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
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Brussels (Belgium)

Brussels...its a Grand Place

Advantages: Cosmopolitan with plenty to see and do
Disadvantages: Ridiculous hotel prices midweek

...the French king Louis XIV. The result was disastrous: more than 4000 houses and the Grand Place were completely destroyed. The last foreign emperor to rule over Brussels and the present Belgian kingdom was the Dutch emperor William I. He was forced out of Belgium in 1830, when a successful struggle for independence began in Brussels. In 1831 the first Belgian king, Leopold I, ascended the throne and Brussels became the capital of the new kingdom. There then followed a long period of rebuilding, new and grand buildings were erected, the city walls were demolished, and the city expanded in size and importance. After WWII Belgium was divided in two semi-independent regions, Flanders and the Walloon Province. Brussels became a district with its own government (with limited powers). Brussels also became the capital of the European Union...

proxam 28.08.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Brussels (Belgium)

Taste of Sprouts: The proxamity of Belgium

Advantages: It's close, it's charms are well known
Disadvantages: It's confusing

...inform me) and high-speed rail links are being forged at a great rate and further considerable expense. It is home to the third largest port in the world and has a large system of navigable rivers and canals. Brussels is also home to N.A.T.O. The countryside is largely flat. The main centres of population (and the areas of most interest to the first time visitor) are Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. We arrived by air and stayed in a recently renovated hotel on the Avenue Louise. This is a resume of our activities. I make no apology for the length of this review. BRUSSELS. The capital of Belgium (and home to its monarchy) is quite small and compact in comparison with other capital cities around the world. The most noticeable feature is the fact that it is a bilingual city (a constitutional requirement). Everything is repeated...

Newfloridian 22.06.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Brussels (Belgium)

Great Renaissance Hotel in Brussels

Advantages: Beautiful hotel and great value
Disadvantages: Not too near the city centre

...The Renaissance Hotel in Brussels forms part of the Renaissance chain of Hotels which in turn is owned by Marriott. I stayed at this hotel whilst on holiday in Brussels in August 2003 and found the hotel to be really good value in Summer (as all the business people are on holidays so the best time and cheapest time to visit Brussels is this time of year!) The room: The hotel bedroom that we had was well furnished and came with two Queen size beds, although room are available with one larger King Size bed. The room had a TV with satellite TV and a few okay English channels including BBC World. It also came with the usual trapping such as hairdryer, in room safe (very useful for passports and money!) as well as an iron and ironing board and trouser press. If you are here on business there is a large desk with ISDN line...

nickjj78 04.01.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Ixelles

mussels, mussels in brussels

Advantages: easy to get to
Disadvantages: therefore full of Brits

...Birmingham New Street look like an architectural gem) and walked down to the Grand Place. Euro souvenier shops, waffle shops, frite and mayo shops, litter and at last the Grand Place. That's it, I thought, ticked the box, I've done Bruxelles. In fact there is a lot more to the city, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this Posssibly the most interesting thing is that it's actually quite edgy. It's been said that Belgium was created by the Brits to annoy the French, which is a good start. The French apparantly look down on the Belgians. You've got in-fighting between the 'french' 'dutch' and 'german' camps which is quite amazing. Each wants partition from each other. Officially anything written should be in French AND Flemish but this is widely ignored. In the Flemish speaking area it is better to speak English than make the ultimate faux pax...

mark-southside 25.04.2004 (26.04.2004) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Brussels (Belgium)

Bargain hotel in the heart of Brussels

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

...slow draining from the bath though but it wasn't too bad. Check in is from 3pm and check out is before noon according to the Expedia information, but best to check this when you arrive as I asked in reception and they told me check out was actually 11am. CONCLUSION This was a pretty good hotel; clean, well located and an amazing price from Expedia of just under 50 pounds a night for the both of us! There seems to be a complimentary breakfast buffet usually, but for that price, who cares if it wasn't included! The reception staff seemed friendly and I was impressed overall. I would definitely check to see if there are any good deals for staying here. CONTACT DETAILS Eurostars Sablon Rue De La Paille 2 To 8 Brussel 1000 Belgium Telephone : +32 2 5136040...

larsbaby 05.04.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Hesperia Sablon, Brussels

BRUSSELS - BRUSSEL - BRUXELLES so good they named it thrice!

Advantages: Too many to mention
Disadvantages: None

...This is an even year, which means that the Grand Place in the centre of Brussels is to be covered by a flower carpet - This only happens every other year in August. Visiting this city in July/August is cool as the Belgians like the French leave their cities for the country and coast. Brussels takes its name from Broekzele, or "village of the marsh", which grew up in the sixth century on the trade route between Cologne and the towns of Bruges and Ghent. Under the Habsburgs, the town flourished, eventually becoming capital of the Spanish Netherlands; later Brussels took turns with The Hague as capital of the new United Kingdom of the Netherlands. In the nineteenth century it became the capital of new independent Belgium. There is an English language weekly magazine, The Bulletin, detailing what's going on in the City rather like...

bigdoug 27.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Brussels (Belgium)

Fond memories in Brussels for keen travellers

Advantages: Friendly staff, unique decor, good location
Disadvantages: A touch expensive for what it is

...I have stayed it the Welcome many times in the past 18 months when in Brussels on business. It is located in the St Catherine district close to the metro and also to many good seafood restaurants. Other good eating places are to be found within 5 minutes walk including Thai and Vietnamese restaurants that line one particular street. The Grande Place is itself within 10 minutes walk. The hotel is a cosy and friendly place where the 15 rooms are named not in a numerical fashion but after different countries or geographical regions (or in the case of the Silk Road journeys). All rooms are decorated according to their name, many quite delightfully. I have stayed in probably half of the rooms at the Welcome; my favourites include Tibet which has its own little terrace (it being a superior room) and the Silk Road which is the most...

andrewfleminguk 18.08.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Welcome Hotel, Brussels

Analytikerin and SkyscraperFanClub go to Brussels

Advantages: Beautiful and atmospheric.
Disadvantages: Very busy.

...Brussels has to be the most beautiful city I have ever visited. The aspect of Brussels that impressed me the most is that it has been so well looked after. There aren’t any horrible high-rise concrete buildings or tacky fast food restaurants. Everything is in keeping with the Baroque style of most of the buildings. I can’t help but think that if it were in England the atmosphere would be lost to excessive commercialisation as some areas of London are. The Grand Place is exceptionally beautiful. It is a square in the centre of the city. When I visited it the flower carpet was on display. A large area in the centre of the square had been sectioned off and flowers had been laid on the floor in a pattern with a fountain in the centre, it was amazing. The buildings surrounding the Grand Place are stunning. The town hall...

Analytikerin 31.05.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Brussels (Belgium)

The Hotel Vendome in Brussels: an OK hotel

Advantages: Convenient location near the city centre, very good breakfast
Disadvantages: Not very nice rooms with no view, the bathrooms are not very nice

...Well I don't know whether I should recommend this hotel or not.... Basically, if like us, you are given the option of staying in this hotel as part of a special deal, then go for it; but if you have to pay full price for the room, then just stay away from it! We ended up in this hotel as part of a wonderful 2 for 1 package in February which included eurostar travel from London to Brussels and one night at the hotel - all for just 120 pounds for the two of us!! So having paid that little, I find this hotel exceeded my expectations. The hotel receptionist was ok but not incredibly friendly and did not smile very much. The staff in general were helpful but not overly friendly. To get to our room in the top floor, we had to use a lift that was not very nice, actually it reminded me of hospital lifts and then...

lulucyole 07.04.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Hotel Vendome, Brussels