Keukenhof Gardens with Shearings via Ghent hotel

In spring traveled with Shearings to visit Keukenhof Gardens in Holland, we selected to stay in the Ghent hotel because it was a 4 star facility. Overall the hotel provided a very comfortable base with nice rooms and and good service. Although it is located on the very outskirts of the city the rail connect into the centre was only a 5 min walk away.

The Shearing coach driver was also very professional and kept us amused with stories collated thro a long professional driving career. So why only a 2 star rating ?

1) Although a 4 star hotel Shearing clearly negotiate a deal which provides their guests with a 3 star menu. You are not entitled to eat the "normal" hotel menu.

2) From Ghent the coach travel to Keukenhof can be 3 < 3.5 hours each way. We were allowing only 3 hours to view one of europe's most spectacular gardens, in which any horticultural enthusiast could easily spend six hours.

So not only do you return travel weary but you feel short changed because you only spend 3 hours viewing the highlight of what you came to see and in total may spend between 15 < 20 hours over a 3 day period in a coach.

There must be a more relaxing way to visit Keukenhof, our next visit will most certainly not be by coach and now all Shearing circulars go straight in the rubbish.