Brussels on a budget

Advantages: easy to get to, the Grand Place
Disadvantages: Mannakin Pis is dissapointing, takcy tourist shops

...Question What does one do when you want to celebrate finishing the taught part of a Masters degree and want to go away but are so broke even the cheapest trip to Spain is not an option? Answer. Book a very cheap flight for a mini break to Brussels the capital of Belgium. I did this in June 2003 and I had a great time. I flew with Ryanair from John Lennon airport in Liverpool to Charleroi airport in Brussels. Or so I thought it was in Brussels. It was near enough an hour from the airport to Midi railway station. The connecting bus is a rip off at 10 euros. Since there were four of us on the way there we took a taxi that cost us 35 euros. The airfare was really cheap. It only cost £20 for a return fare including all taxes. Due to the European Parliament Brussels has cheap hotels at the weekend instead of during mid week. We were...

duskmaiden 27.06.2003 (30.08.2009) · Read review
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Review of Brussels (Belgium)

Eurostar - They Just Moved Europe 20 Mins Nearer

Advantages: More than just travel details
Disadvantages: Oh God! He's a train spotter!

...REVISED (19/10/03) TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SECTION OF HIGH SPEED LINE IN KENT. I thought I?d already written about Eurostar, but that was a trip to Brussels, so I won?t be forced to resurrect it. With the first section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) open (since 28th September), this seems like as good a time as any to take stock, as I?ve now been to Brussels three times and Lille twice (yesterday being the last time. We went there for lunch at ?À L?Huitrière?* ? ?550 for four! Decadent? Moi?). *probably the best meal I?ve had in living memory, but I digress. Sorry, Paris lovers, you can take the place and stick it ?where the sun don?t shine?. If I wanted to get insulted and generally sh*t on, I could stay in London, where at least I?m somewhat more fluent in the local language. On the subject...

BNibbles 30.08.2003 (19.10.2003) · Read review
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Review of Eurostar

Eurostar - Fantastic Value For Money

Advantages: inexpensive, reliable, fast, refreshments available on board, more comfortable than many airlines
Disadvantages: Lack of boarding information in Gare du Nord

...Whilst recently booking a last minute trip to Paris, I found that the cost of the flights were out of my price range. However, I found that I could book a return ticket on the Eurostar for just £49.00. In my opinion this was fantastic value, especially considering that a train from Liverpool to London (a similar distance) will set you back at least £65. The journey itself was pleasant, with both journeys arriving and departing on time. The only problem that we did experience was embarking for the return journey. There was little information displayed, and as there were a large number of people in the waiting area, we assumed that we had to wait there to embark. However, the time for departure was fast approaching, and we discovered that the people waiting had checked in for the next departure. We made it to our seats with only a few...

bexx87 19.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Eurostar

Brussels By Eurostar

Advantages: Great staff. Good deals.
Disadvantages: Any time spent in Brussels is immediate need for a diet afterwards.

...This is the second time we have used Bridge Travel, in their Belgian Travel Service guise. On both occasions, all of their arrangements have run like clockwork. We are full of praise for their telephone staff - putting holidays on hold while the rest of your family decides if they can afford it, or in my daughter's case, whether she is still talking to the same boyfriend! A good way of getting a weekend in Brussels off to a relaxing start is to get down to Ashford, Kent the night before, using the hotel booked by Bridge Travel. A short taxi ride to the station after an early breakfast seems so civilised compared to the air equivalent. All your bags are carry-on so no retrieval problems. Brussels has a good few budget hotels only a few Tram/Metro stops away from the Gare du Midi, where the Eurostar arrives. The only major disappointment...

BNibbles 12.11.2000 (18.11.2000) · Read review
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Review of Bridge Travel

Five star luxury in the hear of Brussels

Advantages: Location, size, quality service and comfort
Disadvantages: Some will not like the limited facilities

.... The link to the Le Meridien, in Brussels is through the Starwood web site. This is the best link for a full list of all the services available and I am not duplicating such lists in my reviews as this is not my preferred style. Visit if such details are important to you or if you wish to see more pictures than I have provided below. Hotel Link http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html ?propertyID=1914 Location The Le Meridien markets itself as the best location in Brussels. Though it is difficult to endorse this claim without question it is certainly in a good spot for all categories of visitor being located directly opposite Central Station. This has direct connections with the International Airport (around 20 minutes with 4 trains an hour during the day) and also Gare de Midi (for the Eurostar) which is just...

andrewfleminguk 27.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Le Meridien Brussels, Brussels

frequent travellers guide to eurostar

Advantages: Hassle free, can change the ticket once
Disadvantages: Cheaper from france than UK, time consuming

...I am currently living in France and thus have to travel quite frequently between the two countries. I have used eurostar for the majority of my journeys, but this is mainly because it is usually cheaper than flying. It is a convenient way to travel, very comfortable and doesn't take an excessive amount of time considering that a train journey within Britain can take just as long as the London to Paris crossing! Checkin is conveniently short, although the staff do get unnecessarily arsey with you if your connecting train is delayed and you happen to arrive a few minutes later than the usual 20 minute checkin. However, the short checkin means that it can be just as quick to go on the Eurostar as it is to fly, and if your luggage gets lost then it can only be your own forgetfulness that is at fault! The price discrepency between buying...

NATI 14.02.2001 · Read review
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Review of Eurostar

Bargain hotel in the heart of Brussels

Advantages: Decent hotel, great price on Expedia
Disadvantages: Will you be able to get the same deal?

...INTRODUCTION Brussels is a handy place to meet if you're in the South Netherlands and your girlfriend is in London. Thanks to Eurostar and Dutch rails, we can both make it there in a couple of hours. My girlfriend managed to get a great deal on a hotel thanks to Expedia, and so here is a review of that hotel, which in my opinion is well worthy of consideration. Seems like the name has slighly changed since this was added to Ciao in 2006, to Eurostars Sablon. I checked the address and I've got the right place! THE LOCATION Hotel Eurostars Sablon is located opposite the Museum of Ancient and Modern Art in the city centre, 500 metres from the Royal Palace. This makes it a very handy location for the tourist areas. We found it a five minute walk to the Central train station, and a ten minute walk to the main tourist area...

larsbaby 05.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hesperia Sablon, Brussels

A brief bite into Brussels

Advantages: Stunning architecture and lots of lovely different beers and chocolates
Disadvantages: Not a huge amount of well known attractions

...Although Brussels is the capital of Europe, it's often overlooked as a city break location due to it being sandwiched between its more famous neighbours, Paris and Amsterdam. Having lived and worked in Brussels for a year as a student, I have a rather fond regard for the place. I'll freely admit that it has not got as many well known attractions nor the je ne sais quoi of Paris. Indeed, neither has it got the same canal like prettiness or red light risquéness of Amsterdam. However, Brussels has a quaint charm all of its own, superb architecture and buildings, and let's not forget all that gorgeous chocolate and beer. ***SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE*** Belgium has a population of 11 million people split between Flanders in the North (where they speak Flemish) and Wallonia in the south (where they speak French). Although Brussels is...

Bollinger28 21.08.2005 (26.08.2005) · Read review
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Review of Brussels in general

Don't use Eurostar - fly instead!

Advantages: Paris Nord train station is well situated and convenient
Disadvantages: unreliable online booking service, high prices, poor customer service

...I would not recommend Eurostar to anyone who values good customer service, value for money or reliability. I was looking forward to my journey having heard good things from friends and family. Having booked my tickets online a few weeks in advance and received instructions to collect my tickets at the train station on the day of travel, I did this and was then told my credit card hadn't been debited and the tickets had been cancelled just days before we travelled. Despite having provided both my mobile number and email address on the form, I was not notified that this problem had occurred and was forced to purchase tickets at a much higher price on the day of departure. Had I been notified I could have come in to the Paris Nord station and paid for them in person, as I was staying nearby. All my efforts to seek compensation...

JGramp 13.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Eurostar

Decent Thai buffet in central Brussels

Advantages: Good buffet food, good price
Disadvantages: Not sure what the a la carte is like

...INTRODUCTION Searching around for Sunday lunch in Brussels, myself and the lady chanced upon the Lotus Bar in the Sablon area near to our hotel. Having walked around for a good half hour looking for something that took our fancy, we thought we'd give this place a bash for the buffet. So here we are. THE RESTAURANT The restaurant was on 2 floors, the entrance being on the upper floor. A red curtain covered the entrance door and the décor was very dark, with black painted tables and chairs. Most of the tables were for 4, and most groups seem to comprise of about this number. The bar was to the left of the entrance, and more or less dominated the upstairs dining area. In fact it is advertised as a cocktail bar on their website, so no wonder it's so big. The loos were very modern, very clean and all polished fittings...

larsbaby 03.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Lotus Bar, Brussels