View from the Room: Radisson Blu Astrid - Antwerp
As far as I recall this is my first stay at a Radisson and the walk across Astrid Square past the 'most beautiful train station in the world' heightened my expectations. It is perfectly located next door to both the amazing Antwerp zoo and the aforementioned Antwerpen-Centraal. Unfortunately there isn't a direct train from the Antwerp Hotel so we got a taxi who dropped us off outside the station to save some time. This gave us the perfect opportunity to pop into what may well be the grandest train station in the world before checking in.
Room 632 faces the square at the front of the hotel and was a wonderful place to celebrate our anniversary this year. However, it has a connecting room and the door and/or walls must be pretty thin because we could hear their hairdryer early in the morning!
Bedroom
- Double wardrobe & cupboard with shelving by front door.
- Full length mirror.
- Table with pod coffee machine
- Kettle & ice bucket
- Iron & board.
- Mini fridge (Inc paid for mini bar)
- No drawers but plenty of shelving
- 2 bedside storage tables with individual wall lights
- 10 quality wooden hangers
Lounge
- Large TV on wall
- Shelving unit underneath
- Tall occasion table
- Large armchair & built in sofa unit
- Large lamp, a headboard lighting. One light in hallway
Bathroom
Large bath with detachable shower and a large separate shower
- Large mirror
- Good size sink
- Storage shelf & hook
- Shower cap
- 4 towels & 2 face cloths
- Hairdryer/shaving point
- This Works Solid soap, shampoo/conditioner, body lotion and shower gel left daily
Amenities
Ice machine in the corridor (the one on our floor was broken but there's another two floors down)
- Hairdryer
- Tissue box
- One pair of comfy slippers
- Air con
- Safe
- Plenty of sockets and 2 USB ports all in the right places
Access - 3 lifts that were quick and always seemed to be there
Food - we didn't eat anything in the restaurant or partake in any of the hotel-priced goodies in the mini-bar
Service - excellent throughout.
There was a queue when we arrived although concierge immediately took out cases to place on the trolly ready to take up. By the time we'd checked in we'd recovered from the heat outside and just grabbed them anyway as the lifts are just around the corner from reception.
We were missing soap when we arrived and it quickly arrived upon request. The next day more arrived with face cloths we didn't realise we were due.
Bizarrely we missed room service one day, possibly they came when we popped back for an hour in the afternoon and popped up the 'do not disturb' but it didn't matter. Towels dried pretty quickly in the bathroom - which wass needed as the temperatures soared to 35c during our stay and 3-4 showers per day were not uncommon! They bought up some requested coffee capsules and were uber helpful. It's rather wonderful that all communication is through an efficient website chat portal.
2018
