Maek Hotel Antwerp Central - Handwritten Collection 4성

I booked 2 nights to attend my daughter's wedding. The extra night was booked more recently, because I felt very tired after surgery, and with a second surgery in 2 days. So I wanted to be sure to have a relaxing wedding day. I had requested a room with a shower, as I'm not allowed to take a bath after surgery. No problem, they replied, we only have 4 rooms with a bath anyway. Well, I go one of those 4 rooms... 🤷🏼‍♀️ It did not registered when I checked in in my room, because I suffer from brain fog since the surgery, combined with the excitement of the upcoming wedding. When I stepped in the bath to shower late night, I could barely stand up, as the end of the bath is very rounded, and I could not turn the shower harder to have the water go further, as it would hurt my skin. The next day, wedding day, I was out all day and returned after midnight. 3 showers hoping I would not slip and fall... At reception, they told me the request was not registered. Well, I have the email from Lisse that she would take care of it! If a client puts in a request, telling she had recent surgery and therefore limitations, it is not to get pity, but to get respect for requests!! Further, the room itself was fine. However not much of a park view from the 4th floor, more a street view. Not worth spending any extra money on that unless you stay on one of the higher floors.

This hotel is undergoing transformation from Mercure to Handwritten. I was told they have very big challenges as pricing is affordable but what you get for it is questionable for either brand. Pro(s)- - Location is king, very central, very connected to everything in Antwerp - Price was affordable for Mercure - Most of the Staff is very friendly, special thanks to Tyrone who personally made sure that I actually see it as a better experience and not just bad, he is the reason this is not a 1star mostly, the food and beverage head who was at bar, that guy was also very nice and friendly and top customer service, Emma at the check in was also extremely friendly, and the night manager, such a gentleman - Breakfast was quite nice and all staff were extremely polite and friendly - Gym is new so not many things but is clean. - Drinking water fountain Room for improvement (let's be constructive) - - Gold member amenity kit was a waffle (what a joke for someone spending a month in a year with ACCOR) and missing slippers and they said bathrobe, I mean why I need a bathrobe when you have no pool/sauna& it's a laundrable item, not for me - I was upgraded(as told) to a better room but honestly smallest Mercure room I have stayed in, it was stuffy and very congested, specially because the staff decided to open the child bed at 4 pm when we checked in. They DO NOT have all day room service/housekeeping. This is a big problem as the night manager went on a hunt for a normal pillow for me. - Carpets are dirty but I was told they are removing those and putting wooden flooring - No slippers, just the slipper cover and on asking the front desk guy named JOE, a hairless gentlemen at the reception VEYR RUDE PERSON, he was so arrogant and told em I am not first to complain and like he didn't give a second thought to be rude consistently. - Drinking water is only at reception, no bottles in room or no filters/spots on each floor. - No choice of fruit tea and the coffee machine was like a dump, maybe their team need to travel to other Mercure/novotel (read my review in Brugge). - The sofa that was open looked worn out and dirty from the sides visible. - Small bathroom/toilet, like if someone tripped its end of that person. Honestly, the staff except JOE guy was really hardworking and making sure the experience is better. But changing to Handwritten by new paint and some furnishings, won't fetch many great positives unless they make roomier rooms or at least more facilities

Although a little dated, the facilities here are very good. We had a bath in our room - which is always welcome as far as I am concerned. Kettle too - which is another plus. The bar offered a good range of food and snacks and is very well appointed with excellent service. Breakfast too was very well catered with staff very attentive and welcoming

I had a great stay in this hotel, fantastic location just next to the beautiful city park and 5 min walk from Centraal Station. Make sure to book a room with view on the park, it is worth it. Had a standard room, clean and modern, quite silent and with excellent bedding. Staff was very helpful and nice. I recommend and will copme back again !

Tragedy, the air conditioning does not work, the water from the shower runs along with the bathtub in the room, it is hot in the evening and cold in the morning. I do not recommend .........................m............................