REVIEW | Holiday Inn Hasselt

After our disappointing stay at Hotel Paping in Ommen, we decided to go for another weekend away to try to have a better experience. As I still had a bunch of IHG points that I wasn’t yet able to spend due to Corona travel restrictions we decided to go to Hasselt and spend a night at the freshly renovated Holiday Inn hotel.

Upon arrival we had a bit of a struggle to find the entrance to the parking garage as Google Maps didn’t quite get how the Hasselt circulation plan works. But we did achieve our goal by driving into the underground parking garage upon which the Holiday Inn was located. In normal times the hotel has its own direct access, but this was roped off due to corona (I don’t really get why, but that tends to be the same for a lot of those rules)

We entered through the backdoor (which used to be the main entrance before the renovation) and on to reception. The friendly lady immediately phoned to check whether our room was ready or not, unfortunately they just started cleaning it so we had a short wait. While we waited for our room to be ready we had a drink with the welcome drink voucher on the terrace of the hotel restaurant. Because the service there was so very friendly (not) we immediately decided to go eat somewhere else that evening.

After finishing our drink we went up to our (now finished) room, located on a corner on the first floor, overlooking the restaurant terrace. As we booked and executive room this was one of the largest rooms in the hotel. As the hotel made use of the first corona lockdown last year to renovate the entire property we entered a bright and modern room. We absolutely loved the design. There was a nice chaise-longue to relax along the windows, a small desk integrated in an open framed shelve system incorporating the TV and of course a big bed against the opposite wall.

Along both sides of the bed there where light switches and power plugs as well as USB charging ports integrated into the reading lights.

In the room you also had a Nespresso coffee maker and a separate tray with an ordinary kettle with instant coffee, but no tea. The minibar was also fully stocked but the price list was nowhere to be found.

The bathroom was also a beautiful affair and very spacious. At the very end there was a delightful rain shower while along the wall there was the sink with a big countertop to put everything you needed.

The hotel also innovated by using Rituals branded toiletries, much better than generic ones, and provided both multi-use containers to use when in the hotel as well as a set of small travel sized bottles for you to take with you.

Of course we couldn’t resist making use of the hotel pool in the basement. As a coronavirus countermeasure to get in there you had to make a reservation at the check-in desk, where you would receive a separate access key and pool towels. The pool itself was the right size, with a few seats scattered around. The water was a bit cool when you first stepped in, but once in you easily got used to it.

Strangely enough both the sauna and fitness where closed due to corona. While the sauna was indeed completely shut off, the fitness could still be accessed.

In the morning a breakfast buffet was setup in the restaurant downstairs and provided everything you could wish for in a Holiday Inn breakfast, including a make your own waffle station. Besides that you had the usual tea, coffee, juices, smoothies, eggs bacon and sausages, cold cuts, breads and viennoiserie.

All in all we had a very good stay at the Holiday Inn in Hasselt and we must congratulate them on a very good renovation. All staff members of the hotel itself where friendly and welcoming. It is a good address to stay whenever you need to be in Hasselt.