Review: hotel Novotel Mechelen, Belgium
If you ask us, Novotel Mechelen is the perfect stay if you plan on visiting the city. Nothing fancy but a decent room for a very decent price.
Novotel Mechelen is smack in the middle of the city.
We have lived in Mechelen for a couple of years.
And it is also the city where Luc was born.
So yes, we like to make a stop over here from time to time to enjoy the local restaurant scene.
And drink excellent award winning local Carolus beer from Mechelen brewery Het Anker.
Last time we were here is just a couple of weeks ago.
We stayed at the Martin’s Patershof then.
This time we decide to go to the Novotel Mechelen, a hotel we have been to many times before in the past years.
Novotel Mechelen
Novotel is part of the French Accor hotel group.
Some of their other hotels might ring a bell.
Mercure, Ibis, Mövenpick, Pullman, Sofitel.
We have been clients for years.
Their client loyalty programme is worth it as well.
We travel quite a lot.
By being part of their program and therefore collecting points we have often been given price reductions, free client upgrades, free drinks, late checkouts.
Sign up for it!
Parking
There is a large public Q Park parking below the hotel, called the Q Park Lamot.
The entrance is at Guldenstraat 18, 2800 Mechelen.
We paid 20 euros for one night.
Take the elevator or stairs up to the ground floor level, a couple of steps further is the Novotel Mechelen hotel entrance.
Novotel Mechelen also has a locked storage room in the parking garage where you can securely leave bikes. It is free, just ask at the reception and they will help you out.
Reception
Checkin is swift.
The reception staff is always friendly and helpful.
Since we are good clients, we are offered a free bottle of soft drink or water per person.
Bar and lounge
Since the pandemic is still ongoing, the bar next to the reception is not open yet.
Before all this we would even get a free Carolus draft beer as a welcoming drink.
Room
We always ask for a room on the inside.
Rooms on the narrow pedestrian street sides tend to be noisier since people walk past to and from the busy Vismarkt area just around the corner.
Bedroom
Room 421 is an executive room of 30 m² facing the inside of the building.
It still has the older classic Novotel design.
Over the years Novotel hotels have been refurbished and renovated to the newer design.
As you step into the hallway the toilet is directly on your left side. Also in the hallway is a coffee machine with coffee capsules and a small fridge.
The bedroom contains a large comfortable double bed, side table, a desk with 2 chairs, a sofa that can be transformed into a single bed, TV and a wardrobe with iron and ironing board.
The floor is carpeted.
The room is basic but very comfortable and clean.
Bathroom
The clean bathroom contains a bath, single sink and a small shower with handheld shower head.
There is not a lot of space in here, just enough for one person.
The bath towels are quite rough, of low quality or just old and rather small.
Other services
Depending on the type of room you book, either a kettle or a coffee machine is provided.
The wardrobe contains a iron and ironing board.
Breakfast
Whenever we are at the Novotel Mechelen we prefer to eat breakfast elsewhere.
When we stayed here, breakfast was still takeout due to the pandemic.
However we have never been impressed by their breakfast buffet.
A few coffee bars serve breakfast at the Ijzerenleen which is just a 5 minute walk from the hotel.
We like Le Pain Quotidien.
Restaurant
Novotel Mechelen has a restaurant next to the bar and lounge area.
Due to the pandemic it was also closed.
On the menu were Belgian classics such as beef stew, shrimp croquettes and chicken stew.
There are plenty of restaurants near the hotel if you fancy something else.
Check the Vismarkt and Ijzerenleen just a couple of minutes further.
Wifi
Internet connection was fast in the room and throughout the hotel.
Location
Novotel Mechelen is smash in the middle of the city.
Everything is in walking distance from the hotel.
Would we go back to Novotel Mechelen?
Yes, Novotel Mechelen is the perfect stay if you plan on visiting the city.
Nothing fancy but a decent room for a very decent price.
Would we recommend Novotel Mechelen?
Yes, absolutely.
We also recommend subscribing to the Accor hotels loyalty programme for special offers, to collect points and get upgrades.
Pros
- great location
- easy underground parking
- secure bicycle storage
- friendly staff
- good client loyalty programme
Cons
- small bathroom
- rough towels
Address
Novotel Mechelen
Van Beethovenstraat 1
2800 Mechelen
Belgium
You can book here: Novotel Mechelen
We paid for our stay at Novotel Mechelen and didn’t get or ask anything in return for this review.
