This hotel is rated as 4 star, but seems more like a 3 star. Rooms are quite big in Europe standards and have basic functionalities; nothing luxury. Yet, it is quiet a recommendable hotel if you are travelling with your car as it is a bit far away from Antwerpen and has a good price-quailty ratio (i.e it's cheap). Hotel has free parking and there is more than enough parking space. The only negative comment I can make is that you will not have a great breakfast there. The choices are limited. If I should give a score; 7/10.

Accustomed to Best Western hotels in America, Ter Elst was found lacking in several respects. The room and bathroom were recently remodeled and spacious but sorely lacking in basic furniture -- no drawers, dressers or shelves for clothing -- only a single closet with hangers. This lack is probably okay for what appears to be the typical business client staying one night to attend the many conferences hosted by the hotel but totally Spartan for a leisure stay of several days -- living out of suitcases on the floor. Although the lobby and complimentary breakfast facilities were nicely appointed, the lobby bar never opened nor was it possible to obtain ice (perhaps only Americans want ice and minibars). Not much to see/do in easy walking distance during the winter months but off a main road about 100 yards and quiet. Nearest public bus about 500 yds away. Many other Best Western hotels have guest laundry facilities available, not Ter Elst.

We had booked a double room online with a request for an additional bed for a child. When we arrived in the evening at the hotel, they had not set up an extra bed but they speedily found an extra bed. There was an awful smell of open drains in the car park so you could not open your bedroom window. We were put into a twin room even though we booked a double room. The Hotel Manager said they do not do double beds and the double rooms are just single beds pushed together. We also had a smoking room that smelt of stale smoke and so did the corridor. We had not requested a smoking room as we assumed all hotels were non smoking now. The hotel room is very sparsly furnished but large. I would rate this as a budget hotel not 4 star as I have stayed in better Premier Inn Hotels(Budget) in the UK. Expensive for what you get.

Positives.
Reasonably clean,
Superb Food at dinner, breakfast OK,
Friendly enough staff,
Excellent leisure facilities
Bar and restaurant away from rooms so rooms quiet.

Negatives.

No mini bar
Rooms dated

Very fit for what I wanted, but could be just a bit better with a facelift in certain areas