Brussels Apartments

Irish Gunner

Hey

Looking at Airbnb for apartments in Brussels. What are the best areas in Brussels to stay for a group of blokes

Been to Brussels a few times but stayed in hostels, cheap hotels so trying something different

Cheers

sarkozy

In and around Grotte Markt, Beurs, Sablon, Saint-Gilles. All OK, really. Decent atmosphere, near bars. I don't know what AirBnB prices are for apartments around those neighbourhoods.

Louche Lad

I used Airbnb once in Brussels and it wasn't very good. The place was in the Anderlecht area, €30 a night for one person.

Actually, the place was weird.

The toilet was shared with an entirely separate flat. My room was very basic (the absolute cheapest Ikea bed you can get), and I had the exclusive use of a kitchen next door. There were doors all over the place — one in my bedroom seemed to go to a neighbouring flat. One in the kitchen seemed to go into another neighbouring flat.

The shower was in the kitchen, and I said to the host I'd never seen anything like that before. He just said "This is Brussels".

There was almost no lighting on the stairs, which were covered in disintegrating, 30-year-old lino. A death trap — I had to use my phone light to navigate up and down.

The day before I left, I found somebody in my kitchen, never seen him before. He didn't say anything, he just walked off downstairs.

The place seems not to be listed on Airbnb any more.

ScottSF

Ixelles and Saint-Gilles seem to be the most popular if you want to be outside the centre but nearby the convenient tram lines or subway. I suggest you decide if you want to be in short walking distance to the historic centre (more touristy) or in a trendy residential neighbourhood. I also hear the EU district is quiet on the weekends and holidays so if this is a weekend trip you may get great deals there, though not as happening as you know. I always use Google maps to search for "cafes" or "restaurants" or "bars" around a zoomed-in area to see what is nearby an Airbnb listing.

SpaceTime

Bear in mind that Brussels isn't that big and has excellent public transport.

Anywhere near Gare de Midi is worth avoiding & also Anderlecht.

It fairly safe but it has some extremely dodgy areas and also areas with very serious drug abuse issues.
So definitely check reviews and do some Googling before booking.

Wally Runs

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Hey

Looking at Airbnb for apartments in Brussels. What are the best areas in Brussels to stay for a group of blokes

Been to Brussels a few times but stayed in hostels, cheap hotels so trying something different

Cheers

If you pick the right weekend, many of the more upmarket hotels can be very cheap, as most their business is Monday to Friday. €151 for a twin for two nights in NH Hotel du Grand Sablon, in October (Fri and Sat). You can pick up breakfast anywhere from €5.00 to 10.00. I know if you ring them direct they will match the on-line prices etc.

sarkozy

Yes, Ixelles is a good area to look at, too. You're unlikely to get somewhere affordable in Sablon. But walking to the old centre from Ixelles/Saint Gilles will take you roughly through Sablon and into the Grotte Markt.

As said, the EU district (beyond the Berlaymont building on Av. de la Loi/Wetstraat) is indeed quiet but I reckon it's a bit more of a schlep into the centre if you don't want to take public transport, otherwise, it's close. The area's a good bit boring, though.

Irish Gunner

Thanks

Going over for an Arsenal game so are a thousand other fans. Been to Brussels a few times so seen all the sights etc. There are 3 going over possible 5

Saw this place on Airbnb in rue Joseph Steven

Chez Marcel

Any views?