A brewery themed hotel

When it comes to leisure travelling, choosing a suitable hotel is a determent factor in the success of the trip. I’m not a late night person, so looking for clubs and night party venues has never been on my list. Hence, after a long day of sightseeing , I love to come back to the comfort of a clean hotel, with smiling staff and a comfortable room. Although I first look at my budget while choosing a hotel, I do not mind finding a good deal in a hotel with a particular theme that makes it a bit more special.

Recently, by coincidence, we ended up in hotel that was part of a brewery . Het Anker was in Mechelen-Belgium. It just happens that there are two hotels with the same name ending, and we landed on the one with a brewery.

You can imagine the look on my face when I entered the reception to find stacks of beer crates all over the place. The receptionist who saw my hesitation assured me that this was indeed the reception and that I’m in a hotel that is part of one of Belgium’s oldest beer breweries. Now for someone who does not consume alcohol in any shape or form, this was like putting a fish in the desert. However, to make the best out of an accident, we decided to also take the tour and see how this most famous beer is manufactured. It was interesting.

Again by chance and as I was selecting a hotel near the airport in Cape Town, I booked in Hotel Verde. The name indicates the colour green, but when we stayed there, it became clear why it was given that name. This was a very environmental-friendly hotel . that had all the elements to make it a winner of many trophies for preserving nature, methods such as recycled water, energy saving modes, and very eco-friendly waste control make this hotel the only one with such approach in Africa, and it actually was one of the best hotels I stayed in South Africa.

This time, not by chance, but rather by choice, when travelling to Kenya, I love to stay at Nairobi’s Tribe hotel. A luxurious hotel with an African theme that is reflected in the selection of tens of precious African crafts throughout the hotel corners. Even if one is not staying there, an afternoon coffee or a romantic dinner by their poolside, is a must try.

Our own Kampala, has a wonderful small hotel called Le Bougainviller with a very rustic theme. The owner of the hotel, Bruno, that I consider an artist, has made each corner of his hotel a very pleasant escape in the busy town. There too, if you are not staying the night, their lunch and dinner menus, are not only one of the tastiest , their prices are really friendly.