I'm planning a weekend trip to visit Brussells for the first time. I'd like to stay somewhere close to the centre of town near the main Square. Any advice on which hotel to stay at - $200 a night price range. Thanks for any advice...what about big brasserie style restaurants?

Hello, James. La Madeleine right off the square is small, local, inexpensive, friendly, not at all fancy, somewhat charming. Can't remember the street name because I had a map in Dutch and Brussells streets are in French so I was baffled most of the time. Rick Steves recently recommended this hotel. Good sized room, great sized bathroom. Close to train station and many restaurants. Have a nice time in Brussels; I found the people to be delightful. One waiter was so excited to see us in our "Belgique" sweat shirts (purchased because it was colder than we expected) that he pointed out to everyone in the restaurant "Hey, look, they like Belgium" and gave us a free refill of hot chocolate. Laughs and clapping. We felt very welcomed.

James <BR> <BR>It might be worth trying www.lastminute.com as they always have good deals for 5* weekends in Brussels. They currently have the Plaza Hotel and Eurostar for two nights for £129. <BR>

Check out the Hotel Amigo; it's located right behind the city hall and one block from the Gran' Place, the city's medieval heart.

James -- <BR> <BR>I just got back from Brussels last week. I stayed at the Hotel Welcome and had a very wonderful time. It's inexpensive. The place has just been remodeled, or rather the remodeling is almost complete, but the rates have remained the same. There are some comments from other users on the Rants and Raves part of this Web site. I hope you enjoy your trip. <BR> <BR>William

We got a room at the Radisson SAS (4 star business class hotel near Grand Place/Galeries Hubert) for 99 euros ($91) per night in September. Check their website for specials

We stayed at the Radisson SAS (4 star business class hotel near Grand Place & Galeries Hubert) at the end of September for a special rate of 99 euros per night ($91). Check the radisson webpage for specials.

Thanks all of you - great advice.

Furthermore, you can find more Brussels hotels here...<BR><BR>http://www.brusselshotelsonline.com

I would recommend Le DixSeptieme. Lovely hotel, right near the Grand Place.

This is too funny. I just recommended this hotel to someone else: Le Dixseptieme. I will be there soon, and I always look foward to staying there. <BR><BR><BR>Here are the coordinates. It is very close to the train station (Centraal) and to the Grand Place. Fodor's reviews it in the hotel section.<BR><BR>R. de la Madeleine 25, Brussels B1000, Belgium<BR>Phone: 02/502-5744<BR>Fax: 02/502-6424

Hi James<BR>You give great advice on the Africa boards.<BR>I second the Hotel Welcome, billed as the smallest hotel in Brussels.(now has 10 rooms) It is a little further out from the square, about a 10 minute walk. We had the penthouse suite which was newly renovated and HUGE. Very spacious and comfortable. It was actually 3 rooms and a bathroom. Hopefully, the elevator has been installed. It was very reasonably priced and they organised a pick up from the airport (at an extra charge). We were there in the height of summer and accommodation at all the other hotels was expensive.(2 and a half times the price) It is cheaper on weekends as business travelers leave Brussels. It is situated on a lovely quiet square with good restaurants.

we've stayed at the Welcome and loved it too. And their restaurant on the ground floor is excellent, especially after a long day and you don;t feel like traveling far<BR><BR>Sophie and her husband are wonderful hosts

I will second (or third) the Les Dixseptime most enthusiastically. Very close to Gran Place. Rooms are nice sized with all the comforts, including terry cloth robes. Breakfast was very good, and free internet was provided to guests. We stayed there last spring, and the staff got us a reservation at Armands, also near the Gran Place, where we had an excellent dinner of white asparagus in an egg butter sauce, which was so good, I can't remember now what the main dish was.