There is nothing not to like about the Hotel De Lives except for a frigid air that engulfs the staunch owner, Mr. Francis Van der Elst. Perched on a cliff overlooking the River Meuse 6km from Namur, the Hotel is an old hotel-manor house restored to its craggy glory with modern amenities. Within it are 18 rooms and suites. If you do not fancy a room in the hotel, an annex is connected to the house by an elaborate sun-breakfast room, which doubles as a meeting room for 50.
Cold, tired, hungry, and jetlagged, we approached the tall wooden door and knocked. It was noon and we only wanted to freshen up after 13 hours on a jet. A jaunty lady thrust her head from a semi-closed door and briskly quipped, "We are closed to 16:00." "Please!" we begged, "we just want to check in." She shook her head and we sagged back to the car.
At 3pm, fed and money exchanged, but still dragging, we begged once more to check in with Sylvia, the student maid. She returned with a key to room #2. At the top of the narrow dark stairs lurked room #2 with a high tiny gloomy window in a minute room with a saggy double bed. A minibar sat under the sink and a cupboard hid in a corner. Next was room 4 after a phone call to Mr. Elst. Two single beds floated in a huge room, but we had reserved a double on line for 60 euros. A suite on the third floor was beautiful, but costly. Shortly, a bristling Mr. Elst spun into the office and announced he had no other rooms at our price. I calmly breathed at him that I would take a newer room at a higher price and his smile beamed. We scampered to the annex where Mr. Elst rapidly showed us the rooms available for an adjustment of 27 euros.
Room #27 with a king-size bed was perfect, but was unmade. Mr. Elst insisted on #26 with twin beds. Again I said no, and firmly remarked I would take #27 and we would wait in the bar-lounge while the room was made up.
#27 was worth the wait. Colors of umber, orange and yellow warmed the walls and striped the bed cover. By the huge sliding glass door sat a lovely wrought iron table and two chairs. A color TV hung from a high corner and a giant tub beckoned. Beneath the shelves of the cupboard squatted the minibar and a phone rested on my bedside table. From the windows and sliding door hung brick red pull down folding shades to keep out the morning sun. Breakfast topped it off with a giant array of choices, coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, juice, cheese, eggs, cereal, rolls, croissants, butter, jam all on the buffet in the lovely open bright sunroom. Mr. Elst takes reservations on line and accepts all your credit cards. Website.