The Colourful World of Mondo Hotels in Belgium

Many hotels these days look the same. Don´t get me wrong, I like minimalist chic but sometimes it is fun to have a little colour around. People who stay in hotels frequently sometimes forget their room number, the name of the hotel or even the city they are staying in! One hotel room looks just like the next.

If you would like to stay somewhere a little different, then I suggest you look at Mondo Hotels. They are a privately-owned group of four hotels in Brussels, Antwerp and Ostend in Belgium.

I love all three cities. Quirky Brussels with its Mannekin Pis statue, the most beautiful square in the world, the Grand Place/Grote Markt, the Tintin museum, great shopping and some wonderful old bars where you can relax and enjoy Brussels beers eg Gueuze, Faro, Lambic and Framboise. Of all the 500 odd beers produced in Belgium, these four are some of my favourites. In fact, there are several varieties of Gueuze. More info on my Squidoo site.

Antwerp has its fantastic harbor with bars lining the old quaysides, or Kaai in Dutch, the new MAS – Museum Aan de Stroom overlooking the inner harbour, even better shopping and unbeatable nightlife.

Ostend (Oostende) is loved by Brits and it is easy to see why. A beautiful golden sandy beach, go karts of every sort to hire, a fresh fish market and stalls selling small platters of seafood, some expensive gin palace boats to drool over in the Mercator yacht harbor, more great shops and a never-ending choice of restaurants. That is if you are not full from all the delicious seafood on the harbour front. Of course, there are plenty of bars for enjoying Belgian beers. I spent four nights in Ostend in August on our own boat and did not want to leave. The luxury residential cruise ship “The World” also visited for two nights whilst we were there.

Mondo Hotels offer a colourful location in each of these three cities so whether you are visiting on business, a one night stop-over or want to make a weekend city break, I recommend Mondo Hotels.

Have a look at Mondo Hotels

Mondo Leopold Brussels is near the European Commission & Parliament but also within walking distance of the Royal Palace, the museums and the Grand Place/Grote Markt.



Mondo Eden Antwerp near the sublimely beautiful Centraal Station which is next door to the Zoo.




Or Mondo Empire Antwerp in the middle of the famous Diamond district.







Mondo Hotel Ostend is a hip and trendy art deco hotel near the seafront, Casino, shops and the beach.





Learn all about Gueuze beers.

Read about my visit to the MAS-Museum Aan de Stroom in Antwerp.

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Flanders - Somewhere Amazing to Go

If you are looking for inspiration for a short break, Flanders in Belgium is the perfect choice.

Take advantage of the current fine weather and pop over to Flanders with P&O Ferries. Visit Ostend and the Flemish Coast or sit in an open air restaurant in the Oude Markt in Leuven known to locals as the 'longest bar in the world' surrounded by lovely buildings and watch the world go by.

Interested in culture? Visit Mechelen, the capital in the early 16th century with its impressive churches famous for their carillon (bell) playing and paintings including several by Rubens and Van Dyck. Or you can visit Ghent with its cobbled streets and winding canals and indulge yourself in its famous sweetshops.

Take your car with P&O Ferries on the Dover to Calais crossing from just £25 each way for a car and passengers or if you prefer to travel from Hull to Zeebrugge from £109 each way for a car and two people including ensuite cabin on an overnight crossing taking you directly to Flanders.

You can also enter a free prize draw with Tourism Flanders to win a weekend in Leuven, Ostend, Ghent or Mechelen including the ferry crossing.

Flanders, the northern Flemish-speaking region of Belgium is a prime destination with a string of engaging cities such as Ghent, Leuven, Ostend and Mechelen that offer impressive architecture, lively nightlife, first-rate cuisine and numerous other attractions for visitors. Each of the four cities of Flanders has its own unique atmosphere and style, providing the traveller with a different reason to visit each one.

Something special to eat
Did you know that Flanders has the most Michelin stars thanks to its fine cuisine. Food lovers will find so many treats to enjoy in Flanders; sample the delights of Leuven's handmade chocolates with their refined fillings of coffee and caramel-praliné. Or Mechelen's Mechelse Koekoek - a large chicken dish often prepared in abbey beer or with ginger bread.

Somewhere fabulous to shop
If you're hoping to fit in some retail therapy whilst in Flanders you won't be disappointed. Whether you're into designer labels or browsing quaint markets and quirky boutiques you will find it all here. Ostend's fashionable resort of Knokke Heist has the latest labels whilst Leuven and Ghent have an array of unusual shops, markets and boutiques to visit.

Somewhere amazing to go
From the invention of the printing press to the perfection of the portrait, Flanders has made a unique contribution to culture. Its well-funded, well-organised museums and institutions also make it a pleasure to discover. Plus dotted throughout Flanders are beautiful old relics and stunning architecture.


Visit www.visitflanders.co.uk for more tourism information on Flanders

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