Hotel Aazaert

Set in a brick building on a brick lane, the Hotel Aaazaert conveys a tasteful and restrained approach to contemporary decor, with modern upholstery and carpets, contemporary furniture, and neutral tones. The lobby has a round wooden desk, tiled floors, a large brochure display, and a cozy seating area with gray chairs and couches. Overall, the effect is a bit generic and snoozy, however, there are a few local touches including black-and-white antique photographs and prints, such as the photo mural of a 19th-century pier scene that's displayed above the front desk. The breakfast room has a warm vibe, with orange carpets, cream walls, and large windows that bring in natural light. In contrast, the hotel’s cozy bar lounge gives off the vibe of a posh smoker’s lounge, with dark wood-paneled walls, leather sofas, a grand piano, and an electric fireplace. The hotel caters to all types of travelers, with business travelers drawn to the property during the week and couples and families on the weekends and in the summer.

One of the biggest draws of Hotel Aazaert is its location. It’s only a three-minute walk to the beach and four minutes to Casino Blankenberge. The hotel is surrounded on all sides by restaurants, cafes, and shopping, and the train, bus, and tram station is a seven-minute walk away. Bruges is about half an hour away by road, and it’s a 40-minute drive along the coast to Ostend-Bruges International Airport. 

Guest rooms at Hotel Aazaert are modern and airy, with blond-wood furniture and carpeting. An aquamarine-and-brown color palette creates a serene feel, while black-and-white framed photography adds a little sophistication. But as with the rest of the hotel, rooms lack personality, and the spaces feel chain-like as a result. All rooms are spacious enough for desks and small seating areas with armchairs or small loveseats. Features include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes, and -- in some rooms -- coffee- and tea-making facilities, but no air-conditioning. Some rooms have tiny balconies to stand on, but they don’t offer enough space for a chair. Beige-tile bathrooms are simple but spacious, with roomy vanities and either walk-in showers or baths, while Suites have separate walk-in showers and tubs. 

For a property of its size, Hotel Aazaert offers a good selection of facilities. There’s a clean and relaxing wellness area with a spa, a sauna, and a small gym with four cardio machines. However, hotel guest access is limited to a few hours a day, as the facilities are also used by outside customers. Other hotel features include a lovely indoor pool with lounge chairs plus an outdoor rooftop solarium with views of a nearby church. There’s also a cozy bar and a restaurant that serves dinner Monday through Saturday. A free breakfast buffet is served each morning. The hotel also offers fully equipped meeting rooms that can hold up to 100 people. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and on-site lot and garage parking is available for a fee.