holiday inn ghent expo

Friend and I booked short break by coach to Belgium which was advertised as being based in Bruges. We have been told we will actually be based in Ghent - fine as I like Ghent, except that the hotel seems well out of the centre. I%26#39;d like advice about getting an evening meal - i read one review that the hotel food is good but pricey. Has anyone got any recent prices? Also is there anywhere to eat within reasonable walking distance of hotel? I understand the tram is fine for getting to the centre in the day, but we might not feel like using it at night - even if it runs thro%26#39; the evening. Thanks for any advice.

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Flanders Expo is indeed some way (10 km) from the centre of Ghent and I would not be surprised if the Holiday Inn%26#39;s restaurant was the only one in the area, I certainly don%26#39;t know any others and a search on resto.be finds only 7 restaurants for postcode 9051 (which is that of your hotel and the exhibition centre), 2 of which are in St. Denijs which is the area of Flanders Expo, but neither appear to be very close to it. Therefore I would recommend you take tram no. 1 either to Gent Sint Pieters station (5 stops; also served by buses 76 and 77), opposite which there are a number of cafés and restaurants, or carry on to Korenmarkt (centre of Ghent) where there are plenty of restaurants, I particularly like the Pakhuis.

It is perfectly safe to use trams and buses late at night, but you will have to ask at the hotel or phone De Lijn (070/220.200, or M-F 9-16h 09/210 9443; e-mail ovl@delijn.be) for the timetable, I am fairly sure line 1 runs until at least midnight, but it might not cover the whole route at that time. Of course you could take a taxi (tel. 09/222 2222), but if your concern about eating at the hotel restaurant is price, presumably you won%26#39;t want to.

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Thanks, Gaminari, it%26#39;s good to know public transport runs thro%26#39; the evening. Will try out your suggested restaurant.

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There is one restaurant in the area if you walk towards the main road (Kortrijksesteenweg) : www.resto.be/ware/details.jsp?businessid=5895

It is a popular %26quot;all you can eat%26quot; restaurant , but I would advise to take the tram to he city center (it%26#39;s a dangerous road to cross if you opt for the Colmar). Trams run untill midnight or trough the night during weekends. But check the schedule at the hotel lobby first.

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Hi Janet

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Ghent Expo on Business back in January of this year.

I am sorry to say there really is nothing around the Hotel - its very much on-site of the Expo Center and very business orientated.

I would strongly suggest eating out in town as both my restaurant experience and room service experience were just average. OK when you are on business - but not what you want when you are on a pleasure trip. 20 Euro seems to stick in my mind for the buffet dinner, which turns out you have to order the main course from the menu anyway and it is plated and served to you - the only thing that is really %26quot;buffet%26quot; is the starter. For a table of 4 with only about 10 other people in the Restaurant, our whole dinner experience took almost 3 hours. And that was with most of us only having starter %26amp; main, and myself only having a main.

- I have just got back from a second trip to Ghent today (did not stay at Expo but in town center this time) and as a female on her own walked around in the evenings and felt perfectly safe. Take advantage of the frequent and safe public transport and go into the town for dinner , there are so many yummy places to eat - or make sure you have a big lunch out in the day time, so that in the evening you just need a light snack at the Hotel so as not to expect too much !

I dont want to put a downer on your trip - the room was fine, comfortable, clean, safe and quiet. As long as you are not expecting grand luxury and just need a place to sleep, and are happy to negotiate your way on the transportation - this place is perfectly fine.

Its a beautiful part of the world though - so I am sure you will have a lovely time!

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