Hotel Agenda Louise, Brussels

Advantages: It is close to UK and not expensive for a city break weekend
Disadvantages: It is like a magnet I wont to keep returning

...I visit Brussels fairly frequently on business. I have found it to be one of the business friendly cities. It is a short inexpensive flight from Manchester and ideal for the mid week business trip or for the City Break Weekend. The trip from Brussels Airport to the city hotels is not expensive and is a very short relaxing ride. The hotels are of high standard and good value for money. Their is excellent entertainment in the form of scores of top class restraunts. On my last visit I found a bar that displayed for sale 365 different beers. I could only try half of them as I was only there for five days. The beer is of high quality and not expensive.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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

..., speculoos - a gingerbread biscuit with a crunch, well worth hunting down. Beer is best bought at Bière Artisanale, which stocks over 400 types of beer and glasses to match. Designer clothes are clustered around the smart Avenue Louise and Avenue de la Toison d'Or. Children's and big kids' tastes are catered for at Brussels' many comic book shops. Brussels lace is a good buy but beware, most of the lace on sale in the souvenier shops around Grand-Place is made in the far-east. --------------------------------------- Eating Out (personal recommendations) --------------------------------------- The winding streets surrounding the Grand-Place overflow with restaurants but many are simply tourist traps. The Rue des Bouchers is a prime example. This narrow street has tables outside which leaves very little room for pedestrians. Don't worry... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...in Brussels is how very close you are to other European countries. When I lived there, I used the train to hop over to Germany for visits to both Dusseldorf and Cologne (takes 2 hours), as well as into Amsterdam (€42.50 takes under 3 hours). I didn't make to Paris, but that's only 3 hours away as well (costs approximately €50.00). ***CURRENCY & SHOPPING*** The currency here is of course the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted in all the shops and restaurants so you don't need to have pockets full of cash. Avenue Louise is home to all the designer boutiques and more expensive shops. It has various undercover arcades which are great for window shopping but rather expensive to browse in. This was the area in which I had my studio flat when I lived in Brussels; whilst it was nice and quiet, it wasn't exactly ideal for popping out to buy... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful