Silva Hotel Spa-Balmoral

One of the worse hotels I have stayed in this price range in a long time. It is all nicely advertised. Large rooms, beautiful view, including spa and wellness. The rooms are spacious, but very outdated. All furniture is made of 90s oak or peeling gold. The bathroom only has a bathtub, no shower cabin. What is also really annoying in 2024 is the fact that there are no power outlets next to the bed. We were upgraded to a so-called 'executive' room with 'lake view'. We looked out over a forest and we could not recognize the 'lake'. The bar of the restaurant is uninviting. I have never had a bad beer in Belgium, but the draft beer that was served here was really not good anymore. You do not need to book for the spa and wellness here either. The swimming pool is nothing special and the water is ice cold. The shower cabins were full of horseflies and other vermin. Out of misery we had asked to check out a night earlier. That was possible, provided that we would also pay for that night. In the end, we decided to do just that, because you don't have to stay for the dry rolls for breakfast.

We stayed with my husband thanks to a weekendesk offer in this establishment including the night, the 3-course menu, a 50-minute massage and access to the spa as well as breakfast. Very welcoming staff, very spacious room but dated with holes in the bedding. We didn't understand why a radiator was placed right in the middle of the room. No coffee machine in the room, and an unpleasant noise from the radiator in the bathroom sounded all night. The mattresses are comfortable. As the hotel is located high up, the wind can be heard in the corridors, perhaps review the insulation? The view is very nice over a huge forest with the singing of birds. The spa did not at all live up to our expectations. Ice cold pool water, only one jacuzzi for 126 rooms constantly full, we quickly went around... the massage was very pleasant with competent masseuses. The evening meal is not worthy of a Michelin star. As a starter, three leaves of lettuce and scampi served on a chipped plate as a starter, as a main course fish which was very good, but on the other hand lacked sauce, vegetables bordering on raw and pasta a little dry. The dessert was very good. The restaurant staff is impeccable, we were very well received. Maybe review the quantities, because my husband and I being bygone, we were able to eat the entire menu. Basic breakfast, brick scrambled eggs, it’s a shame. However, there is something for everyone, both sweet and savory, as well as salmon. A stay that did us good but at this price, we will not come back.