Dmitry K.
Google
Beautiful place, non-existing culture of service. Staff are unprofessional and/or poorly trained. Not coming back and not recommending for a stay.
Unfortunately, we did not have a good experience during our stay at your hotel. Over the past two years we have travelled extensively across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, encountering a wide range of accommodations—from excellent to mediocre—but our stay at August stands out as one of the most disappointing experiences we have had.
What was meant to be a short getaway to celebrate recent personal and professional milestones instead became a source of frustration, despite being a stay we paid for in full ourselves.
There is no question that the property itself is beautiful, and the architectural restoration is remarkable. However, the overall culture of service did not meet even basic expectations. Several friends reached out to me asking where we were staying in Antwerp, as they were planning trips to the area. Regrettably, based on our experience, I advised them not to stay at August and would feel compelled to do the same for anyone else seeking recommendations. This is particularly disappointing given the historical and architectural significance of the place.
Below are some specific issues that contributed to our experience:
1. Upon check-in, the trash cans in our room still contained rubbish from previous guests, and at least one face towel was visibly stained. This was not acknowledged with an apology or ownership from the staff.
2. We were informed that the front desk was reachable 24/7 via the in-room phone. However, there was no phone in our room. We were later told it had been stolen by a previous guest, and the only solution offered was for us to come to the reception desk in person whenever we needed assistance. This meant that, unlike other guests, we did not have access to what should be a basic hotel service.
3. During a facial treatment, the staff were dismissive and unprofessional. We were repeatedly denied access to a changing room, as well as robes and slippers that were included in the service. Instead, my girlfriend was told to simply remove “the top of the dress,” as it was “just a facial.” This was uncomfortable and inappropriate.
4. At dinner in the hotel restaurant, two items we did not order were added to the bill. Had we not checked carefully, we would have been charged incorrectly. Again, no apology or acknowledgment followed.
5. There appeared to be no internal communication between staff members. Each time we were asked how our stay had been, we were required to explain the same issues from the beginning.
At checkout, the response we received was essentially that the issues had already occurred and could not be undone. While that may be factually true, it does not reflect an effort to take responsibility or demonstrate care for the guest experience.
I am writing this not out of anger, but out of genuine disappointment. It is unfortunate to see such a unique and well-restored property undermined by systemic service issues. Public reviews suggest that these are not isolated incidents, which makes this even more concerning.
I had initially considered recommending August as a place to visit for a coffee or to admire the space, even if not to stay overnight. After reflection, I no longer feel comfortable doing so.