Antwerp's Hidden Gem: Radisson Prize Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Antwerp’s Hidden Gem: Radisson Prize Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!) – Get Ready for a Whirlwind!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just returned from a stay at the Radisson Blu Prize Hotel in Antwerp, and frankly, my jaw is still on the floor. This place isn't just a hotel; it's an experience. And trust me, my experience involved a LOT of experiences, some good, some… well, let’s just say they provided some hilarious anecdotes. This is Antwerp's hidden gem, and I'm spilling the tea (or maybe the Belgian beer, which, by the way, is readily available).
First Impressions & Accessibility – Let's Get Real (and Accessible!)
Right off the bat, the exterior isn't going to blow you away. It's handsome, yes, but doesn't scream “hidden treasure.” However, the magic starts when you walk in. And for anyone who needs it, the accessibility is a huge win. Wheelchair accessible throughout? Absolutely. Elevators that actually work? Yup. This is a massive plus, because let's face it, not every European hotel gets it right. The elevator whisking me to my room was a lifesaver after a full day of exploring the city. The front desk [24-hour] was always helpful and friendly. They even offer facilities for disabled guests, which I didn't personally need, but it's great to know they're catering to all needs.
Rooms: Cosy & Connected (And Thank God for Free Wi-Fi!)
My room? A haven! Let's be honest, after a day of navigating cobblestone streets, all I wanted was a comfy bed and a strong Wi-Fi signal. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise be! I could upload my Instagram stories, which, let’s just say, were extensive. And the Internet access [LAN] was there too, just in case you're old-school (or need a ridiculously fast connection).
The room itself was spotless. Cleanliness and safety are clearly a priority. I saw Anti-viral cleaning products being used, and the rooms sanitized between stays. Plus, there are smoke alarms and fire extinguisher – always a plus, however the blackout curtains were my absolute saviour after a long day exploring.
The perks? Bathrobes, slippers, and a coffee/tea maker – all essential for a proper hotel chill session. And the extra long bed? Bliss! There was even a desk, in case you, you know, actually work on vacation. shudders. Luckily, I took advantage of the in-room free bottled water, to keep me hydrated.
The Dining Scene: A Feast for the Eyes (and the Stomach… Mostly)
Okay, let’s talk food. This is where things get interesting. The breakfast [buffet] was a solid start to the day. They had everything you could want: Western breakfast, Asian breakfast, and even a vegetarian restaurant for those feeling virtuous. I personally went full throttle with the buffet in the restaurant, piled my plate high with pastries, and then proceeded to spill coffee down my shirt. Classic. The coffee/tea in restaurant was plentiful.
The a la carte in restaurant meals were okay, but nothing special. The international cuisine in restaurant was a safe bet. I tried the salad in restaurant, which was fresh, and the soup in restaurant, which was warm. The desserts in restaurant were pretty good (I may have sampled a few… for research purposes, of course). There’s also a snack bar if you need something quick.
The Poolside bar was a nice touch, although access to the pool was a little difficult (more on that later).
The bar itself offers a great happy hour, which I definitely took advantage of. Belgian beer at affordable prices? Yes, please!
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (And Maybe Get a Little Muddy…)
This is where the Radisson Prize really shines. The swimming pool [outdoor] looked beautiful and inviting… but the weather was not my friend during my stay. I ended up going in the pool with view. The views of Antwerp from up there? Stunning. I definitely wanted to spend some time in the sauna and the steamroom, which was great and I wanted to try a massage, for those looking for ways to relax, however I was there to explore Antwerp.
I didn't use the fitness center (because, let's be honest, walking around Antwerp is a workout in itself!), but it looked well-equipped.
Services and Conveniences: Making Life Easier (and Avoiding Laundry)
The Radisson Prize offers a mountain of services. Daily housekeeping kept my room sparkling. The laundry service and dry cleaning came in handy after my coffee-related mishap. There’s a concierge who would, and a luggage storage for the early risers. The cash withdrawal was useful.
Okay, Now for the "Not-So-Perfect" Stuff (Because Nobody's Perfect, Right?)
Here's where the review gets real.
- The Pool Situation: Getting to the outdoor pool was a bit of a mission. There were stairs, which meant less ease of access than I would have liked, and a bit of a maze to negotiate. It wasn't a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
- The "Minor" Hiccups: A minor mix-up with my room service order (they brought me a completely different dish from the one I had ordered). Also, one of the windows in my room didn't open; I think I prefer to take in the fresh air. Small things, but they added to the overall "human-ness" of the experience.
Cleanliness and Safety: Peace of Mind
They take hygiene seriously. I noticed the daily disinfection in common areas, the individually-wrapped food options at breakfast (yay!), and visible hand sanitizer stations. The staff were all trained in safety protocols, which gave me a good feeling.
Final Verdict: Antwerp's Hidden Gem? Absolutely!
Despite my minor quibbles, I absolutely loved my stay at the Radisson Prize Hotel. It's clean, comfortable, and well-equipped, with a fantastic location. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. It's a great base for exploring Antwerp and its many attractions. It’s not the most luxurious hotel, but it’s got heart, character, and a great energy. And let’s be honest, sometimes those “imperfect” moments are what make a trip memorable.
My rating? 4 out of 5 stars!
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Radisson Prize Bern: Switzerland's BEST Hotel Deal? (You Won't Believe This!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we’re about to take a messy, glorious, probably slightly-too-emotional dive into Antwerp at the Prize by Radisson. Forget perfectly curated itineraries. We’re going winging it, alright? This is going to be less “travelogue” and more “therapy session with a side of waffles.”
Day 1: Arrival & the Antwerp Art Attack (and a REALLY Bad First Impression of the Hotel Coffee)
10:00 AM: Ugh. Brussels Airport. Already feeling the existential dread that only comes with long travel. Immigration was a nightmare. I swear, the passport control guy was judging my questionable fashion choices (a comfy sweater and the same jeans I've worn for three days – sue me!). Finally, got through. My luggage looks like it’s been through a war, but hey, it’s here!
11:30 AM: Train to Antwerp. Smooth sailing. Actually enjoyed the scenery, mostly because my brain was fried, so I could just stare blankly at cows and windmills and be blissfully un-intellectual for a bit.
12:30 PM: Arrive in Antwerp Central Station. Good God that place is gorgeous. Like, seriously, a cathedral of trains. I stood there gawping for a solid five minutes, feeling like an idiot tourist (which, you know, I am).
1:00 PM: Finally, actually get to the Prize by Radisson. Okay, initial impressions? Decent. Clean. Lobby is kind of… beige. BUT! My room is, and this is a critical factor, not tiny. Score!
1:30 PM: The coffee. Oh, the coffee. It tasted like… sadness. Like, if you bottled the disappointment of a forgotten birthday and mixed it with lukewarm tap water. I needed a STRONG dose of caffeine. Time to hit a proper coffee shop. (Seriously, hotel coffee is the bane of my existence. Why is it ALWAYS so bad?)
2:00 PM: Wandering through the city. First impressions: Antwerp is beautiful. Cobblestone streets, the Grote Markt with its guildhalls (so many gables!), and the sheer scale of things. Feels like I've stepped into a fairytale, but with way more bicycles.
3:00 PM: RubinsHouse. And what a house! The man was a genius, but also a bit of a hoarder, I suspect. But the art… the art! I got completely lost in the colours, the textures, the drama. I actually cried a little when I stood in front of his "Descent from the Cross." Ugh, I am such a sap.
4:30 PM: Museum Plantin-Moretus: The printing presses!! This place is a treasure trove for all things book-related but it also gives you a glimpse into the birth of mass media. I could easily have spent a whole day here.
6:00 PM: Found a little place, a café off the Grote Markt, with a great view, drank some wine and just… breathed. Taking it all in. Watching the light change on the buildings. Letting the city seep into me. It was perfect. Needed that.
7:30 PM: Dinner. Got horribly lost trying to find the recommended restaurant. Wandered around for ages, felt increasingly hangry, and ended up at a very touristy place that was probably overpriced. But the fries were decent, and I was too exhausted to care.
9:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Journaling. Feeling utterly shattered but in the best way. Antwerp, you’re already charming the hell out of me! And my feet hurt. A lot.
Day 2: Diamonds, Chocolate, and a Belgian Beer Revelation (and the Ongoing Battle with the Hotel Coffee)
8:00 AM: Against all better judgement… Hotel Coffee Round 2. Disaster. Pure, unadulterated disaster.
8:30 AM: Okay, out of the hotel and into the city already. First stop: Chocolate. I'm not even a HUGE chocolate person, but it's Belgium, right? I have to conform!
9:00 AM: Went on a chocolate shop hopping spree, got carried away, bought a bunch of stuff. And ate all of it. No regrets.
10:30 AM: The Diamond District. Shiny, shiny, shiny. Felt totally out of my element! I have, like, a total budget of approximately $15, but it was cool to see the hustle and bustle, the security, the sheer BLING. Imagining myself with a necklace worth millions was fun. Reality? Back to budget travel.
11:30 AM: MAS Museum. The Museum aan de Stroom. I actually went to the museum. Some pretty cool exhibitions!
1:00 PM: Lunch. Went to a small cafe. And, omg, those fries… the crispiness. The salty goodness. The perfect mayonnaise dipping situation. I'm starting to understand why people are obsessed with Belgian fries. They are almost an addiction.
2:00 PM: This is where things get interesting. I walked around, found this little shop, full of antique books. I fell in love; I couldn't help myself. I now have a new, old copy of something beautiful to add to my hoard.
3:00 PM: Beer tasting! Found a pub that did “beer flights.” I bravely decided to try a variety (and immediately regretted my decision). Some were delicious, some tasted like… well, let’s just say I’m not a huge fan of the more “adventurous” brews. But I am getting better.
4:00 PM: The Cathedral of Our Lady. Just. Wow. I stood there staring, like a speechless tourist, for a good twenty minutes. The sheer scale of it! The stained glass! The artwork! Even now I type this I feel a bit emotional.
6:00 PM: Another Restaurant hunt. This time, armed with better directions (and a slightly less desperate attitude). And this time, success! Found a truly amazing place, serving classic Belgian fare. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was perfect, I felt like I was finally living in Antwerp.
8:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Collapsed in a heap. The hotel bed is… okay. It's a bed. It's clean. It's enough. My feet are killing me. Tomorrow, I'm getting a massage. Or maybe just sitting in the lobby, looking at all the glorious people.
9:00 PM: Journaling. Antwerp is starting to feel familiar. Comfortable. I have a feeling I'm not going to want to leave.
Day 3: Departure & Antwerp Afterglow (and a Final, Bitter Cup of Hotel Coffee)
8:00 AM: Damn it. Last chance for Hotel Coffee. I should have learned by now. Still, I try. Still, I fail. Still tastes like sad, burnt disappointment.
9:00 AM: Went for a last walk, to soak it all up one last time. Found a cute little market. Bought some local cheese.
10:00 AM: One last visit to a waffle shop. Because, you know, priorities. Ate too many, felt utterly gleeful.
11:00 AM: Back to the hotel. Packing. Feeling a strange mix of melancholy and relief. I'm exhausted, but I'm also… changed. This trip was… a good thing. A very good thing.
12:00 PM: Check-out. The staff was perfectly pleasant this time, and while the Prize by Radisson isn't a destination in itself, it was fine. Clean, convenient. No complaints, except the damn coffee. I'd probably stay here again.
1:00 PM: Train to Brussels Airport. Feeling oddly sentimental. I'm going to miss this city.
2:00 PM: Brussels Airport. The airport… it's an airport.
On the Plane: Writing these notes, and wishing I was back in Antwerp. It wasn't perfect. It was messy. It was emotional. It was real. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. And maybe next time, I’ll bring my own coffee maker. Just a thought.
Antwerp's Hidden Gem: Radisson Prize Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!) - FAQ's - Hold Onto Your Hats!
Okay, spill it! Is this Radisson Prize Hotel *really* a hidden gem? Or just another tourist trap?
Alright, alright, settle down! Hidden gem? Let's say… it's a DIAMOND in seriously rough, *but charming*, velvet. Look, I've seen things. I've stayed in places where the air conditioning unit sounded like a dying velociraptor. This? It's got… potential. It's *definitely* not the Ritz. Think more 'quirky boutique hotel that accidentally won a Radisson franchise'. It's like discovering a breathtaking painting in a dusty attic. You'll go 'Wow!' then have to spend an hour dusting off the cobwebs. But still… wow!
Let's talk location. Is it actually central, or am I going to be trekking for miles?
Central? Honey, it's practically *smack dab* in the middle of the action! You trip over museums (seriously, watch your step!), and the Grote Markt is a hop, skip, and a slightly tipsy stumble away. I mean, *that's* a plus point. Think about it: waffles at 3 AM? You can do it! Seriously, the location is AMAZING. I’m prone to getting lost and even *I* found my way back after a couple of delicious Belgian beers. Score!
The rooms... what are they *really* like? The photos always lie...
Okay, the photos? They *definitely* have a filter game. Let’s be honest. They look… polished. The reality? Think "charming with a healthy dose of 'lived-in' ". My room? Adequate size (but don't expect a suite the size of a football field, just sayin’). The bed was comfy, which, frankly, is the most important thing, right? However, there was a slight… *déjà vu* regarding the artwork. Like, I'm pretty sure I saw it in a different hotel... in a different country... seven years ago. Am I being picky? Maybe. But hey, it *was* clean. And that counts for something! Oh, and the shower? Glorious pressure. A serious win.
The breakfast. Tell me everything! Is it a continental disaster or a glorious feast?
Okay, now we're talking! Breakfast is where they *almost* redeem themselves. Almost. It’s a buffet, and boy, is it a *buffet*. There are croissants of varying degrees of flakiness. Slightly rubbery scrambled eggs (but with *potential*!). And, the pièce de résistance: freshly made waffles. Not just any waffles, mind you. These were… *crisp*. Perfect. Seriously, I may have eaten, like, four. It was my only mistake. I had to skip lunch because I was so full. On a waffle high. Worth it. Definitely worth it. But the coffee? Let's just say, it could have used a wake-up call itself. Bring your own espresso machine, just in case.
What about the staff? Are they helpful or more in the ‘couldn’t care less’ camp?
The staff? Here’s where the real magic happens! Generally, they're lovely. Seriously. Super friendly and willing to help, even when I was fumbling my way through terrible Dutch. One gentleman at the front desk, I think his name was Pierre, went above and beyond. He even recommended a local brewery that was *amazing*. He seemed genuinly happy to help. That's a rare thing these days! I had a minor issue with my room (a flickering lightbulb - drama, I tell you!), and it was sorted within, like, five minutes of reporting it. Top marks for service! They really made the whole experience worth it.
Anything *really* bad? Be honest!
Okay, here's the truth. The elevator. Oh, the elevator. It was… slow. Painfully, soul-crushingly slow. I swear it had a mind of its own. I walked more than I took it. And, okay, the soundproofing between rooms wasn't fantastic. I heard *everything*. Let’s just say, I learned *a lot* about my neighbors’ late-night snack choices. And some other things... which is none of my business, truthfully. But still... soundproofing! Really not good.
Would you recommend it? Or should I run screaming?
Run screaming? No. Definitely not. This place has character. Flaws? Yes. But charm? Absolutely. If you want sterile, predictable luxury, go somewhere else. If you want an *experience*, a story to tell (and some incredible waffles!), then yes! Book it. Just be prepared to embrace the quirkiness. And maybe pack some earplugs and a good book (for the elevator wait!). I'd go back. And that, my friends, is the highest praise I can give.
Okay, so, any specific tips? Insider knowledge?
Oh, you want the *real* secrets? Alright, listen up. First, book a higher floor if you can (less noise from the street, hopefully!). Second: Don't expect the 'modern' things. Think vintage feel. Third: **Embrace the waffles!** Seriously, eat ALL the waffles. Fourth: When you check out, ask for Pierre at the front desk and tip him well and tell him "you're the best" - he REALLY deserves it! Fifth: If you’re a light sleeper… earplugs. And maybe a therapist to address your issues with the elevator. You will need it! And last But not least, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. And maybe a little bit amused. After all, who's ever remembered a *perfectly* boring hotel? Exactly.
So, the Waffles... Let's go back to the waffles...
Okay, fine! You want to talk about the waffles? Okay, I am game. Let's be honest here, the primary reason to go to this place? The waffles. They are the star of the show. Seriously, I am not even a big waffle person, but these waffles? Pure magic. Crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside,Hotel Radar Map
