A great place to stay...especially for just 10 euro, January 22, 2004
Reviewer:
Aren Kaye
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(4)
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(4)
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(4)
I stay here 2nd - 5th January 2004. The CHAB was everthing I expected. I stayed in the dorms and i didn't have a problem with them. The trick is to get to sleep before everyone else. It is 10-15min walk uphill from Gare du Nord in the middle of the Turkish Community. The kithen was locked from about 11pm until 1pm the next day. The washing machine and use of the dryer costs 4.50 euro you pay the person at the front counter. You can use the dryer for as long as it takes for your clothes to dry. If you stay in the dorms over a few days and you want to keep the same bed or stop someone new from taking it while your out you need to leave one of your bags (empty of course) on top of the bed. This tells the cleaners (and anyone else) that the bed is saved...don't touch!. I hope this helps anyone.
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(Review ID: 1604)
Perfect stay, January 13, 2004
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Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Despite the hostel is not the newest one, rooms are clean, comfortable and price is probably the lowest in western europe.We had a very pleasant stay , and fun at their barBest wishes to paul and Clara (we met them there) from australia if you read these lines
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(Review ID: 1605)
very cheap., January 1, 2004
Reviewer:
papote
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Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
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(5)
This is the cheapest hostel I stayed so far. I paid 10 for a night. I stayed in this hostel on Dec 29 for one night. I made a reservation the day before, and checked in took less than 5 minutes. The negative of this place is that the 10 bedroom dorm does not have the bathroom inside the room. Thus, one has to walk outside in the cold in other to take a shit. Also, the showers were n't that clean either but for 10 who am I to complain. This place has a bar which is very useful in order to meet fellow backpackers specially if you travel alone like I did. This hostel is not close to the train station. Nevertheless, it is only a 10 minutes ride from the bruxelles Zidi train station. I believe you take the number two line to Bonitique.
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(Review ID: 1606)
Good Atmosphere, Bad for sleeping, December 31, 2003
Reviewer:
Ashley
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Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
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(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
CHAB has a great atmosphere with an abundance of communal area to meet other travelers. My first reservation was for a dorm room which is adjacent to the lounge and bar. Loud music and parting well past midnight made getting sleep very difficult. If staying in the dorms, also know that there are no lockers in the room; if you wish, you can use the lockers by reception (in another building). I was advised by an emplyee to lock my things up at all times (shower, sleeping), they seem to have a theft problem. The toilet is outside and the showers are in an entirely different building. The dorms were not convientent for storage of lugage, bathroom use or accomidating for sleep. On my second day I came back to find my sheets gone and my bed taken, I wasn't sure why, but I asked to be put in a room other than the dorms because of how loud they are. I stayed the next night in a single on the third floor. It was still loud at night and the walls are very thin to your neighbors room. The showers are fine and there are plenty of toilets throughout the facility. There is a kitchen that was always in use and a washer and dryer. Two internet computers for pay as you go. The location wasn't the best, but the metro is fairly close by, but not an ideal place if you prefere to go on foot. Overall, don't stay in a dorm room.
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(Review ID: 1607)
Cheap, Clean, Great Atmosphere! Highly Recommended!, December 7, 2003
Reviewer:
Dave LeFevre
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Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
The first thing you notice is how affordable the rooms are. I think I spent the night in a 4-person room and it was only like $13! Wow! I immediately met some interesting people that I went out with that night. Good bar, good music going, good lounge area. One feels very welcome there. Location is decent, its only a block and a half walk to the metro. For breakfast, just make sure you bring your room receipt because they are kind of anal about that. Overall, great place to meet people, cheap, friendly atmosphere. Also, no curfew, so no need to be home at a certain hour!!! Definately a great experience when visiting Brussels!! (August03)
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(Review ID: 1608)
Good times at the CHAB!, September 28, 2003
Reviewer:
Paolo
( quorum_forever@hotmail.com)
from Vancouver, Canada
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Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
Yes, I couldn't agree more with everyone! This hostel is very nice and relatively cheap. I loved it here! Good reception and bar service. The patio and the greenhouse area is very nice as well, had lots of good times here.. there are lockers too in the main hostel, and there are some cheap pizza places close by... Also walkable to Grand PlaceCouple of criticisms: 1.) if you're in a dorm facing the patio, it can get very very noisy at night...2.) too bad if you're in the dorm across the street, so let them know in advance that you want to stay at the main dorms..3.) i've heard stories that people actually RAPPELL down the roof and sneak in to steal belongings in the middle of the night! Kinda freaky, so just chain your stuff in the bed and bring your wallet with you at all times when you're out...4.) usual hostel breakfast. its so little, i don't even consider it as breakfast...
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(Review ID: 1609)
great place, August 28, 2003
Reviewer:
andrew
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Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
100 x better than the Sleep Well ! this place is clean, staff super cool and probably the best bar in a youth hostel I 've seen so far.Super cool!
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3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1610)
Best hostel, August 21, 2003
Reviewer:
David
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(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Stayed in a double for 16 euro a night. Room clean, spacious, shower and toilet too. The bar area fantastic. Really cheap drinks, they stock most of the main Belgian beers - 1 euro for a bottle of fine Jupiler beer & cool music too. It's in a really nice conservatory space too and outdoor patio that is great in the summer. I was really impressed, and having travelled parts of europe this summer staying in hostels, I began to wish all hostels were like CHAB.
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(Review ID: 1611)
we love it, August 11, 2003
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Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
they're really cool, the bar;the staff; the accommodation, the location. I stayed in a triple with showers, i just payed 16 (by the way 16 is the rate for a bed in a dorm of 18 in England). If you like music the barman (ben) is a god!
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(Review ID: 1612)
Nice and cheap and clean, August 4, 2003
Reviewer:
Laura
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saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
Get a four bed room, they're in a seperate building from the main one. Liked the clean toilets+showers. Breakfast was the usual ok hostel food. Stay here, its close to a metro but doesnt take long to walk into the town.Don't bother with the bus trip around Brussels, its a really ugly drive out to the Atomium.
