M Hotel ★★★★

It’s always such a delight to discover somewhere new and different, particularly when it’s so close and easy to get to. The M Hotel is a member of the Different Hotels group, and this suited my sense of discovery perfectly. Fortunately I had persuaded my partner to come with me just for the fun of it, and after I had completed my mission in Molenvijver Park, we were determined to make the most of our adventures in pastures new. I was heading for the famous collection of sundials in the park, as the backdrop to our Time feature, and it turned out to be a perfect choice: quirky, fun, undiscovered and interesting. Quite like the M Hotel in fact!

Between the centre of Genk and Molenvijver Park, overlooking a tree-lined lake complete with gracefully gliding swans, we found our hotel. The stately building is unmistakeably Belgian with its straight-topped roof with curving sides. We stepped into a bright modern reception area with a striking swirl of sunshine yellow on the front of the desk. It felt modern and sophisticated. I felt that my job was becoming more glamorous by the minute!

In our Comfort Room, the décor was contemporary and unusual. There were silhouette-style murals of Japanese almond blossom on the walls, a shiny tiled area behind the bedhead and low-hanging ceiling lights, making a pretty and inviting atmosphere. But this hotel is not only contemporary and quirky - solid four-star comforts like a spacious sitting area and work desk space gave us all the conveniences we needed. The dark grey marble and soft lighting of the bathroom was gorgeous and the walk-in shower was superb.

Our first port of call was the piano bar for a welcome drink. It felt lively and relaxed and I looked forward to the next day, when my work would be finished, and we could spend more time savouring the atmosphere. We dined in-house, in the Bistro Restaurant Molenvijver, and since the weather was kind, we sat out on the terrace where the dining area seems to blend almost into the greenery of the adjoining Molenvijver Park. The food was delicious and the service friendly and efficient. The terrace was a lovely peaceful place that evening but it was obvious that with a large party the dining hall would be quite capable of turning into a spectacular ballroom.

In the morning, we were fortified by a generous breakfast buffet of freshly baked croissants, breads, juices, cereal, fruit, nuts and yogurt. That’s my kind of breakfast, especially before a busy day taking pictures in the park! My photo shoot was a success, I hope; the shots of the trees, paths and unique collection of sundials as the backdrop to our models worked like a dream. Mission accomplished, and we now had a couple of days of holiday to look forward to. We planned to explore our newly discovered city of Genk and some of the lovely countryside in this part of Belgium, as well as indulging in some shopping, encouraged by our VIP invitations to the Maasmechelen Village Shopping Centre. And best of all, we had the sophisticated comforts of the M Hotel to welcome us home at the end of the day.