This hotel is located in Mechelen, Belgium, about 40 mins drive from the Brussels Airport, its basically a brewery managed by some wonderful ladies, the rooms are nice and clean with free wi-fi internet though the signal strength is a little weak. There is a McDonald located very close to the hotel and there are restaurants nearby. This is only meant for business travellers though. The restaurant serves good food but very little option for the vegeterians.Overall the hotel is good.

The Carolus is really difficult to rate. On the one hand, one does not wish to do the friendly propietors a disservice - on the other, I have to admit I felt a bit disappointed (after reading some of the raving reviews here) when I finally got there. The location of the hotel is certainly adequate and a novelty too...it shares its backyard with the famous Het Anker brewery by which it is owned. So no hard feelings there. The rooms, however, at least to me, were a major letdown. Furniture a tired reminiscence of the 80s, green pseudo-plush and dark veneer. The beds were ok, at least when you like them hard - which I do, coincidentally (it's better for my back). Bedsheets had a musty smell and at first I wasn't sure whether they were really fresh or not. Some unidentified stains on supplementary pillows ... yukk! The bathroom has seen better days, the shower curtain was new and the washbasin reasonably clean. I won't mention the idiotically placed toilet roll holder ... be ready for some impromptu callisthenics. What I really hated was the black mold in the shower mortar joints - stuff like that grosses me out and tells me that maidservice is lackluster to say the least. Breakfast was nice and I advise travelers to reserve a table at the Anker Brasserie for lunch or dinner. The authentic Flemish dishes are wonderful and service is very helpful. Do not miss out on their beers. Finally, the brasserie and the friendly service are all that save the Carolus from a poor review. In all kindness I cannot see how this hotel could be ranked second or third in all of Mechelen, though.

PROs
- location
- friendly proprietors
- free (although a bit cramped) parking
- very nice restaurant on premises
- free internet
- refrigerator in lobby
- hard beds

CONs
- uninspired, boring rooms
- grimy, grim bathrooms (mold!)
- less than enthusiastic maid service
- price seems too high for actual room value

A delightful small family run hotel within walking distance of the town. Superb buffet breakfast and very attentive staff. They now have a newly refurbished brasserie open serving delicious foot and of course beer.

We stayed in this hotel on a recent business trip to Mechelen. The hotel itself is part of the Carolus Brewery ( unfortunately the brewery and brasserie is closed due to extensive refurbishment but this did not hinder us staying there.
The rooms are large but basic and emaculate as is the whole hotel . The staff are very friendly and provide you with plenty of information regarding the area. The breakfast which is included in the room rate is really nice with plenty to choose from.
On a whole this hotel has a nice friendly atmosphere and I would not hesitate in staying here again.. As the heading says just CHARMING