We went on a five day break with National coach holidays. The hotel was warm and welcoming and the room and beds were clean,but the bathroom sink was stained and worn. The staff were very pleasant and there was a friendly atmosphere. The meals were fine, but there was no choice, it was a set meal every time. However, if given a day's notice the chef will do a very good salad. You can also have cheese and biscuits instead of the sweet.
All in all a good value and we would stay here again.

We also went with the "National Holidays". It was £99.00 for coach, ferry and 3 nights dinner, bed and breakfast. We weren't expecting much but were very pleasantly surprised. The room was basic, but clean. It was just like a travelodge really. We were very happy to see we had a balcony, which overlooked the sea front (not directly, but could see it from up the street about 100 yards away). The room was warm and had a tv, As it's continental, no tea and coffee, but that's a British thing anyway.

We had breakfast, which was fine. Boiled eggs, hams, cheese,cereals, breads and butters/honey. It wasn't expensive food but sufficed. Unlimited tea and coffee also as well as juices. Nice.

We never dined on an evening. Mainly because we like to experience restaurants, so I cannot comment on the evening meals, but did hear from others it was "ok", but no choice.

The bar was nice. Plenty of choice and the barman was rather amusing. He had an extremely dry and sarcastic sense of humour. You could take this to be offensive, but I thought he was a nice chap. We only went in for a couple though.

This hotel also has a swimming pool. Again I never went in, but the bar overlooks the pool, and it looked nice. fair size.

Overall, a clean and comfortable hotel. Yes, it may need updating, but the beds were really comfortable, the shower had lovely hot water, the heating was excellent, it had a balcony overlooking the sea. For what we paid.... excellent. Also, the location. Marvellous, central!

Reason for not giving this 5 out of 5... it just needs a little bit more updating in the rooms. But giving the current climate, this is a costly requirement. Very Good.

Ok so it was a bargain break the National Holiday £99 Ostend Weekend Superdeal.

The hotel was a wee bitty 'unloved' I am no great housewife but to have layers of dust on the ledges next to table in dining room wasnt good - and the rest of the place could have been improved with some Cilit Bang and elbow grease.

The room was dated - beds seemed too soft but were actually very comfy. Furniture wasnt up to much but if I had wanted to look at furniture I would have gone to Ikea. The curtains had cigarette burns and looking out of the window you could see hundreds of cig ends on the flat roof below. The radiator was on - and blimey it was HOT!

The bathroom - the soap dispensers were not up too much and hardly any came out , the wash hand basin was tatty . Good point there - always plenty of hot water and loads of clean towels.

Meals were the normal suspects for the continental breakfast - there was also the option of a cooked breakfast for 3 euros - tomato, eggs (either fried or an omelette) and ham not bad value there at all

The evening entertainment was by a chappie who played keyboard, flute and clarinet - he was not bad, took requests and carried on regardless.

The barman - very dry sense of humour. We sat in the small bar on the Saturday evening having several coffees and roared with laughter when he kept being told - red wine and small beer by someone - he served up the red wine and then used a shot glass for the small beer - all deadpan. So way to go Eric the barman

Now comes the REALLY bad part. Several on this trip took ill (poss due to air con on coach) BUT on the Sunday afternoon when people were in the foyer having coffees or as in my case in the bar having a hot water we were assailed by dozens of screaming children. Their parents were at a function being held in the dining room - where they were allowed to smoke at the tables!, The children were running riot. Several of us witnessed a young boy - about 8 - 10 years old going behind the bar and pouring himself about 2 -3 inches of beer into a glass then topping it up with pepsi. This really concerned me so I asked at reception what the legal age for drinking was in Belgium and was told it was 16. I then reported what I had seen to the receptionist who shrugged her shoulders and said that it was the owners son ! Not a very good attitude to take.

The children were jumping onto tables in the foyer when residents were TRYING to have a coffee. The stand where all the leaflets were was strewn all over the floor - a charming child came over to me and pointed to the mess and said CLEAN - I don't think so!

The owners son went behind the bar again and was this time at the optics - one of our group gently chastisted him saying that maybe he shouldnt be doing that - he sneered at the gentleman and then slammed the door at the end of the bar (where the entertainment was in the evenings ) in the said gents face.

All in all it would have been a far better experience IF these children had been supervised and we hadnt gone down with this bug. And the owner maybe needs to make sure his son acts in a manner that doesnt upset residents.

Would I stay there again? if I had a choice I would go to another hotel, but because of the deal we had to stay there.

Good points - comfy beds, excellent evening meals
Bad points - very close to red light district and general tattiness of the place.


As i said earlier in this review - if it had a good clean it would be excellent

anyone thinking of going here, please do it is excellent,we just came back from a four day break with national coach holidays,it cost us 81 quid and it was money well spent, hotel doesnt look much when you pull up outside and when you go in it is warm cosy and very clean,check in was quick and staff very friendly,well when we opened our room door we were gobsmacked, it was massive like a big apartment,very warm as the heating stays on all the time,spotlessly clean, we had 2 single beds and a double bed in our room bathroom was lovely,it was just good all round, food was very good help yourself to breakfast but dinner was served by a very friendly waiter,food was good very tasty, the swimming pool was great very warm, honestly take no notice of anyone who moans about this hotel,because i dont know where they have stayed (buckingham palace) ostend is fab plenty to see and do you will really enjoy it great food everywhere cheap in some places we had a really good time, so if your thinking of booking do it you will love it.