Brussels Travel Guide
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You Can Thank a Chinese Airline for Brussels' Next 5-Star Hotel
The HNA Resort Sanya (obviously not Brussels)
Hotels and airlines—two peas in a pod, or occasionally, the same pea. Airlines that have successfully spun off hotel chains are many; off the top of our head we can name Pan Am (Intercontinental Hotels), SAS (Rezidor/SAS) and Icelandair (IcelandAir Hotels). One that's lesser known, however is the Asian carrier Hainan Airlines and their chain of "business hotels" throughout China. They're 40-something in number, so it's not a boutique venture or anything; Hainan is serious and the good Tripadvisor reviews of their properties reflect this.
Naturally the next step is to make a big move towards a luxury development in a city outside of Asia. In Hainan's case, that city will be Brussels, Belgium.
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Radisson Blu Channels New York's 'Flair' From Brussels
What pops into your head when you think of a New York-inspired hotel room? Turquoise carpeting? A Nespresso coffee machine? Black walls? We only ask because those are the three main features that make up the newly-unveiled "New York Mansion" business class rooms at the Radisson Blu Brussels. Now, we know Brussels has the whole mood ring hotel concept down pat. But, New York? We're not so sure.
These rooms are supposedly going for "sophisticated," but we can't help feeling the design is a little all over the place. That armchair? The bedspread? The clashing headboard-wall combo? The only New York vibe we're getting from this room is its size (small).
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Brussels' Pantone Hotel is Like a Little Embassy for Colors
Oh man—we haven't checked in on Brussels' new Pantone Hotel in almost a full year, but it looks like the New York Times is even slower, since the colorful hotel only just hit their radar.
The Times' T Magazine takes a deeper look inside the hotel, including its beanbag-outfitted roofdeck, mod lounge and appropriately vibrant breakfast buffet. There's not a review, per se, but they do state something we absolutely agree with, and that's the fact that Brussels suffers from a lack of cool hotels like this. The Pantone is filling a need there, and its rooms from $137 including free WiFi are hopefully a hit.
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The MaxHotel in Brussels is One-Star and Proud of It
We were recently tipped off about a new hotel concept in Brussels, The MaxHotel which is a one-star hotel and supremely proud of it. But unlike most dodgy one-star hotels, which are really a small grotty step above a hostel, the MaxHotel promises guests "brand new, very shiny, non smoking, equipped with flat screen tv and WIFI connection, individual air-conditioning and private bathroom." That sounds promising.
MaxHotel also has done away with the front desk, allowing guests to check into the hotel via automated kiosks in the lobby. These kiosks will do everything a human used to do, even deliver your messages. (But just in case, MaxHotel will have humans on hand.)
There's also no restaurant or bar on-site but rather a vending machine room that serves snacks and drinks, both hot and alcoholic. And much like Tune Hotels, the MaxHotel you pay extra for amenities like shampoo, TV, the internet and cleaning service. (The WiFi is an affordable 5 Euros for 24 hours.)
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We're Dye-ing Over The Pantone Hotel in Brussels
Fast Company reported yesterday on a very new type of designer hotel--The Pantone Hotel in Brussels. Yes, Pantone as in the company that created a precise-color matching system by which all designers of anything live and dye by.
The company, while extremely well-known in its industry, is looking to reach out to real consumers. Hence, The Pantone Hotel.
Designed by Belgian interior designer Michel Penneman and Belgian architect Olivier Hannaert, each of the hotel's 59 rooms, which range from $84 to $184 a night, is inspired by different Pantone color palettes. On-site Pantone Color consultants are apparently available for "color consultations and educational seminars on color psychology and trends."
But what we love, absolutely love, is that guests can choose their room at check-in based on their MOOD. It's like a Mood Ring Hotel!
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The Bathroom Mirror at the NH Hotel Brussels Boosts Our Self-Esteem
Mirror, mirror, on the wall--or at least hanging in the bathroom in the NH Brussels hotel. Apparently we're not the fairest of them all, but this mirror still has a friendly message for us:
I see a lot of faces and I have never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.
The nice part is that guest reviews make the NH Brussels sound like one of the best hotels in town, so we probably would be smiling at this mirror. And more so now that we've discovered a stay at this place won't break the bank, with rooms starting at €64.50 (a strangely not-rounded price but that's what the hotel's own website promises; it's less than $85).
If the mirrors are so complimentary about our beautiful smiling faces, then we're just wondering what the staff will have to say about our great dress sense and gorgeous luggage, too. And who said Belgium was only good for the chocolate?
[Photo: kattebelletje]
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Seventeen Women Freed from 'Slavery' at Conrad Brussels
Holy crap. Dozens of police raided the Conrad Hotel Brussels (which has been called the "most exclusive" hotel in the city) and freed 17 people who were being held as slaves by a royal family living in the hotel.
The Telegraph had the scoop:
The operation was triggered by the apparent escape of a maid who was among 20 servants working for the widow of a senior royal figure from the United Arab Emirates and her four daughters who have rented the entire fourth floor of the hotel for the last year.
The servants, dubbed "slaves" in the Belgian media, allegedly had to be at the service of the Arab royals 24 hours a day and had their passport taken away on arrival in Belgium. The women were reportedly not allowed to leave the hotel and their monthly salaries were as low as £80 a month.
Insane, right? The investigation is still going on, and no charges have been brought against the royal family yet.
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Snapshot :: Speaking of Brussels Hotels
While we were showing off our mini-hotel guide to Brussels, the TheNotoriousMEG was dropping off shots of her stay at the Sheraton Brussels in the HotelChatter Flickr Pool. While she has plenty of shots of the suite, we liked this snapshot of the bathroom. You gotta love those antiquated European hair-dryer systems.
[Photo: Notorious Meg]
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Just What We Wanted: A Mini-Hotel Guide To Brussels
We can't seem to get enough of Brussels and it seems our readers feel the same way too. One such fan, Elliott, gave us a belated Christmas present by summing up the Brussels Hotel Scene. So here is his mini-hotel guide to Brussels. Any tips, questions, suggestions or Belgian chocolates, send 'em our way.
The view from Hotel Le Chatelain
Basically, when you go to Brussels you have three choices when it comes to location of hotels: Do I want to stay in the city center, around Avenue Louise (upscale shopping/residential area close to the city), or more towards the EU Parliament?
All have advantages and disadvantages, overall the city is quite easy to navigate on foot and via public transport. Cabs are available, but (very) expensive, depending on your frame of reference.
Hotel Openings / Brussels Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Ancient and Modern Come Together at The Dominican Hotel in Brussels
It was meant to open by the end of October, but with confirmation now that it will be coming on the market just a few days late with its November 8 opening, we can't be too strict yet with The Dominican in Brussels. Do ignore the November 5 opening date given on the hotel's web page, though--staff assure us November 8 is the real date.
A member of the Design Hotels group (the first from Belgium, in fact), the Dominican has already received high praise as the Guardian's hotel pick of the week: they were impressed with its:
sweeping archways, lofty ceilings and an interior courtyard ... its historic look echoes the abbey that stood on the site in the 15th century, but the 150 bedrooms are all ultra-modern.
Room rates start from around $250 per night. If you check in before we do, make sure you let us know if The Dominican lives up to expectations.
Related Stories:
· Pick of the Week [UK Guardian]
· Hotels in Brussels [HotelChatter]
· Travel Stories in Brussels [Jaunted]
Hotels-Near-Eurail-Stops / Boutique Hotel / → All Tags
Eurail Stop: Brussels Luxury at Be Manos
If you're stopping off in Brussels then there's a new boutique hotel right near the station that the Eurostar stops at, called the Be Manos. It's a sixty-roomer converted from an old town house and actually claims to be the first boutique hotel in Brussels, but sometimes that's just a matter of labeling.
The rooms are all very sleek and black, and include a king-sized bed, laptop safe, aircon, LCD TV and what they describe as "a stoned bathroom" (could it be tiled?--we'll let you decide).
For your Brussels luxury near the train station, you'll have to pay anything from 275 Euro for a single up to 550 Euro for a double suite; breakfast is included. For a splashout stop on your Eurail tour, then the Be Manos might be the spot, but if you're planning on seeing plenty more of Europe, then it could tip your budget over the line.
[Photo: iwouldstay]
Related Stories:
· Hotels Near Eurail Stops [HotelChatter]
· Hotels in Brussels [HotelChatter]
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Bad Rate: Package Busters at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo
[Ed. Note: This is the Bad Rate in our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature. These rates listed below were valid on November 28, 2006 and are subject to change. Enjoy.]
Tis the season to play Santa and Scrooge. This week we looked at a city that goes all out for the holidays--Brussels--and we found a lump of coal in the stocking at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo.
As we noted in the Good Rate post this week, The Times of London reports that Brussels puts on a great European Christmas Fair.
The Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo is by most accounts the top hotel in Brussels and it also has a prime location near the Grand Palace and Place St. Catherine. But they take "nickel and dime" to a new level, more appropriately they "dollar and euro you to death."
When we took a look at the packages offered through the hotel site, it's clear that they are simply the sum of the parts added together. The Brussels Your Way package, for example, tosses in breakfast, a welcome drink, some coupons, "free access to the health club" and a "free newspaper"--then adds 75 euros to the regular room rate. (Brussels Our Way would mean we don't have to book a package to get a newspaper and gym access from a 5-star hotel.)
The Brussels Shopping Package runs the bill up 170 euros to include breakfast, a cocktail, and a personal shopper at your side for three hours. Without a package you'll pay a staggering 28 euros per person for breakfast ($36) and either way your car will require 24 euros a day for parking (over $31). If you're unfortunate enough to have a child with you, that will be 50 euros for an extra bed, thank you very much. We're scared to even guess how much Internet access would set us back.
If you're here on EU business and someone else is picking up the tab, forget all this and wallow in your sumptuousness. Still, request a room away from the street if you are a light sleeper: the main complaint here is about the noise from streetfront rooms.
Related Stories:
· Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo reviews [TripAdvisor]
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