Hotels with a Game Room in Ostend for Families

A game room matters more in Ostend than in a southern resort, because a day planned around the beach can turn grey and windy without much warning. The five hotels on this list all keep one on site, so children have somewhere to play without another outing, and most combine it with something else for families: a pool and spa at C-Hotels Andromeda, an indoor play area at Upstairs Hotel, a playground at Ostend Hotel, family suites at Leopold and kitchenettes at Montaigne.

The North Sea sets the rhythm of an Ostend holiday. Even in summer, a morning on the beach can be followed by wind and rain, and children who have been building sandcastles need somewhere to go next. That is where these hotels earn their place: each has a game room on site, so a change in the weather does not mean another outing or an afternoon stuck in the room. Because all five sit within a few minutes' walk of the beach, families can switch between the sand and the game room as often as the sky demands.

Two hotels go beyond the game room alone. C-Hotels Andromeda, a four-star on the beachfront rated 9.0, gives guests free access to a 110-square-metre swimming pool, a spa bath and a fitness area, and adds a playground, family suites and rooms with sea views or private terraces. Upstairs Hotel, a three-star by the beach rated 8.9 from almost 4,000 reviews, pairs its games room with an indoor play area and tennis facilities, and its terrace looks out to sea. Both are pet-friendly, which suits families travelling with a dog, and both put the beach right outside the door.

The other three are simpler but well placed. Leopold Hotel Ostend occupies a 1928 Art Deco building 150 metres from the beach and the promenade, with family suites, spa and wellness facilities and a game room. Ostend Hotel, a three-star within 100 metres of the beach, has a playground as well as its game room, plus fitness and sauna facilities for the parents. Hotel Montaigne, four minutes from the beach and rated 9.5, is an aparthotel: each apartment has a kitchenette and a balcony, and there is bike rental for exploring the coast.

Choosing between them comes down to how the family likes to spend its time indoors. For children who want to swim whatever the weather, I would choose C-Hotels Andromeda for its large pool. For younger children who need to run around, Upstairs Hotel's indoor play area is the better fit. Families staying a week and cooking some of their meals will be more comfortable at Hotel Montaigne, while Leopold suits those who want a family suite in a historic building close to the promenade and the centre. Whatever the choice, the beach is never more than a few minutes away.