Reviewer:
Thomas
( jackwhack@mailsnare.net)
from Northern Ireland
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I stayed in Jacques Brel from 24/07/03-27/07/03, and had a pleasant stay. We arrived about 1:30 in the afternoon but had to wait until 3:00pm for the key to our room, but the reception area had plenty to do, lots of information on the city, internet access, papers and magazines and a table tennis table. We had cards each for the doors, and you also needed it to get to the stairs or to the lift to go up to the rooms. The rooms themselves were fine, I was in a room of 6, different people every night. The linen was handed to us when we checked in, shrink-wrapped, and the beds were very comfortable. There were french windows in the room with chains so we could leave them open at night no problem and not worry about intruders, though the area seems pretty quite anyway. We had a shower and 2 sinks between us, although the toilet was just outside our door. Convenient for me, but the girls I was with had to walk to the other end of the floor! The rooms were very clean and there was a locker for everyone (bring a padlock). Breakfast was cereal, white or brown bread, luncheon meat (not very nice), orange juice and tea or coffee. There is a luggage room if you need it, and although we only had to deal with reception when checking in, the girl there was very helpful (even though she didn't have much English and we had to resort to some school French!) I stayed in 4 hostels and 2 hotels on my trip from Amsterdam to Nice, and this was the hostel I slept best in - didn't want to get up in the mornings! There is a metro stop 2 minutes walk from the hostel, although you could walk into the city centre if you want. It's only 2 stops from Gare du Nord. The bar is cheap and cheerful, though I wondered if the guy behind it was the only member of staff in the place at nighttime. Noise didn't carry up to the room. I wouldn't eat round the hostel, get the metro to Bourse and go to Brussels Grill right outside it - steak and chips for 6euro, cooked before your very eyes - yum yum! A very comfortable and convenient stay in Jacques Brel.
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(Review ID: 1667)
Nice Hostel!, July 29, 2003
Reviewer:
Garret
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We stayed at Jacques Brel for two nights July 11 and 12, 2003. As far as hostels go, JB is very nice! We had a private room with two single beds, and a private washroom and shower combo. We lucked out and managed to get a room that opened up onto the varanda on the 2nd floor of the hostel. As mentioned before, they have two small cubbyhole lockers in the rooms which require locks. Rooms utilized card locks. The hostel was very quiet and the staff were friendly and helpful. Location wise, it is close to both Botanique and Madou metro stations, and a 20 minute walk to Grand Place. The price was very reasonable and inexpensive (20 euros a night). Their bar had reasonable prices (you can get a beer for a bit over 1 euro), but they don't carry Stella Artois! Daily breakfast consisted of cereal/milk, OJ, bread and sandwich meat. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for inexpensive and somewhat comfortable accommodations in brussels.
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(Review ID: 1668)
very nice hostel, July 27, 2003
Reviewer:
Julie
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I stayed in this hostel end of June for 3 nights and it is far more better than Brughel. The room was a 3 bedded one with 3 single bed and a private bathroom. Lockers in the room and a lockers room on the basement if you check in before 3PM (you'll need a padlock or they sell some at the reception desk for 3 euros something). The peoples working there are nice and helpful. I had problems with the washing machine and I had a great help from them. The breafast is OK just simple but they do not serve food after that so eat you dinner while you are in the center because there is no restaurant near for dinner. It maybe a 15/20 minutes walk from the Grand Place but it is calm and quiet unlike Brughel who is near Grand Place but situated on a very noisy street. I would recommend this hostel.
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(Review ID: 1669)
Quiet Location, July 4, 2003
Reviewer:
Kezza
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We stayed in May this year for four nights. There were no problems with our reservations, check in and check out was smooth. They also have a lockable storage area, so if you arrive before the room is ready, there is a secure area for your baggage (you will need your own padlock). There are also lockable cubby holes for your passport etc in the room. We had a double room (two single beds), it was clean and large (although a bit sterile and very very basic), and quiet, which was good after all of the walking we did. The hostel is about 20 mins walk from the Grand Place, although there is a Metro station approx 5 minutes walk away. They do not serve food (except breakfast). When we were there a lot of the restaurants in the area were closed, and the ones open were on the expensive side (20-30 Euros each). We walked into town in the end. The bar was pretty good, with cheap beer and friendly staff. If you get bored with that, Het Bier Circus is close by (5 minutes walk), with 250-300 beers on offer. On the whole, this place is pretty basic, but offers good value for money, and is fine if you are happy to be a little bit out of the city centre.
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(Review ID: 1670)
Brief stay, May 30, 2003
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We would have liked to stay here longer, but a two week advance booking notice was not sufficient for more than one night. Apparently, they book out entire sections of the hostel to groups of people from nearby towns to come to Brussels for the weekend to get hammered. Not a huge loss though, there is not much to see in this city anyways... it is a get in, get out type place before the smell of the city gets to you.
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(Review ID: 1671)
Good staff and facilities, nice breakfast, April 29, 2003
Reviewer:
Alan J. Moum
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The staff here was very nice and helpful (February '03). The facilities were a bit industrial in the bunk room, but when we moved to a double they were palatial with a great private bathroom and shower. The breakfast was more than adequate to start the day. The location is quite nice, not far from the North rail station and very close to Le Bier Circus. I highly recommend this place.
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(Review ID: 1672)
lively hostel but crap carefew, September 4, 2002
Reviewer:
ian cassidy
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i visited this hostel in july 02, as i was travelling alone this was a great place for me 2 stay, so as you can guess the people were really friendly, this place has a happy hour in its own bar which is pretty cool because then everyone is just game for a good nite. I found that the dorms were pretty clean and the showers were ok but theres usually a big dash for these in the mornings. The carefew on this place needs to be changed as you get kicked out at 10am and you cant re-enter until 2pm, and then in the evening you have 2 be back at 1am, but the good news is the bar downstairs is still open and pretty lively by this time. Just beware of the American bar man and his ponytail!
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(Review ID: 1673)
One of the nicest hostels I've ever stayed in, September 4, 2002
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I stayed here last February, and I was a satisfied customer all round. I found the dorm that I was staying in to be really minimalist but in a modern way and anyway all I wanted was a bed for the night. I shared with seven other girls, where we had our own chill out area and bathroom. The staff were really friendly. I only paid E7.50 as far as I remember and for that much it was certainly a bargain. Breakfast as far as it goes in hostels was quite good. Overall I had no complaints about the place and would readily stay there again.
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(Review ID: 1674)
fleas!, July 7, 2002
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I stayed at the Jacques Brel three nights in June. The staff was really friendly, but my blanket had fleas!!!! Also, it's definitely a party hostel, so I between the noise and fleas, didn't get much sleep.
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(Review ID: 1675)
Stark and harsh hostel, June 29, 2001
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This was more like an old hospital than a youth hostel. The bunk-beds were made of hard plastic with no sheets or pillows. The showers were private, but the toilets were communal (which didnt lock either.) Not much privacy and almost completly vacant.
