Advantages: Graet food and Beer
Disadvantages: Can be expensive

...Brussels is my favourite European city. In my previous job I spent quite a lot of time there, about one month each year. If you like to eat the highest quality food from around the world at prices much cheaper than, for example, in Paris, Brussels is the place for you. If you like beer (and I do!), Brussels is the place to indulge yourself. Beer is treated like the French treat wine,or like we Scots treat Whisky. Sure some parts of the city are a little run down but does that matter when you have Grand Place to sit in and enjoy. I have found Brussels to be a very friendly city with lots of opportunities to enjoy a cosmopolitan lifestyle. It is after all the Capital of the continent, and this makes for an exiting mix of cultures and noghtlife. Go to Brussels, you'll enjoy it. (And I didn't mention chocolate once.)... Read review

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Advantages: easier to hate than anything else
Disadvantages: oap's try and make you eat them

...HBSG HBSG HBSG. That is how I feel about Brussels sprouts. I feel that stroongly about the smelly cretins that I started my own Hate Brussels sprouts group. I have been doing the news letter for about 6 months now and although I only have 30 members other people hate them enough to join. They smell, they taste rotten and look like giant puss balls. Why do sprouts smell? so the blind can hate them too. (I do not want to offend anyone please understand that the comment was intended as a joke nothing else.) I also started a Brussels sprouts lovers anonymous group called the BLA as I know 2 people who actually like them. I offered electro therapy but they turned me down. Never mind I still talk to them I do not discriminate against people. Especially not people who had been tortured since they were kids and brain washed into liking... Read review

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Advantages: Good food
Disadvantages: There are better places to go if you have the time and money

...Some time ago I went to Brussels and for a weekend break. I stayed with friends who live there. The cultural/tourist hub of Brussels is the Grand Plaz which boasts some very impressive Gothic buildings, the famous statue of a boy weeing and many street musicians. This part reminds me of Prague in terms of the narrow streets although it has a kind of grandeur that Prague didn't impress on me. The Belgian franc is about 60F to the pound. One of the thing I enjoyed most about Brussels was the food. Apart from the delicious and wholesome omelettes and irish coffee, mussels and chips (moules y frites) is the traditional dish and it is available everywhere. I recommend trying it with provincial sauce rather than just herbs and butter. The metro system is a little confusing at first however one thing I liked about... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to get to
Disadvantages: Not much to do

...I am going to disagree with a lot of the opinions on Brussels, but I just returned from a two week stay and I absolutely hated the place. I must say that to get to Brussels is really easy if you take the Eurostar from Waterloo Station in London. The train journey is not too long and the price is very reasonable if you book in advance. Once arrived we took a Taxi, which appeared to be driven by a raving lunatic and who parked in front of a tram to drop us off at our accommodation. The accommodation was fine and good value, but this is not always the case. We met a lady who had booked a Bed and Breakfast and was receiving the most apalling service and treatment that you could imagine. She had booked her B+B through the Brussels' tourist office. My main complaint would be that there is not a lot to do in Brussels. I am sure... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap travel, delicious food and BEER!
Disadvantages: If you find a comfy bar, you may not leave...

...Brussels is a delightful city which is often forgotten about as a tourist destination. Situated between its more popular cousins Paris, Amsterdam and London you can see why, but if you take the effort to really find out what's what you'll find a city with plenty of culture, delicious food, amazing architecture and, of course, great beer. Brussels is the head of the European Union and despite the city's relatively brief history, has become one of Europe's premier cities. The introduction of the Euro Star, connecting Brussels with Paris and London has definitely had a positive effect and with so many cheap flights into Brussels it makes getting there so easy. We flew with Ryan Air from Liverpool to Charleroi, about 30 kms from Brussels centre. Even with the taxi ride into brussels (at breakneck speed I may add) the total cost was less you... Read review

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Advantages: Near to Brussesl, regular rail connections
Disadvantages: Unfriendly, unwelcoming, unruly queues as immigration and security

...My first lasting foreign experience was in a Brussels airport toilet. But that's not really relevant to the new modernised airport, so I'll tell the tale at the end of this piece. As someone who works in Europe frequently I look forward to the day when I can use the Euro instead of constantly changing money, I am in favour of the EU. Brussels is its capital and Brussels airport (Zaventum) is its first introduction to many of us. And what a depressing introduction. They spent millions on the new terminal buildings. Echoing long sterile marble corridors channel arriving passengers to a too small immigration hall, poorly laid out where confused queues line up to show their passports. Unsmiling uniformed paramilitary police examine your passport in detail. This is a joke, because if you use the chunnel and drive from Calais to Brussels... Read review

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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 London... Read review

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Advantages: I fly to Brussels, they fly to Brussels
Disadvantages: Awful food, often late, sometimes cancel flights

...The choice of airlines from Manchester into Brussels is not good. You have either BA (Bloody Awful) or SABENA (Such A Bad Experience Never Again). When you consider the importance of Manchester as the second most important city and airport and Brussels you would expect this to be a competitive route with airlines competing over the route. No such luck, you have old take it or leave it BA or could not care less SABENA. As a first consequence of the lack of competition t costs more to fly from Manchester to Brussels than it does from London to Boston or Chicago. Fares to parts of Australia are not much more expensive. There is little difference between Club and Economy costs either, both are extortion disguised as a fare. The second consequence is that both the airlines just make no effort at customer service at all. SABENA seem to train... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent transport links, well signposted airport
Disadvantages: You can face a long walk

...It seems an odd thing to review but here goes. What can you say about Brussels airport? If you are flying to Brussels you will find the runway conveniently placed under the wheels of the aircraft as it lands. On taking off the runway is conveniently flat. At night the runways have lights to aid the pilots landing. But it is hardly product differentiation is it. The thing about Brussels airport is that it must be the biggest and busiest airport which relies on one terminal. What this means if you have to get a connection at Brussels, and particularly if you have to change airlines, be prepared for a walk that would make some polar explorers flinch. The walk is conducted through a number of terminal buildings and corridors which all look the same. It would be like a maze but thankfully it is all well sign posted. So its bad from the point... Read review

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Advantages: Sights in walking distance, riendly people
Disadvantages: Cold

...We went to brussels in a group of 4, the week before christmas. We went on thursday and came back friday, I would say this is the right length of time, unless you are going to anothe nearby city. We went via euostar and booked on thrir website and got a good deal to stay at the marriott hotel in the centre of brussels for about £120 pp, with breakfast included. the eurostar was brilliant, quick and comfy and hassle free. We arrived in Brussels midi station and got the tram (not the metro) to our hotel. It was literally across the road grom the station. We got tickets and they were cheap, perhaps I sholdn't say this but no one checks the tickets and barriers are always open. If you do get confused alot of people understand english and I found the people eally helpful. The hotel was lovely, great central location and walking... Read review

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