Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Daverdisse Garden Getaway!
Escape to Paradise: My Daverdisse Garden Getaway… Or Did I? (An Unfiltered Review)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea on my "dream getaway" at Escape to Paradise in Daverdisse. Yeah, the name's a bit much, isn't it? Sounds like a cheesy romance novel cover. But hey, I needed a break, and Daverdisse, Belgium, sounded… well, different. And different can be good, right? Turns out, sometimes… maybe not. Let’s dive in, shall we?
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- Meta Description: Unfiltered review of Escape to Paradise in Daverdisse, Belgium. Honest opinions on accessibility, spa, dining, and more, warts and all. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions!
The Arrival: Promises, Promises… (and a Bit of a Hiccup)
First impressions? The grounds are kinda gorgeous. Lush greenery, a hint of that "untouched wilderness" vibe. The entrance, not so much "paradise," more "slightly-too-eager-to-please." Seriously, I think the doorman (who was actually very nice) practically wrestled my luggage from me. Too enthusiastic.
Accessibility (Let's see if "Paradise" is Inclusive)
Okay, this is where things get… mixed. Wheelchair Accessibility: Officially, yes. Ramps are in place, but the paths are a bit… rustic. Think charming cobblestone, but also think, "will my wheelchair survive this?" Elevator was thankfully functioning, and the room… well, more on that later. Facilities for disabled guests: They tried. I can tell you that. But some areas, like the pool, felt a bit of an afterthought. Not awful, but definitely room for improvement. This isn't perfect paradise for those with mobility issues.
Getting Around: Parking was easy. Car park [free of charge] AND car park [on-site] AND valet parking?! Yeah, they're covering all the bases, though, getting in and out was, again, a bit awkward for me.
The Room: My "Luxury" Labyrinth
The room itself? Listed with [Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.]. and while It had all the listed amenities, the layout was… bizarre. Felt like navigating a maze. And the soundproofing? Let's just say I heard everything – including the neighbor's questionable karaoke choices.
Cleanliness and Safety (COVID Edition: Because We're All Paranoiacs Now, Right?)
They’re serious about cleanliness. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Absolutely. Hand sanitizer everywhere you look. I even witnessed a staff member aggressively wiping down a chair thrice. Individually-wrapped food options. Check. Rooms sanitized between stays. Double-check. They even had a sterilizing equipment on display. Look, I get it. We’re living in a germaphobe's paradise. I felt safe, but also a little like I was living in a sterile lab. And, I liked that they didn't skip on Hygiene certification and Staff trained in safety protocol.
I even noticed a Doctor/nurse on call, a First aid kit, and they offered Room sanitization opt-out available. I'd say they're doing everything humanly possible to prevent me from even getting a cough. And yes, there was even a Cashless payment service, in case you're as obsessed with avoiding germs as the hotel.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: More Like a Culinary Adventure (Sometimes Good, Sometimes… Not
Alright, the food. This is where things get interesting. The Restaurant was actually quite good, albeit a tad… formal. The A la carte in restaurant menu was extensive, and the Asian cuisine in restaurant was actually excellent. I tried the Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, and they even had Desserts in restaurant!. The Buffet in restaurant for breakfast was good.
The Poolside bar was a godsend for an afternoon cocktail. They had a Happy hour, which, let's be honest, is always a plus. I, however, never managed to try the Coffee/tea in restaurant, or the Snack bar.
The Breakfast [buffet] was standard, with your usual Western breakfast and Asian breakfast options. The Coffee shop was handy too. They offered Room service [24-hour], a lifesaver after a long day of… well, whatever I was doing. They even had a Vegetarian restaurant. I did find the Bottle of water a thoughtful touch.
Oh, and the Alternative meal arrangement? Well, they were accommodating enough, but I found the staff's tone a little… judgy when it came to my dietary requests. Maybe it was just me.
Ways to Relax (The Supposed "Paradise" Part)
Spa time!! Yes, please. The Spa was… okay. The Massage was decent, nothing life-altering. But the Sauna, and the Steamroom? Pure bliss. Seriously. I spent a good hour just melting into the heat. And the Pool with view was lovely, a welcome change from the room's maze-like structure. I tried a Body wrap. I think I’d rather have a nap. They had a Fitness center, too, though I didn't step foot in it. You know, relaxation, not exercise. And the Foot bath? Definitely a highlight.
Things to Do (Besides Wondering If You're Truly in Paradise)
This is where I felt a bit… adrift. The hotel had facilities for Meetings and Seminars, plus Business facilities and Audio-visual equipment for special events, so clearly, business travelers are catered for. There was a Gift/souvenir shop (expensive, but hey). They had a Shrine… which, I'm not sure what to make of. There a Terrace which was nice. They offered On-site event hosting and an Outdoor venue for special events. While they also had Audio-visual equipment for special events.
They have Babysitting service and Family/child friendly, and Kids facilities, though I did not explore those. There were a few things around, maybe a hike, a visit to a local village, the Family/child friendly facilities. But honestly, I mainly just wanted to eat, drink, and avoid the maze-like room.
For the Kids:
The hotel offers Babysitting service, so this is a plus if you're traveling with children. Kids facilities are also available. But to be honest, I didn't come with kids and didn't pay too much attention to this area.
Services and Conveniences (The Nitty Gritty)
They offer the usual suspects: Air conditioning in public area, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, and Safety deposit boxes. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing awful. Just… there. I did appreciate the Invoice provided, the Car park [free of charge], and, most importantly, the Wi-Fi for special events and Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!
The Imperfections (Because Nothing's Perfect, Folks)
Okay, let's get real. This place isn't perfect. The service, while generally friendly, sometimes felt a little robotic. The food, while good, occasionally veered into the pretentious. The "paradise" vibe felt a bit… forced.
And the noise! Oh, the noise! The walls are paper-thin. I think I spent half my stay listening to other people's conversations, snoring, and… well, let's just say I heard more than I wanted to.
They also had a Shrine. It
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Country House Awaits in Asten, Netherlands
Alright, buckle up, buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-formatted itinerary. This is my Daverdisse diary, a messy, glorious chronicle of me trying to find peace and maybe some decent waffles in the Belgian Ardennes.
Subject: Daverdisse Debrief - or, How I Learned to Love (and Almost Lose) a Garden
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Garden Gamble
- 14:00 - Arrival (and immediate existential dread): Okay, so the pictures of the holiday home were stunning. Lush garden, charming stone façade, the works. Reality? Well, let's just say the "charming stone façade" was more "slightly crumbling stone façade," and the "lush garden" looked like it hadn't seen a gardener since the Battle of Waterloo. I swear, there was a weed taller than me. (Emotional Reaction: Initial panic. Followed quickly by a morbid fascination with the sheer volume of potential gardening… and the spiders.)
- 14:30 - The Grand Tour (of terror): Explored the house, which was, thankfully, more charming than the exterior suggested. Found a decent kitchen and a fireplace that looked promising. Then stumbled upon the "garden shed." Let's just say it was less "shed" and more "hoarder's paradise disguised as a storage unit." (Quirky Observation: Found a gardening trowel that was probably older than my grandmother. Considered filing for archaeological status.)
- 15:00 - The Garden's Grasp: An Attempted Rescue: Decided to tackle a small patch of the garden. Armed with my ancient trowel and a whole lot of optimism, I began hacking away at the weeds. Two hours later, I was covered in dirt, sweating like a rabid pig, and had only managed to clear a space the size of my foot. (Messy Structure & Rambles: Okay, I’M not good at gardening. I'm a city girl! I blame the lack of proper tools. And the sheer volume of… things. It looked like a forest had decided to take up residence in my backyard, complete with its own ecosystem of bugs that seemed to be judging my technique.)
- 17:00 - Beer and Breakdown: Gave up on gardening (temporarily). Found a local brewery (thank the gods!) and drowned my sorrows in a delicious Trappist ale. (Emotional Reaction: Pure bliss. The beer was fantastic, and the silence was deafening. I needed that, really, I did)
- 19:00 - Dinner and the Dreaded Checklist: Simple meal of pasta. Attempted to make a checklist for the next days, but my brain was too tired and my heart wants to have some free time, so I just left it to tomorrow.
Day 2: Conquering the Weeds (and My Inner Critic)
- 09:00 - Breakfast and the Morning's Motivation: Woke up with a renewed sense of purpose (or maybe it was the beer from last night still lingering). Decided to approach the garden with a more… strategic plan. (Opinionated Language: "Strategic" is a nice word for "whimpering like a child until it's time to give up and call it a day".)
- 09:30 - Back to the Battle: Started again with the garden!
- 11:00 - The Garden's Grasp: The big battle! I needed some advice from my family, but I was able to continue and keep this moment.
- 13:00 - Lunchtime and Reflection: I decided to have a break and enjoy the small garden I worked in!
- 14:00 - A Long Ride: I realized the need to be in touch with nature and decided to go for a long ride, and I enjoyed it too!
- 18:00 - A Dinner for myself: A relaxing dinner, with a new idea in mind for the garden. I'm not a gardener, but I can make some new things.
- 20:00 - A Quiet Night: Time to think about the next day, and the next activities.
Day 3: The Daverdisse Diversion – Into the Woods (and Away from the Weeds)
- 09:00 - Breakfast and a Change of Tact: Screw it, the garden can wait. I'm taking a day trip, and letting the weeds battle themselves.
- 10:00 - The Village of Daverdisse Exploration: Decided to pay a visit to the village. It was picture perfect!
- 12:00 - Lunchtime!: I didn't miss the chance to grab some fries.
- 13:00 - Trek in the Forest: I had to go to the woods, to see what treasures Daverdisse could give.
- 16:00 - Return!: I was tired and happy to go back to my house!
- 18:00 - Dinner & a new plan: Time to have a good time, and to plan again the next days!
- 20:00 - A good and funny movie: I deserved it!
Day 4: The Waffle Wars (and the Unexpected Joy of Baking)
- 09:00 - Another Day! Feeling the spirit of the village.
- 10:00 - Breakfast! Needed some energy before starting to do something new.
- 12:00 - Waffles: Double Down! I decided to have a real experience: I wanted to make Waffles. I decided to go and learn from where I was. I decided to find the closest bakery!
- 14:00 - The Journey begins! A lot of new people!
- 15:00 - Cooking Time: What a real experience!
- 17:00 - Taste Time: And the taste was amazing!
- 19:00 - Dinner & Planning: I was tired but absolutely happy.
- 21:00 - A good night: Time to let the experience sink!
Day 5: Departure (and a Sudden Feeling of… Attachment?)
- 10:00 - The Final Goodbyes: Packed up, cleaned up (mostly), and took one last look at the garden. To my surprise, it didn't look quite as terrifying. Maybe I had actually made a dent?
- 11:00 - The Sad Part: Departure!
- 13:00 - End of the Journey. Back to my routine.
Post-Script:
Look, Daverdisse isn't perfect. The garden is still a work in progress, and I'm pretty sure I still have a tick somewhere I can't see. But you know what? I loved it. The beer, the solitude, the quiet, even the damned weeds. It was exactly what I needed. Would I go back? Absolutely. Maybe next time, I'll bring a proper trowel. And maybe, just maybe, I'll finally conquer that damn garden.
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Apartment Awaits in Okrug Gornji/Donji, Croatia!
Escape to Paradise: Daverdisse Garden Getaway! FAQs (and a bit about my *actual* experience...)
Okay, so…what *is* this "Escape to Paradise" thing, exactly? Sounds cheesy.
Alright, let's be real. "Escape to Paradise" *does* sound a bit like something you'd see advertised in a magazine aimed at people who wear too much linen. BUT! It's basically a curated experience – a weekend (or longer, if you're smart) in a beautiful, sprawling garden in Daverdisse, Belgium. Think lush greenery, charming cottages, and a promise of complete tranquility. And, I gotta say…they *almost* deliver on that promise. Almost.
Personally? I went expecting, well, *paradise*. I needed a break. Life had been a…a dumpster fire, to put it mildly. So, I packed my bags, filled with *way* too many books I wouldn't read (classic), and high hopes.
What kind of activities are included? Is it just…staring at flowers? Because, honestly, I’m not sure I can do that for a whole weekend.
No, no, no! It's not *just* staring at flowers (though…the flowers *are* ridiculously gorgeous). They have a whole schedule. Think guided garden tours (which, surprisingly, are fascinating, especially if you get a good guide – more on *that* later), cooking classes (I actually burned the potatoes), wine tasting (essential), pottery (I created a slightly lopsided mug that I am inexplicably proud of), and even optional yoga sessions (which I skipped because, let's be honest, bending down is hard work, right?). But you also have plenty of leisure time. Time to wander, read, or just, you know, *be*.
And speaking of “just, you know, *be*”…the leisure. That’s where it all fell apart, or came together, depending on your perspective. My first impulse, jet-lagged and a little stressed, was to grab a book and hide in the tiny, adorable, cottage. But that’s not what my anxiety would let me do. I had to get out and see everything…then I felt like a failure because I couldn’t enjoy it. It's a vicious cycle.
Tell me about the accommodations. Are we talking luxury or rustic charm? (And what does "rustic charm" *really* mean?)
Okay, so “rustic charm” *usually* translates to “charming, but with a slightly leaky roof and questionable water pressure.” And while the cottages *are* undeniably charming, the website slightly omits a few details. The water pressure? Spotty. The roof? Fine, thankfully, but I wouldn't trust it in a downpour. The bed, oh, the BED. It was one of those antique four-posters. Pretty, yes. Comfortable? Less so. I felt every single one of my forty bones. But, and it's a BIG but…the atmosphere *is* magical. Waking up to birdsong, the sun streaming through the window…it almost makes you forget the slightly wonky shower.
Oh, and the cottage? It had its own little balcony. Perfect for sipping coffee (which, by the way, was AMAZING) and pretending you're a character in a Jane Austen novel, until you realise you're wearing your pyjamas and haven't brushed your hair.
What's the food like? Because, honestly, I’m judging this whole thing on the food.
The food is…good. Really good. Mostly. They pride themselves on using locally sourced ingredients, and the presentation is gorgeous. Think farm-to-table, super Instagrammable plates. The breakfasts were incredible – fresh bread, pastries, local cheeses. Lunches were lighter, but still delicious. Dinners? They were hit-or-miss. One night, the chef clearly had a *bad* day and the main course was a dry, flavourless... well, let's just say I think the dog was the only one who enjoyed it. The other nights, however were truly spectacular. The wine pairings were excellent. Overall? I’d give it a solid B+. (The coffee? A definite A+.)
And the afternoon tea! Honestly, the afternoon tea was the event of the trip. Scones, clotted cream, tiny sandwiches…I think I ate my weight in those little delicacies. Pure unadulterated joy. Forget the leaky roof, the weird bed – that afternoon tea was a spiritual experience. I'm still dreaming of those scones.
Who would this getaway be *perfect* for? Who should avoid it at all costs?
Perfect for: People who love nature, appreciate beauty, and don't mind a bit of imperfection. People looking to de-stress and recharge (though, spoiler alert, it’s not always as easy as it sounds!). People who enjoy a slower pace of life. People who love scones. Seriously, if you don't appreciate a good scone, stay away.
Avoid it if: You're a high-maintenance type who demands perfection (you will be disappointed). You hate the outdoors. You need constant entertainment. You're afraid of bugs (there are a few). You're on a strict diet (those scones…they'll call to you). And, honestly, if you’re carrying some emotional baggage…it might not be the light, breezy escape you’re hoping for. You might end up, like me, having an existential crisis while staring at a particularly lovely rose.
Is it actually *relaxing*? Or is it the kind of "relaxing" that involves a lot of forced smiles and pretending you're enjoying yourself?
Okay, this is the million-dollar question, isn't it? It *can* be relaxing. But…it depends. On you. On your current state of mind. On whether the person next door is having a loud phone conversation. On the weather. On the quality of the aforementioned potatoes in the cooking class. I had moments of pure, unadulterated bliss. Sitting by the stream, listening to the water. Watching the sunset over the garden. Drinking that amazing coffee. Pure, unadulterated bliss.
And then there were moments of…well, less bliss. The overthinking got the better of me. The anxiety crept in. The forced smiles. The pretending. I was trying so hard to be the "relaxed" version of myself, I just felt like a fraud. But, and this is important, even the not-so-relaxing moments had their value. Because they were *real*. And even if I didn't find perfect paradise, by the end of the trip, I felt I had connected with myself. And the scones, you know, helped a lot.
