Slow Moments in Brussels

Bequemes Bett, sehr sauber, gemütlich eingerichtet. Netter Kontakt mit der Vermieterin.

Alles gut.

Pulizia. Quartiere tranquillo ma vicino al centro e ben collegato con mezzi pubblici. Prezzo ragionevole. Host cortese e disponibile. Self check-in semplice.

Secondo piano senza ascensore. Lieve scomodità se si viaggia con bagagli.

Appartamento pulito, moderno e silenzioso

Ingresso del palazzo sporco e scala molto stretta per salire al piano

Pros: For those who want to be in this area, not far from the university, this is a nice place. The place was pretty clean.

There was no basic hand soap in the room. None whatsoever. There was, however, a marble dispenser for it, which apparently means that guests are expected to arrive with their own liquid soap and fill it themselves. There was nothing with which to take even the simplest shower, (and as I said not even anything to wash one’s hands with). Apparently, this room is intended only for multi-day stays, and visitors are expected to bring their own soap and shampoo etc. But I was staying for one night, one night only. And I paid more than 100 euros for this one-night questionable pleasure. When I raised the issue on Whatsapp, the hostess boldly replied that soap was not listed in the description: C'est tout. So be careful: read the listing with forensic attention. Check whether “water”, “toilet paper”, “windows”, “air”, “a door”, “a lock”, and other such extravagant luxuries are explicitly mentioned. The room did contain a very expensive coffee machine and even a separate coffee grinder, the fact which the hostess proudly pointed out on WhatsApp, boasting that she "invested" in this precious thing. However, there was no basic kettle to boil water. But really, why would anyone need a kettle when there is a coffee grinder? But there is big vinyl record player from the 1980s placed on a meuble, and beside it, mounted on the wall, a large shelf full of vinyl records from which guests may choose. You cannot put your suitcase anywhere, boil water in a kettle, or wash your hands with soap - but you can listen to vinyl. How wonderfully practical. When I asked, why a room costing more than 100 euros per night did not provide even basic hand soap, the hostess responded with remarkable francophone arrogance and sternly instructed me to “be polite” and to pay closer attention to the details of the listing. The building hallway strongly reeks of smoking habits, and the dark paint is peeling and flaking off in places, though the room itself is in good condition.