Overview
Located about an 8-minute drive from Brussels' city centre and a 5-minute walk from both the Porte de Namur or Louise Louiza Metro Stations, The Hotel Brussels is popular with travellers who require a centrally located hotel with on-site dining and meeting/banquet space close to public transit.
This hotel has 421 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a mini-fridge (with complimentary water, beer, fruit juice and soft drinks), a sitting area, a desk, slippers, a laptop safe, an iPod dock and a hair dryer. Standard rooms offer one queen bed, while suites with a free champagne bar and a bidet are also available.
Hotel amenities include a spa, a sauna, a steam room, fitness facilities, meeting/banquet space, a lounge, a business centre, guest laundry facilities and vending machines. On-site dining is available at the hotel's buffet restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Parking is available on site for an additional EUR 35 per day, and pets are permitted for EUR 12.50 per pet, although the rate varies based on length of stay. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available upon request.
Avenue Louise, known for its shopping, is a 3-minute walk from the hotel, while Notre-Dame du Sablon is about a 6-minute walk northward. The Royal Palace of Brussels is roughly an 8-minute walk northeast, and Brussels Airport (BRU) is 16 minutes away by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
The GoodThe majority of reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the rooms, location and staff.
Numerous reviewers praised the hotel's accommodations. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, contemporary, well equipped and well decorated, with comfortable beds and incredible city views. It should be noted however, that a few guests had complaints about their rooms (see below).
Many guests were pleased with the hotel's location, and found it to be close to shopping, restaurants, public transit and museums.
The hotel's staff were complimented by several lodgers, who characterized them as friendly, helpful and professional. One guest stated that the check-in and check-out process was very easy.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about noise transfer and the rooms.
Some guests complained of noise from guests in adjacent rooms, as well as street noise and very strong wind noises coming through the windows. The hotel is also undergoing renovations until September 2013. While the majority of reviewers reported not being bothered by the renovations, some guests reported being disturbed by construction noises starting early in the morning and lasting throughout the day.
Although the majority of guests were very pleased with their accommodations, a few guests reported worn decor and furnishings. Because of the ongoing renovations, some rooms have been renovated and some have not.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.4 out of 10 from 467 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #39 out of 188 Brussels hotels with a 3.5 out of 5 average rating from 269 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.3 out of 5 with an 87% recommendation rate from 38 reviews.
The author called the hotel on May 29, 2013 to verify some information.
