Renaissance Brussels Hotel, Brussels

stayed for a weekend and it was very very nice! Friendly staff, quiet location! A short cab ride to the center. Loved my room! the bed was very comfy! Also, the food served at the hotel restaurant is very good

Perhaps the best part of my trip was the hotel. I was able to secure a room at Marriott�s Renaissance Hotel for US$60 on Priceline.com (not 60 euros) � which was a steal deal. And because I arrived so early, my �cheap� room wasn�t ready, so they put me into a club-level room, which was going for something like 430 euros (according to the sign on my door) a night. The Renaissance is a good hotel, though for an upper-level **** hotel, it didn�t have a gift shop or boutique that many similar class hotels would have. It has an excellent location and because the European Commission had major meetings during part of my trip, there were several high-profile visitors, including the entire Danish government delegation. I was told the hotel is quite popular with members of the European Parliament, as it�s about a five minute walk from the hotel. And for those going for more touristy destinations, the Grand Place is maybe 20 minutes � not a bad walk at all. The downside of the hotel is the concierge. While they gave decent service and information, their directions and maps were horrible and I always found myself lost and in the wrong part of Brussels. They would be much better with printed walking directions to popular attractions and destinations. There is also an excellent health club with pool, comprehensive workout equipment, solarium, and spa services. This was a great place to relax after long and tiring days in Brussels, but the spa prices were really expensive (70 euros for a men�s facial). As I mentioned earlier, I was on the club-level, so my room was extremely nice � even by American standards. There was regular maid service with turndown service during the week and I raided the club-level lounge and took bottles of soda, water, etc. I did have some dispute upon checking out, as they attempted to bill me for local telephone calls made to the European Union and Belgian Parliament � both located in Brussels. I said these calls should be free, as there is no posting that discloses a charge for them. They said it was implied because calls to everywhere else were charged and postings said that, after a verbal confrontation and me threatening to file a complaint with Marriott, the charges � 16 euros worth � were removed from my bill. I did complain a bit that I was charged for some use of my mini-bar, which is suppose to be free on the club-level. They said it was free to those who paid the club-level rate and I replied saying I was never told this and I should have been placed elsewhere, but that was it. I decided not to pursue it further, but future guests at this hotel should be careful, as they have a lot of questionable charges and practices here, though it is a nice hotel.

When in Brussels, this hotel is our first choice! The Staff, friendly, courteous & knowledgeable, make all guest feel welcome; the hotel is immaculate and the food top quality. One is hard pressed to find a more welcoming and professionally run hotel in Brussels � at double or triple the price. No � I am not a Marriott family member; but I am treated like one at the Brussels Renaissance.