i don't share the opinion of sarah, caus' actually, we had a great evening there. Cheap bar, nice people, helpful staff, rooms ok.They booked also tour to Brugges for us which was very cool. Compared to sleepwell hostel this the place to stay in brussels
3 of
3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1594)
Boring..., March 29, 2005
Reviewer:
Sarah
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We stayed here for a few nights only because the others hostels were booked out, it was very average with nothing special about it, the staff were not helpfull and its hard to find as its in a wierd location. overall i would not recomend it to anyone and its cold too. dont bother.
1 of
6 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1595)
super groovy, September 17, 2004
Reviewer:
john may
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n/a
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Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
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(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
coolest place I have been so far...groovy bar, cheap beer!
5 of
5 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1596)
Great athmosphere, August 15, 2004
Reviewer:
Kaisa
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
This hostel is one of the best I've stayed in. There are good facilities (laundry, kitchen and LOCKERS, which many hostels lack), the place is clean and the staff is helpful. The bar and the lobby are good places to meet people and make friends. There were really cool and friendly people there and the athmosphere was nice. They play loud music past midnight in the bar, so rooms across the street might be a quiet option. We stayed in a dorm above the bar, but the noise wasn't a problem, though.
7 of
7 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1597)
Average, July 21, 2004
Reviewer:
soky
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
I stayed at CHAB last week 15-7-04 to 17-7-04 as thought it was quite overrated. It took me over 20 mins to find the hostel from Gare du Nord eventhough the state that its 10 minutes walk and the area isnt the best. I opted for a 4 bed room having read the reviews on this website which indicated that the dorms were too noisy(it was coming to the end of my stay and i was craving a decent sleep)and on both nights i was sharing a room to two Koreans who didnt have a word of English and were very noisy. That in itself is not a crime, however when i went down for breakfast on the first morning (between 7.30 and 9.00) - i arrived at 8.50 and was told by a very rude man in the kitchen that i could not have a cup (for coffee) as breakfast was over. Also they just had a few slices of bread thrown there and nothing else by that time. So if you want your free breakfast you would probably want to be there by 8.30 at the latest. Our room was across the road in the main building and it was still quite noisy as there were a group of students partying in the garden outside until 3am.
1 of
2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1598)
You won't go wrong, but improvements are needed., July 3, 2004
Reviewer:
Mikeymike15
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n/a
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
My second time at CHAB was 26-JUN-04 (first time was 3 years ago). Definitely liked the improvement in the downstairs bar area althought the old bar wasn't bad at all (very much a diver bar back in the day). The first time I stayed here, I was fortunate to get a room across the street. This is what you should shoot for since it is much more modern and clean. This most recent time, I stayed in a 2-bed room on the first floor in the old building and was fairly dissappointed. It wasn't dreadful, but ensure that you get sheets as there were hair all over the bed cover. Also stains on the floor and wall, a door lock that didn't work properly, and a retched locker area, all gave me a bad impression.On the upside, I did like the bar area both before and after, i've always met cool people here (it's not a party atmosphere but it does have a social scene), and the reception was friendly.
1 of
1 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1599)
Ok but overrated, May 21, 2004
Reviewer:
ah07
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n/a
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
We stayed here early May, it was our first hostel in europe and it was ok. We chose an 8 bed dorm so being a couple we appreciated the privacy when no-one else turned up the 3 nights we stayed there. Try and ask for a room across the street where we stayed because you don't have to deal with the noise of the bar then. A word of advice to travellers- if you come to Belgium stay 1 night max in Brussels as apart from the Grand Place and Mannekin Pis there is nothing special about this so called Capital of Europe. Brugge on the other hand is incredible so go straight there for the majority of your stay.As for this hostel it was fairly clean, dusty and I got bitten all over - I was worried it could be bed bugs but I think there's an army of mosquitoes in the shower area!!! Despite this it is fairly nice - would be nice for them to organise some social activities - say happy hour at the bar or something as the big school/ sports groups make it difficult to get to meet people- but we met a few. In the red light district so surrounding area a bit dodgy but CHAB is ok for a night.
1 of
2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1600)
Mixed review. Some good points and several poor points, May 9, 2004
Reviewer:
olive_boy1
Pros:
n/a
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n/a
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Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
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(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
Stayed here for 6 nights in a dorm room. Was very easy to get to via the underground (Botnaique station), thou a bit confusing to find one you get abovegound...... a small street runs onto Rue Travesiere that does not appear in some maps (ie Lonely Planet Guide). Locals were very friendly and extremely helpful thou. Stayed in a 6 bed dorm in the main hostel on my first night - rooms quite run down and extremely dusty. Stayed over the road on my remaining nights. Cleaner, brighter and more modern rooms. Thou construction (drilling, angle grinding) began at 7.00am every morning waking the entire room. Need to be out of the hostel from 10.00 - 1.00 which meant no sleeping in!!!! Security lockers in the main building behind the reception area. Key card access. No curfew. Good breakfast. Staff mostly helpful. Laundry facilities. Quite a social hostel and good for meeting other travellers. Noise levels were problematic my entire stay. Lots of noisy large sporting groups partying in the main hostel area. Was impossible to get to sleep in the rooms directly off the court yard area. Loud, loud construction works across the road as already mentioned. Annoying push button showers in the main hostel area that ran cold. Hot showers across the road (no push buttons!!!). Location is proabably one of the better aspects. 10-15 min walk to Grand Place.
5 of
7 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1601)
nice n' classy, March 21, 2004
Reviewer:
JR
( polish_jr@hotmail.com)
from Ottawa, Canada
Pros:
n/a
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n/a
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Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
This place is the nicest hostel in Europe. The dorms and chillin area are typical, but the lounge and bar look like an upscale hotel. Very fancy and they play good music. Showers and food are also typical but this place is great from atmosphere. Easy to meet cool people and hang out (since I found it hard to find nightlife in Brussels). It does get loud at night, not in a party kinda of way, more like loud people laughing and telling stories, so don't sleep, join them!
1 of
1 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1602)
very nice, February 2, 2004
Reviewer:
karam
Pros:
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Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
my friend and i went on a 2 week back packing trip to belgium, holland, and france and this hostel was probably one of the best hostels we stayed at. it was cheap, clean and best of all had a bar and an cool vibe. u walk in and u dont think that your in a hostel but a bar. for 9 euro it was definitely a bargain and would recommend anyone go there if they are in brussels. the only thing was that it was on a street that was really close to the station but kind of hidden so make sure u know where you are going.
