Wow - what a great experience staying at Inke’s place in Ghent. It exceeded my expectations in terms of location, amenities, and hospitality. Here are a few highlights in case you are considering this place:
Location - Inke’s house is on a safe and quiet street (e.g., you can sleep with windows open and no traffic or loud neighborhood sounds) and it is close to all types of attractions that are in easy walking distance. You can also bike, bus, or drive to these places depending on your needs and access but Ghent is very much a walkable city. Here are some of the attractions with approximate walking times at a typical pace:
- large park with trails and playgrounds (2 minute walk)
- full grocery (10 minute walk through the park)
- major street with restaurants, cafes, and bars (10 minute walk)
- SNCB rail station that connects to all points in Belgium and throughout Europe (15 minute walk)
-city center (30 minute walk)
Amenities - the space itself is very clean and tastefully decorated. There are many large windows and sky lights so the space is filled with natural light throughout. All the windows are new and work well so you can open them to get great airflow throughout the space. The kitchen has all that you would need to cook a full dinner for yourself and friends and there are several options for coffee brewing (always a highlight for me). There were plenty of linens, blankets, towels, soap, cleaning supplies, etc. In short, it was like staying at a friends well kept apartment while they were away rather than simply boarding in a room.
Hospitality - Inke was a great host and went out of her way to make my stay memorable. She struck the perfect balance between being available to provide suggestions and check in on me while also respecting my privacy and independence. She lives on the floors below the apartment so she was available if needed but her communication was so clear and thorough that all my questions were answered before I knew I had them. She is a Ghent local and she has all of the inside scoop on where to go and what to do while visiting and she is very open with sharing her knowledge. Lastly, she has a son who is a delight to interact with and quite the adversary if your up for a game of footie. Overall I felt very welcomed in their home.
I could keep on listing the positive aspects of Inke’s place, but I suggest that instead, you simply book your stay with her and discover them for yourself. You will not be disappointed. Inke is a superhost and her place is a super spot!