Description: My hotel in Brussels was my luxurious non-splurge: the Renaissance Brussels, which I got on Priceline for the same price ($60 including tax), as each of my other budget hotels that I got via other channels during my trip. This business class hotel is located one block from the Brussels-Luxemburg train station, which is close to the European Parliament and about a 25- to 30-minute walk from the Grand Place. It’s a great walk in fine weather as well; the front desk mapped out a wonderful route that took in the Royal Palace and the Place du Grand Sablon.
My room was large – the largest I had stayed in -- and comfortable with lemon colored linen; unquestionably four-star with all amenities including the marble bathroom, a huge tub, and tons of bath towels. Like most other four star hotels, all incidentals are quite dear, so I didn’t use the phone, the minibar, or internet access.
There is space in the minibar for your own stuff and it doesn’t have sensors. The front desk staff was helpful and there’s a huge dish of Toblerone candies waiting to greet you.
There were two to three inexpensive restaurants on the same street (rue de Parnasse), two Asian, and one café (Sel et Poivre, which had very reasonable menu prices) that I would have tried had there been time. I couldn’t have been happier. It was a great, luxurious spot to work, rest, and decompress before my flight home.
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