BRUSSELS - HOTEL IBIS ST.CATHERINE - JUNE and OCT 2010

Stayed here a couple of times again recently. I have reviewed this place to death so if you want to see my view and a few pics then look at previous posts. Here are a few new pics from October visit.

However by way of a change here are some mixed reviews from Tripadvisor.

BRUSSELS - GARE DE MIDI - JUNE 2010

In Brussels again working. Stayed at an Ibis I haven't stayed in before. Its the Ibis which is nearest to the Gare De Midi railways station which is where the Eurostar terminates. Its literally across the road from the station. The hotel is fine. Clean and with suprisingly big rooms. You can tell from the photo that some of the rooms have a single bed as well as a double. By far the biggest Ibis room I have ever stayed in.

Pro- Cheaper than the other more central Ibis's in Brussels. Close to the Eurostar terminal. Clean. Friendly reception staff.

Cons - The area around the hotel is a bit seedy. Not badly but typically like the area round most railway stations in most cities. Didn't feel threatened but not sure i would spend an awful lot of time walking round the area on my own after dark. Its also not as central as the St. Catherine and Grand Place Ibis's. Central that is to the old medieval part of Brussels. Its about 20 mins walk from the Grand Place and about 10-12 euro in a cab. Railway station just across the road of course where there is a Metro station as well. I would happily stay again but not if the St Catherine was available.

LONDON EUSTON-ST.PANCRAS - SEPT 2010

Back here again. The queues at check in are becoming a real problem and checking in and checking out can take 15/20 mins.

If you use the express check out its OK but if you want to leave your bag in storage you still have to queue.

Tempers were getting a little frayed when I was there this time. Rest of it the usual. Paid £109.00 GBP this time.

View from room 235 wasn't great but the free drink voucher they gave me at check in was nice. Don't know why they gave it me but they did. Didn't ask questions!!

BRUSSELS CENTRE STE. CATHERINE BELGIUM - OCTOBER 2009

Was back in Brussels working last October. The hotel is still good value though like most hotels the prices seem to have crept up in the last couple of years. the best thing about this hotel is its location. It is next to the Ste. Catherine Metro stop and is close to an area of really good fish restaurants. When I first went to Brussels the area around this hotel was pretty shabby but it has certainly improved in recent years. Ideal for the Grand Place. Its about a 10 minute walk. If you are staying in Brussels in conncetion with the European Commission the Ste. Catherine metro stop (about 100 yards from the hotel) is about 4 stops (about 15mins max) from the Schuman metro stop which is at the heart of the Commission district.

COMPETITION TIME!!

Bit of an odd competition from Ibis to celebrate the opening of their 50th hotel in Brazil. (Good news if you are going to the football World Cup in 2014 or the Olympics in 2016. It really does look like Brazil's decade doesn't it?)



The news story is here



The competition website is here

LONDON EUSTON-ST.PANCRAS - JAN 2010

Back in London again.

Not much more to report on this one since the last visit.

Its still good value although the price is creeping up I find. Maybe its just the dates I go.

A couple of pics show the room.

Clean, good value, great location.

Bar getting better I think. Friendly staff, few more people using it as a place to actually have a drink rather than a meeting place before going somewhere else.