Page 141 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

WHERE T O ST A Y  139

one- or two-bedroom apart-
ment to €1,000 or more for
more luxurious lodgings. Visit
the Tourist Offices for detailed
suggestions or try the Internet
service Airbnb.

Bed-and-Breakfasts
Bed-and-breakfasts, also called
chambres d’hôte in Brussels,
can provide a very pleasant
alternative to staying in a
Warm interiors of Le Plaza, Brussels (see p141) hotel, and rooms can often be
found even in the centre of
those catering for business remembering, however, that town. In Bruges, some luxurious
clients) have fitness facilities, many hotel buildings in these and utterly charming B&Bs in
some including saunas, and a cities are historic and cannot historic buildings are more akin
few have swimming pools. be adapted, but all hotels and to mini-boutique hotels.
Plenty of hotels have their own their staff will go out of their
bars, but relatively few have way to accommodate guests
their own restaurants: there is a with special requirements, if Recommended Hotels
wide choice of restaurants in all they can. The many hotels featured in
the cities, usually within walking this guide have been selected
distance of the hotels. across as wide a price range
As a business centre and one Youth Accommodation as possible for their excellent
of Europe’s major centres for the There are good youth hostels facilities, good location and
convention trade, many of the that are affiliated to Hostelling usually great value. From
larger hotels in Brussels have International in all the cities. historic, often centuries-old,
fully-equipped meeting and Note that there are also a buildings in the city centres
function rooms. The same also number of youth-hostel-style to those slightly outside the
applies to Antwerp, and to hotels offering rooms at very major tourist areas in lovely
Bruges and Ghent, albeit on a competitive prices. They include garden settings, these hotels
smaller scale. Sleep Well and the Train encompass all that is available.
Hostel in Brussels, and Charlie For our pick of the very best,
Rockets in Bruges. A bed in a look out for hotels labelled
How to Book four-person room should cost DK Choice. These establish-
The best way to see the range around €25, rising to around ments have been highlighted
of hotels on offer is to go to €45 for a single room. in recognition of an exceptional
the Internet booking websites feature – a stunning location,
(such as booking.com and notable history, inviting
hotels.com) and insert the Travelling with Children atmosphere or outstanding
dates that you require. These Children are welcome at almost value. Many of these are very
websites offer instant online all hotels in these cities, with popular, so reserve as early
bookings, often at rates far many making concerted efforts as possible.
below those quoted by the to cater for the needs of those
hotels themselves. This is not travelling with children. If family
always the case, however: rooms are not available, many
increasingly, hotels have been hotels will add single beds and
encouraging guests to book cots to double rooms. Always
through their websites by check with the hotel in advance
offering better prices or deals, to see what is offered, and if
such as including breakfast in extra charges might be incurred.
their price if you book direct.
Self-Catering Apartments
Travellers with There is no shortage of self-
Disabilities
catering accommodation and
Hotels in Brussels and the rest “Apart Hotels” in all the cities,
of Belgium take the needs of many of them available for a
travellers with disabilities short stay as well as by the
seriously. Many have one or week or month. Prices start at
more fully adapted rooms for around €600 per week for a The opulent lobby at the Hilton Brussels
wheelchair users. It is worth fairly basic but furnished Grand Place (see p141)

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