Brussels Royal Treat: Unbeatable Luxury at Best Western Royal Centre!
Brussels Royal Treat: More Royal Rumble Than Royal Flush (A Review)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the Belgian beans on the Best Western Royal Centre. And believe me, it's less "Royal Flush" and more "Royal Rumble" – a mix of glorious highs, head-scratching lows, and enough hand sanitizer to last a small apocalypse (which, honestly, feels oddly comforting right now).
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- Meta Description: A brutally honest, yet in-depth, review of the Best Western Royal Centre in Brussels! Find out about accessibility, amenities, the "royal" experience, and whether it's worth your hard-earned Euro. Includes a hilarious rollercoaster of emotions!
Accessibility: Navigating the Maze (And My Own Emotions)
Alright, let's get real. Accessibility is a big deal, and I’m always relieved when a hotel actually takes it seriously. The Royal Centre… well, it's mostly there. They tick the big boxes: wheelchair accessibility is a clear focus, elevators worked (thank god), and public areas seemed pretty navigable. But then… little things. The ramp leading into the restaurant felt steeper than a politician's climb to power. And the signage… let's just say my inner Sherlock Holmes got a workout trying to decipher a few things. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't seamless. Needed improvement here. Still, good start though.
Score (On Accessibility): 7/10 – Room for improvement, but they're trying. And that counts.
Cleanliness and Safety: More Sanitizer Than a Hospital?
Okay, this is where the Royal Centre REALLY earns its keep. Post-pandemic, I’m basically a walking germophobe, and I'm going to be picky. The staff, bless their hearts, were diligent. Sanitizer stations everywhere (seriously, it felt like every corner was guarded by a bottle of Purell), AND the daily disinfection in common areas made this paranoid person very happy, the Individually-wrapped food options in the breakfast buffet were great, because you know, sharing is NOT caring in 2024. And all the extra precautions put in place made me feel safe.
Score: (Cleaniness and Safety): 9.5/10 – I felt like I was living in a bubble of cleanliness, and I LOVED it.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Buffet of Life (and My Inner Critic)
Let's face it, a hotel’s a-la-carte is key. The Breakfast Buffet, a crucial moment in any hotel experience. They had a buffet. A perfectly adequate buffet. It had the usual suspects: eggs, bacon, pastries (the pain au chocolat was alright, nothing to write home about), and a sad-looking fruit salad. There were Asian options, but I'm not sure how authentic they were. But… and this is where the "Royal Rumble" comes in… the coffee was truly awful. Like, swill-from-the-bottom-of-the-barrel awful. And the coffee maker gave me a bad look. Seriously, who made this coffee? I need to know!
The Poolside Bar looked tempting, but I didn't use it.
Score (Dining): 6/10 - Breakfast was okay, coffee-related trauma
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams (and Gym Reality)
Now, this is where the Royal Centre almost knocks it out of the park. They boast a spa! A SPA! And a pool with a view! The pool itself was decent, though not particularly breathtaking. But ah, the spa. I was picturing myself floating in a sea of scented oils, being massaged by angels… But in reality… it was closed during my stay. Big sad face. I was incredibly bummed.
The gym was… well, it existed. I glimpsed it. It was clean, with the right equipment.
Score (Relaxation): 6.5/10 - Promise of paradise, delivered with slight disappointment on reality.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter (or Don't)
The basics were covered: Daily housekeeping (much appreciated!), a helpful concierge, and a currency exchange (useful for last-minute Euro needs). But other things were so-so. The gift shop was basically a rack of overpriced souvenirs.
Score (Conveniences): 7/10 - Reliable, but nothing to write home about.
Available in All Rooms: The Essentials (And Some Extras)
The rooms themselves were pretty standard. They had all the essentials: AC, a comfy bed, free wifi (thank god!). There's a coffee maker, so I didn't have to face the breakfast coffee. I'm still scared of the coffee downstairs. But they had some nice touches, like bathrobes.
Score (Rooms): 7.5/10 – Solid, comfortable, and safe.
For The Kids: Family Fun?
I didn't travel with kids, but the hotel had some kids facilities. From looking it over, it seemed like a perfectly average hotel for children.
Score (Kids): 7/10 – Seemed okay, but not a definitive kid-haven.
Getting Around: Location, Location, Annoyance (Kidding (Sort Of))
The Royal Centre's location is pretty solid. Airport transfer was available, taxis are easy to find, and Brussels' main attractions are easily accessible.
Score (Getting Around): 8/10 – Nice spot.
Overall Impression: Worth It?
Okay, so is the Best Western Royal Centre a "Royal Treat"? Not exactly. Is it a bad hotel? Absolutely not. It's a solid, reliable choice, especially if you prioritize cleanliness and central location. Some things excelled (cleanliness, location), others are slightly missable (food, spa). For the price, and with a few caveats, yes, I'd recommend it. Just maybe pack your own coffee.
Final Score: 7.5/10 – A solid choice, but with a few bumps in the road. Go in with realistic expectations, and you’ll be fine!
Escape to Paradise: Laguna's Jewel Palace Hot Spring Resort Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into my Brussels adventure. And trust me, this ain't your pristine, Instagram-filtered travelogue. This is the real, messy, caffeine-fueled, slightly-hungover version. We're talking Best Western Royal Centre, Brussels, my home base for (attempting) to conquer this city.
Day 1: Arrival & Chocolate-Induced Bliss (and Mild Panic)
14:00 - Arrive at Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU). Okay, first hurdle: finding the bloody train. Brussels airport is… well, it's an airport. Packed like a can of sardines, with signs that are more suggestions than directions. After a solid 20 minutes of bewildered wandering and a near-meltdown involving a pushy suitcase and a bewildered elderly couple, I stumble onto the train. Success! (Mostly. I think I might have accidentally flashed my ID - I was flustered.)
14:45 - Check-in at Best Western Royal Centre. Ah, the hotel. It's… fine. Clean enough, which is the main thing. The lobby smells vaguely of disinfectant and ambition, which, honestly, sums up my life right now. The receptionist, bless her, had the patience of a saint dealing with my jet lag-addled requests for "the room with the best view of… something interesting." She just gave me a key and a knowing smile. I suspect I'm not the first travel-worn weirdo she's encountered.
15:30 - Chocolate Shopping Spree at Neuhaus (Grand Place). Right. Brussels. Chocolate. My mission: sample ALL the chocolate. First stop: Neuhaus, practically a chocolate cathedral. The aroma alone could send me into diabetic shock. I buy a box of assorted pralines. Okay, a large box. My self-control in the face of melted cocoa butter is, shall we say, lacking. I'm already picturing myself, a week from now, surrounded by empty wrappers, weeping softly.
16:30 - Grand Place Stunned Silence. Holy mother of architectural beauty! The Grand Place is… breathtaking. Seriously, I just stood there, mouth agape, muttering something about "gilding" and "wow." Pictures don't do it justice. It's one of those places that just hits you, and you feel instantly… small. And slightly overwhelmed. And maybe a tiny bit guilty that I hadn't learned more about the history beforehand. (Note to self: brush up on your Belgian historical knowledge, pronto.)
17:30 - Frustration as I look for some Frites with mayo. So i am in the area, but all the frites stalls are like mini lines, and none of them are moving. I feel the need to leave.
18:00 - Lost in Translation (and the Manneken Pis). Okay, so I tried to find the Manneken Pis. I mean, it's supposed to be iconic, right? But I got swallowed whole by a maze of narrow cobbled streets, all of them seemingly designed to confuse tourists. Eventually, after a lot of frantic map-fumbling and a near-collision with a cyclist who glared at me as if I had personally insulted his mother, I found it. And… it's tiny. Like, ridiculously tiny. I mean, I know it's a symbol of the city. But honestly, I was expecting more. My emotional reaction: slight disappointment, a healthy dose of bewilderment, and an overwhelming desire for a beer.
19:00 - Dinner at a local restaurant (Le Zinneke). Found a place that felt authentic, and not overly touristy. I tried the carbonade flamande (Belgian beef stew). It was… rich. Very rich. Like, "I might need to take a tiny nap right here at the table" rich. But delicious. I paired it with a local beer – a Delirium Tremens. Big mistake. I mean, it was lovely. But it was also… strong. I was already feeling the effects of the jet lag and the chocolate. I barely made it back to my hotel room.
20:30 - Almost asleep in my bed. I'm in my bed, I'm pretty sure I'm going to sleep, and I wonder how I'm going to keep writing.
Day 2: Museums, Waffles, and Cultural Confusion
09:00 - Breakfast (and the Quest for Coffee) in the Hotel. The hotel breakfast is a buffet of… things. I spot a croissant. Decent, really. The coffee is a different story. It's the kind of coffee that makes you question the existence of real coffee. I drown it in milk and try to pretend it's fuel.
10:00 - The Magritte Museum – An Attempt at Culture. I'm trying. Really, I am. I'm surrounded by surrealist art, and I'm trying to appreciate it. But my brain feels like it's still processing the after-effects of yesterday's beer. I understand the paintings about as well as I understand Brussels' metro system (hint: not at all). I wander around, silently mouthing "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" to myself. The people inside are a bit quiet, too, and I cannot feel a thing.
12:00 - Waffle Time! Needed a pick-me-up after the museum. I find a waffle shop. The waffle itself is a masterpiece. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Smothered in whipped cream and strawberries, it's pure, unadulterated joy. I'm so happy I'm almost in tears. It's possibly the best thing I've ever eaten.
13:00 - The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. A huge building with even huger paintings. I stumble around, feeling more and more like a tourist in a very big, very intimidating hall of fame. I admire the paintings, but I mostly admire the people who look like they know what they're doing. They are much more intelligent than me.
15:00 - Lost in Translation (Again). I try to buy a tram ticket. Failed. I just give up and end up wandering for 1 hour, looking for the right tram stop. I am exhausted.
17:00 - Dinner on the road. Ended up back near the hotel, tired and hungry. Find a kebab place. It’s… fine.
19:00 - Back in the Hotel: I can't do any more. I collapsed in my bed.
Day 3: The Atomium, Park Swings, and a Growing Affection for Brussels
- 09:00 - Sleep and more sleep. I could not get out of bed.
- 10:00 - Breakfast, maybe. I am in a rush
- 10:30 - The Atomium. This thing is bonkers. A giant model of a molecule, composed of shiny spheres. It's touristy, of course, but also undeniably cool. I’m now feeling a strange warmth. I had an existential crisis as I rode the elevator to the top and looked out over the city. I could see everything, and had some perspective on my life.
- 12:00 - Mini Euro-Park. Kids were everywhere, and I could barely stand it. However, I find a spot to sit.
- 13:00 - Trying to find something to eat. I have to walk, because it is too crowded and I can't get a taxi or a bus.
- 14:00 - Back to the hotel. It seems I need more rest.
- 16:00 - Lunch time. I will have to try the waffles again.
- 17:00 - More rest. I need to get all the energy I can.
- 18:00 - Dinner I still have no idea what I can eat, or where I can find it.
Day 4: Leaving and Regret
09:00 - Pack and leave. I'm leaving Brussels! Bye bye!
09:30 - Getting lost at the subway. I still can't navigate this underground thing.
10:30 - At the train station. I think I will be late.
11:00 - Plane. All good.
So, that was my Brussels adventure. A messy, sometimes-exhausting, but ultimately wonderful experience. Brussels, you are a weird and wonderful city. And despite the moments of utter confusion and the slightly-too-strong beers, I already miss you. Now, where's the chocolate? I need a comforting treat.
Escape to Buninyong: Luxury Bath Spa Retreat with Netflix & Golf!
Brussels Royal Treat: Unbeatable Luxury at Best Western Royal Centre! - You HAVE Questions, I Have (Mostly) Honest Answers... Maybe.
Okay, so "Unbeatable Luxury"? Seriously? Is this some kind of joke I haven't gotten yet?
Alright, alright, pump the brakes there, cynical traveler! "Unbeatable Luxury" is *their* line, not necessarily mine... though, I *will* say, it's pretty darn good for a Best Western. Look, I've stayed in places that claimed luxury and were basically glorified cardboard boxes. This? This *felt* nicer. The lobby actually smelled of something other than disinfectant – a huge win in my book. Was it on par with a five-star palace? No. But did I, a budget-conscious traveler, feel like I'd stumbled into a little bit of heaven? Maybe. Especially after battling those cobblestone streets all day.
Is the location actually "Royal"? Seems a bit bold, doesn't it?
"Royal" might be stretching it *slightly*. (Okay, maybe a lot.) It’s NOT actually in the royal palace. But, and this is a *big* but, it's incredibly central. Like, practically stumbling distance to the Grand Place and Manneken Pis. Okay, maybe I didn't *stumble* exactly (my knees aren't what they used to be after that one particularly steep hill), but the point is, major attractions are ridiculously easy to get to. That, my friends, is a win for tired tourists. I swear, after walking those cobblestone streets, the closer the hotel, the happier I was. I almost kissed the guy who checked me in! (Didn't, though. Professionalism, people.)
The website photos look… nice. But are they real? The internet lies, you know.
Ugh, the website photos. The bane of my existence! Okay, so, the rooms were mostly as advertised. Clean, modern… generally resembling the pictures. My room wasn't *quite* as sunny as the one they showed, but hey, Brussels isn't exactly known for its sunshine, now is it? My biggest gripe? The pillows. They were… fluffy. Too fluffy. Like, I found myself sinking into a fluffy abyss, desperately trying to find a solid surface for my head. I asked for a firmer one. They obliged! The hotel staff were actually pretty great on that front. So, the photos aren't LUDICROUSLY far off, not Photoshopped to the point of unrecognizable – so, a small victory. But yeah, bring your own pillow if you're picky. (I’m picky.)
Breakfast – Is it included? And more importantly, is it *good*? Because a dry croissant can ruin a whole trip.
Okay, BREAKFAST. This is where things get interesting. Yes, breakfast *is* usually included, but double-check when you book. And LISTEN. The breakfast *is* good. I mean, it's a solid European breakfast. Pastries (yes, properly buttery ones!), a decent selection of cheeses and meats, some fruit, yogurt, the usual suspects. I had a croissant, (obvs!), and it was… acceptable. (I'm a croissant snob, remember?) The coffee was drinkable, which, let's be honest, is a win in many hotels. But... and here's the HUGE but... the breakfast room, at least when I was there, was CHAOTIC. Seriously, it was like a feeding frenzy! Trying to navigate the buffet felt like a contact sport. People bumping into each other, children running amok, grown adults shamelessly hoarding pastries... it was glorious, in a train-wreck kind of way. So, good breakfast, but prepare for battle. And grab an extra croissant for me, would ya? (Just kidding... mostly.)
What about the service? Any horror stories? I NEED to know!
Okay, service... I had a mixed bag of experiences, TBH. The front desk staff was generally helpful and friendly, especially when I needed a new pillow. The cleaning staff was efficient; my room was spotless every day. But the breakfast staff? Bless their hearts. They were clearly overwhelmed at times. I *did* witness one particularly frazzled waiter drop a plate of eggs on a very important-looking businessman. It was a silent movie, an absolute spectacle of broken yolks and flailing omelets. The businessman… initially looked flustered, but then started laughing! Turns out, he was a comedian. Go figure. Anyway, the service was good when you were actually in direct contact with the staff, The restaurant staff sometimes had the look of someone who has to work on Christmas – but overall, they worked.
Is it noisy? I'm a light sleeper, and I can't handle construction or late-night revelers.
Noise. This is a biggie, especially since it's a central location. My room faced the street, and while the hotel *is* generally pretty well-soundproofed, it wasn't perfect. You MIGHT hear some street noise, especially at night. I'm a relatively heavy sleeper, so it didn't bother me too much. But if you're a featherweight in the sleep department, pack earplugs or ask for a room facing the courtyard. Seriously. Those cobblestone streets can be brutal. And there's always a party going on somewhere in Brussels. Always. I am not exaggerating.
The "best value for money" thing? Is that true?
Value for money... okay, this is subjective. It depended on what I was willing to pay. It wasn't the cheapest hotel in Brussels (it's in a PRIME location), but compared to some of the *other* places I saw, it was a decent deal. The extra amenities like the breakfast and the surprisingly good Wi-Fi (which is a godsend when you're trying to navigate Brussels' complicated metro system) added value. Would I recommend it? Yes. Would I recommend it *without reservation*? Probably not. It’s a decent hotel in a fantastic location. It’s not life-altering luxury, don't get me wrong. But you'll be happy to have a nice bed, a decent shower, the ability to walk around the city... You’ll be happier if you accept it for what it is. And pack earplugs. Seriously.
Tell me more about the location, in excruciating detail!
Okay, let's drill down on this location thing, because seriously, it was the BEST part. You step out of the hotel, like, BAM! You're basically in the middle of everything. The Grand Place? Five minutes tops. The Manneken Pis? A quick stroll. Chocolate shops? Oh, my sweet, sugary heaven, they're everywhere! I may or may not have sampled ALL of them. (Don't judge me!) And the restaurants! So many choices. From fancy Michelin-starred places to cozy little bistros serving amazing moules frites. I spent three hours one day, just wandering, getting COMPLETELY lost (in a good way) andSleep Stop Guide
