV, a minibar, a tea and coffee maker and a wardrobe.
Family RoomFeaturing free toiletries and bathrobes, this family room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The family room features air conditioning, a minibar, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, as well as a flat-screen TV. The unit has 3 beds.
Deluxe King SuiteThe air-conditioned suite has 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The suite features a minibar, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, parquet floors, as well as a TV. The unit has 3 beds.
Guest Reviews
7.8
Good
Location
The Ghent River Hotel boasts a prime location that consistently receives high praise from guests. Nestled in the heart of Ghent's historic center, the hotel is ideally situated for exploring the city's medieval charm. Guests appreciate being within easy walking distance of major tourist attractions such as the counts' castle, Vrijdagmarkt and the scenic canals. The proximity to the vibrant city center offers convenient access to local cafes, bars, restaurants and markets. Despite its central location, the hotel benefits from a tranquil setting along the river, providing a quiet retreat after a day of sightseeing. The beautiful views of the river and the architecture further enhance the experience, making it an excellent starting point for any visit to Ghent. The convenience of nearby public transport and parking options adds to the overall appeal, ensuring that everything in this picturesque city is just a short stroll away.
Breakfast
The breakfast at the Ghent River Hotel has received a multitude of positive feedback from guests. It is frequently described as delicious, extensive and offering a wide variety of options. Many guests have praised the breakfast buffet for its diverse and hearty selection, which caters to different tastes and dietary needs, including gluten-free options.
The breakfast room is often highlighted for its stunning views and pleasant, airy ambiance, particularly when located on the upper floors or the rooftop terrace. This setting allows guests to enjoy their meal with a beautiful panorama of the city, adding an extra dimension to the dining experience.
Staff service during breakfast also garners commendable mentions with guests appreciating the friendly and attentive care provided. The overall quality and abundance of the breakfast items have been deemed excellent, consistently surpassing the expectations of many visitors.
However, some reviews point out the high cost of breakfast with several guests feeling that the 21 to 22 euros price tag per person is a bit steep, particularly when breakfast was not included in their room rate. A few guests also mentioned that certain items were not always replenished quickly and suggested a need for fresher options.
Overall, the breakfast experience at the Ghent River Hotel is largely positive with extensive offerings, great quality and a beautiful setting being the highlights, despite some concerns over pricing and product freshness.
Rooms
Ghent River Hotel offers a diverse range of rooms that seem to cater to varying preferences and budgets. Many guests appreciate the spaciousness of the rooms, often praising their large size and comfortable layout. The family rooms are notably spacious and several rooms feature modern and cozy furnishings, combined with historic charm and industrial elements. The views from the rooms are often highlighted with many overlooking the serene canals, offering guests a scenic and relaxing stay.
Cleanliness and daily maintenance are generally well-received, making for a well-kept environment. The bathrooms also receive positive feedback with several guests noting their size and modern fittings, some even boasting views of the river or canal. Guests also enjoy the comfort and cleanliness of the rooms, frequently appreciating the large and comfy beds.
However, some minor issues have been reported; a few rooms suffer from outdated decor and others have been noted to need maintenance. Noise can be a concern, especially in rooms facing the streets or neighboring a café. Soundproofing seems to be a recurring complaint with several guests mentioning they could hear conversations from adjacent rooms. The minibar and heating systems have also been criticized in some reviews.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment about Ghent River Hotel rooms is positive. Guests frequently highlight the beautiful views, spacious and comfortable accommodations and the unique combination of modern amenities with historic charm. This makes the hotel a charming option for visitors looking to immerse themselves in the historical ambiance of Ghent while enjoying contemporary comforts.
Beds
At the Ghent River Hotel, guests overwhelmingly found the beds to be a standout feature during their stays. Reports frequently highlighted the comfort with many describing the beds as very comfortable, cozy and equipped with good mattresses. The bedding also received high praise for its quality and cleanliness, ensuring a snug and restful night. The presence of spacious, large beds, including king-size options, further added to the positive sleeping experience. Many visitors cherished waking up refreshed, attributing their good night's sleep to the superb beds. However, feedback indicated some variability in comfort levels with a few guests finding the mattresses too firm or too soft. Instances of bed size dissatisfaction and occasional issues with bed cleanliness were noted but were relatively rare. Despite these outliers, the general sentiment suggests that the beds at Ghent River Hotel are well-regarded and contribute significantly to guest satisfaction.
Cleanliness
Ghent River Hotel receives mixed feedback regarding its cleanliness. On the positive side, many guests highlight that rooms are cleaned daily and overall, the rooms and bathrooms are described as very clean, spacious and well-maintained. Impressive cleanliness is often mentioned with spotless rooms and clean towels provided each day. The hotel itself is frequently noted to be clean and in good condition, creating a comfortable and welcoming environment.
However, several reviews also point out inconsistencies. Some guests encountered issues like dirty carpets, dusty lamps and moldy tiles in the bathroom. There are also mentions of dirty towels, uncleaned windows and rooms not properly cleaned upon arrival. Problems extend to cleaning staff being noisy or unfriendly and certain areas of the hotel needing more thorough cleaning, particularly the bathroom floors and fixtures.
While many find the hotel up to acceptable standards, particularly in room cleanliness and overall maintenance, others feel that the attention to detail could be significantly improved. In summary, Ghent River Hotel generally maintains a good level of cleanliness, but there are noted areas where their housekeeping could be more meticulous.
Staff
The Ghent River Hotel has received largely commendable feedback regarding its staff, creating a favorable impression among guests. Numerous reviews highlight the staff's friendliness, helpfulness and professional demeanor. Many guests appreciated the accommodating nature and competence of the staff, particularly their willingness to go the extra mile, such as assisting with late check-ins, luggage storage and helping with local information and maps. The breakfast team, notably Kadriye and Şerif, earned specific praise for their hospitality and friendliness, contributing to a pleasant dining experience.
Despite the predominantly positive feedback, there were occasional criticisms about the reception staff's responsiveness and professionalism. Some guests noted instances of unwelcoming attitudes and inefficiency, which contrasted with the otherwise general warmth and helpfulness displayed by other team members. The language barrier and delayed table clearing in the dining area were also highlighted as minor issues.
Overall, the staff at Ghent River Hotel are described as cheerful, attentive and kind with particular emphasis on their helpfulness and ability to make guests feel welcome. While there were a few isolated complaints, the majority of guests found their interactions with the hotel staff to be a highlight of their stay.
Wi-Fi
The WiFi experiences at Ghent River Hotel indicate a mixed bag among guests with an inclination towards the positive. The majority of guests found the WiFi to be good with phrases like the wifi was good, nice Wi-Fi and fast wifi highlighting favorable experiences. Many mentioned that the WiFi worked well and had no major issues with good Wi-Fi coverage in the common areas and strong Wi-Fi signal in rooms.
However, some guests did encounter difficulties, particularly with WiFi in their rooms, where signals were reported to be weak or spotty. Phrases like no WiFi in the room and wireless coverage was spotty indicate areas for improvement. A few guests also noted the WiFi setup could be slow and the service suffered interruptions at times with some describing it as poor or terrible.
Despite these occasional setbacks, the general sentiment leans towards satisfaction with the wireless internet service, making it suitable for most typical needs during a hotel stay. For those relying heavily on consistent, high-speed internet, it may be worth requesting a room with a confirmed strong signal or using common areas where WiFi performance is commendable.
Gym
The gym facilities at the Ghent River Hotel have received mixed reviews from guests, highlighting both positive and negative aspects. Located in either a well-kept basement area or at the top floor, the fitness room varies greatly in user opinion. Some guests appreciate the clean, new equipment and find the gym functional and adequately equipped for a basic workout. It offers essential amenities and can be considered a simple yet satisfactory space for light exercises.
However, several other guests have noted that the gym is quite small, outdated and lacking in essential equipment such as free weights. The space is described as stuffy and poorly located, which might detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the hotel's prime location, close to the city center and attractions, as well as the access to additional amenities like a sauna and bathrobe, might balance the overall appeal for those looking to stay fit during their travels.
Nightlife
The Ghent River Hotel is ideally situated for nightlife enthusiasts, nestled in the heart of Ghent's lively city center. Its proximity to a bustling square and riverside terraces offers guests an array of bars, cafes and restaurants within easy reach. The location is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the vibrant nightlife that Ghent has to offer.
While the hotel's central position ensures plenty of entertainment options, the surrounding area can become quite noisy at night. Guests have noted the presence of nearby nightclubs, bars and a dance cafe, which contribute to the lively atmosphere but can also lead to disturbances from loud music and festivities lasting until the early hours of the morning. The buzz of the nightlife, combined with the noise of parties and the sounds of a busy city, often permeates the hotel's vicinity.
There have been mentions of noise from the streets, neighbors and even hotel staff, which might affect light sleepers. Despite these challenges, some guests have found their rooms to be charming and quiet, offering a peaceful retreat by the water amidst the hustle and bustle outside.
Overall, Ghent River Hotel presents a mixed experience, balancing the excitement of a vibrant nightlife scene with the potential for nighttime noise. If one seeks immediate access to Ghent's nightlife, this hotel offers an excellent location; however, those sensitive to noise may want to prepare accordingly.
4 Star
The Ghent River Hotel, while holding a four-star rating, has drawn mixed reviews regarding its facilities and services. Positive feedback highlights the hotel’s rich breakfast options, which stand out compared to other four-star establishments. The rooms have been described as very comfortable and clean, featuring top-notch mattresses. Additionally, the hotel’s aesthetic, converted from a factory into an elegant establishment, has been appreciated with both the exterior and interfaces reflecting its intended four-star status.
However, the hotel's overall rating as a four-star hotel has been met with some criticism. Reviews frequently mention that the hotel does not live up to four-star standards with many guests feeling that the accommodations and services are outdated and not reflective of the premium pricing. Issues such as small and uncomfortable beds and an air conditioning system that only blows warm air have been noted. Many guests expected more due to the four-star label, deeming the hotel’s current state more akin to a three-star experience. Despite the respectable service and good appearances, the consensus is that the hotel is due for an update and doesn’t meet modern four-star standards.
Luxury
Nestled by the water in a beautiful location, Ghent River Hotel offers a luxurious experience with a touch of historical charm. Guests praised the hotel for its magnificent appearance and high class of hospitality, making it one of the most luxurious stays they've experienced. The rooms, especially those upgraded to 'luxury' in the old warehouse end, were described as very beautiful and comfortable. The suites, adorned with four-poster beds, stand out for their elegance and attention to detail.
Key highlights include the delicious and abundant breakfast, although some found it less special than expected. The hotel is set in an old factory building, which adds unique character and luxurious historical accents to the ambiance. While most guests appreciated the luxury and beauty of their rooms, a few felt that the hotel did not fully meet the four-star standard, suggesting room for slight improvements.
Overall, the Ghent River Hotel is a grand and magnificent establishment that offers a potentially unforgettable and luxurious stay with beautiful aesthetics and a quality experience.
No, Ghent River Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Ghent River Hotel.
No, Ghent River Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Ghent River Hotel.