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 great base for exploring Brussels

Advantages: Great location, comfortable rooms, excellent food
Disadvantages: Expensive if not arranged as part of a package

...I recently spent a weekend at this hotel on a budget break I'd arranged through lastminute.com. I must say I was incredibly impressed by the standard of the hotel for something that I had paid so little for. The location is perfect. The hotel is situated on Place de Grande Sablon - home of the famous Sablon antique market at the weekends. The architecture of the surrounding area makes this an Art Nouveau lover's paradise. Bars and restaurants are plentiful in the immediate vicinity. The ancient and modern art galleries are less than a five minute walk away and the Grande Place is not much further. The marbled entrance lobby to the hotel is flanked by opulent antique shops that convey a sense of grandeur as you enter the building. Reception staff were very helpful. Our room was spacious and tastefully decorated. The beds were very...

dancingfishes 10.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Jolly Hotel Du Grand Sablon, Brussels

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

Art Deco Hotel in a lovely "arondissement"!

Advantages: Excellent weekend rates, quiet area, clean rooms and friendly staff.
Disadvantages: Gives misleading information about itself, our bags were left unattended in the hallway.

...first night. Getting there Nearest Airports: Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Paris Orly are the three main airports in Paris. Shuttle buses from the airports: The shuttle buses take you to metro stops so you can continue your journey on the underground. From Charles de Gaulle get the Air France "Navette" as far as Porte Maillot and get the metro one stop to "Les Sablons" (or walk 5 mins up "Avenue Charles de Gaulle"!) From Orly get the Air France "Navette" as far as "Invalides" and take the metro to "Les Sablonnes" changing one stop along at "Champs Elysees Clemenceau". You can also get the metro from the airport. The Hotel is located on Metro line 1. Get off at "Les Sablons". Turn right then first left onto Place du marché and continue along onto rue Madeleine Michelis. The surrounding...

elsmc 16.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Neuilly Park, Neuilly-sur-Seine

My experience of Brussels

Advantages: A city without the hastle
Disadvantages: Drivers are a bit nuts

...immediately around the square, they don't have the appeal and they're overpriced. Try some of the other squares, most significantly 'Place du Grand Sablon', this is about midway between the Palais de Justice and the Palais Royal, and the 'Place de St Gery'. Both these squares are really rather tranquille and out of the way. The Place du Grand Sablon is pleasant enough both during the day and of an evening. 3. Don't go the Atomium. It's out of the city and a bit of disappointment. I'm sure it would be better if it looked like the pictures, but I think they were all taken when it was new. Now it's just dirty, it really needs a polish. 4. Brussels is well known for it's Art Nouveau. On the roads close to the lower end of the 'Place du Grand Sablon' there are an array of antiques dealers with some quite remarkable items, worth a browse. 5...

giraffen 13.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of Brussels in general

mussels, mussels in brussels

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

..., a huge building looking like an Atom, built in 1956, at Heysel. I dismissed this for many years but took the plunge and its fascinating, you get a lift with a window in the roof up the middle shaft to a viewing area. You then walk down through each of the balls where there are displays. A carbon copy of the Arc De Triumphe, which you can go up and there are staggering views. There is the comic strip museum - Tintin is of course a Belgian creation - there are a lot of Art Noveau buildings if you get a guide and are prepared to look around. the Sablon area of the city has a lot of nice buildings and arty ('antiques') shops Public transport can be confusing, but the sights are widely scattered unless you confine yourself to the Grand Place. There is a tram system and a metro, and something in between called pre-Metro. There are only two...

mark-southside 25.04.2004 (26.04.2004) · Read review
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Review of Brussels (Belgium)

Five star luxury in the hear of Brussels

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

...one stop with services every few minutes. Many attractions including the Grand Place, Royal Palace, Museum of Fine Arts and Sablon antique (dealers) quarter are all within strolling distance as are a range of eating and drinking venues. The location makes the hotel very easy to find. Though no vast high rise affair the initial search for this 224 bed six floor hotel is further aided by its majestic crescent shape. Seven flags fly on poles to the front and a few cars (tightly controlled by the concierge I am sure) are parked in the crescent (see main picture). Arrival I forget is someone was actually standing on duty at the door when I arrived but there are bellboys and porters readily available and one quickly approached me to assist with my pull along overnight case. Hardly necessary and as personally I prefer not to use them I...

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

Taste of Sprouts: The proxamity of Belgium

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

.... With its ornate facades and vaulted glass ceilings it now houses boutiques, high class shops, galleries and cafes. Rue des Bouchers Just a few steps away from the Grand Place is a maze of narrow cobbled streets, packed on both sides by cafes and restaurants of every conceivable palate and style. They tend to be grouped by region (local and Belgian, sea food, Mediterranean, Chinese). Many have tables both inside and outside and many have large displays of their fresh produce (Fruits de Mer ? fresh seafood and shellfish is a speciality). As you browse the menus you may well be accosted by the Maitre d? with offers of preferential seating or special of the day. The Upper Town Place du Grand Sablon A triangular ?square? dominates this thoroughfare between the upper and lower town which in turn is dominated by the gothic church...

Newfloridian 22.06.2003 · Read review
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Review of Brussels (Belgium)

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

..., it wasn't exactly ideal for popping out to buy a litre of lait. Yves St Laurent, Gucci, Cartier and Valentino don't do bread or tea bags?. Nearby, is Place du Sablon which is a delightful square surrounded by expensive looking antique shops. I used to walk through this square every morning on my way into work, when I was not being lazy and hopping on a tram or bus. There is an open air antiques market held in the square every Saturday and Sunday, and it has a lovely olde worlde atmosphere. For more recognisable shops try the Rue Neuve which is Brussel's main pedestrianised shopping zone, it stretches for a good mile or so on both sides of the street. Recommended buys in Brussels are of course wonderful Belgian chocolates (more later), Belgian beer and beautiful Brussels hand made lace. The best lace shops seem to be located...

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