Hotel De Boskar 1773 ★★★★

As we drove along the picturesque Belgian roads, I glanced in my rear-view mirror and saw the children’s eyes light up whilst gazing at the miles and miles of greenery that rolled out before them, and the cries of “are we there yet?” began to increase tenfold. I breathed a sigh of relief – when I booked the trip I was seeking a peaceful family break, a much needed escape from our bustling lives in London; and now we were here, I could see that’s exactly what was in store for us.

After several years of holidays to Spain, Italy and Greece, I wanted to move away from the classic sea, sun and sand that had always dominated our trips. Whilst searching, I stumbled across the Hotel De Boskar 1773 ****, and instantly fell in love with the photos of the characterful building in the charming town of Peer. And I was not disappointed when we reached the real thing – as we drove into the old market square, one glimpse of the beautiful red-brick structure pointed to the town’s rich history and the wealth of culture to be discovered.

Once warmly welcomed inside, we were relieved to discover that our spacious room had plenty enough room for 4, with all the modern amenities we have come to rely on as a family, including a flat-screen TV, a coffee machine and of course the essential free internet! My husband and the children were eager to get out in the fresh air to start their outdoor adventures, so I sent them down to the tourist office, helpfully in the same building, to enquire about the multitude of available walking and cycling routes. I, however, thought it was high time to treat myself before I joined them; so I opted for a rather more relaxing visit to the hotel’s sauna, followed by a luxurious massage.

Later on that evening, worn out from a scenic cycle ride, we made the short journey down to their adjoining restaurant ‘Old Stadthuys’, an elegant establishment set in the former town hall. Luckily we were blessed with dry weather and had the pleasure of sitting on their heated terrace whilst enjoying our nicely presented and truly satisfying meals. Although a world away from our usual holiday destinations, the Hotel De Boskar 1773 proved itself not only as a central base to explore this beautiful area but also as a modern, chic and comfortable place to stay. Needless to say, we will definitely be coming back soon!