NH Grand Place Arenberg, Brussels

Advantages: Fantastic location
Disadvantages: Beibg rebuilt during my stay

...This is an excellent clean and modern hotel with a terrific location and affordable rates. Firstly, the location is just a few blocks from both the Central Station and the Grand Place; the main tourist trap of the capital. This saved time and money as I was able to begin my Brussels adventures just about immediately after arrival into the city. Most of the main sights in Brussels are within walking distance; such as Grande place, Mannekan and Jannekan pis and many city museums...and since everything leads back to the Grand Place, you can easily drop in to dump stuff in your room or take a quick break from sightseeing , shopping, culture and dining. I was able to get a good 'city break' rate of 72 Euros per night with breakfast, pre-paid. The staff were very helpful during check-in considering the hotel was being renovated... Read review

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

...by 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... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic scenery, plenty to eat and drink - and its free to roam!
Disadvantages: The hoardes of tourists (me included!)

...the Grand Place, in the very heart of Brussells, is a sight to behold. Flanked on all four sides by a series of buildings erected over the course of the last 600 years, it is a tourist mecca which appears on every postcard. In the small back streets that rise off from the square, there is a maze of bars, cafes and restaurants. Many are pricy, but on a summers day it is THE place to sit with a grande bier, watching the world go by. You can even get a stomach-busting cauldron full of moules avec frittes for something in the region of 450 BF (£7.50) - and it is worth cruising for a while to find the little extras some venues chuck in (beer, wine, salad, pud). When I visited on a Sunday, the square was home to the open air bird market. If you can get over the cruelty of seeing some of the most incredibly beautiful birds in the world... Read review

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