we stayed at this hostel in december 2002, it was one of the most fun hostels of the trip, the bar downstairs with pool tables was great. It was in an ideal location very close to the center of town. They had internet access and let us leave our bags there on the day we checked out so we could explore the town some more. The curfew was 4am (when the bar closed). The heater was not working in our room one night though, and it got pretty cold. The showers were the push button kind and not all that hot most of the time but did have a separate dressing area. Overall we had a great time and would highly reccommend this hostel to backpackers.
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(Review ID: 1517)
The best in Brugge, November 6, 2003
Reviewer:
vmchico@hotmail.com
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(5)
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Great place to stay! We (5 people) stayed there for 2 nights and we had so much fun! It is a hostel above a bar and the bar is one of the best hangouts in Brugge. We had no problem with the staff or the showers or anything else. Only problem was the hangovers from to much LaChouffe beer. It is located near the city center. I recommended to anyone visiting brugge.In addition, walk down the street (to the left as you walk out of the hostel), all the way down, and you'll find a small bar after the laundromat where you can get great food.
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(Review ID: 1518)
nasty staff, June 3, 2003
Reviewer:
Amy from
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Agreed- Charlie rockets is a bad choice. As far as the rooms go, everything was ok... although we were unable to get any hot water day or night, and all that was given in response by the surley staff was a simple shrug of the shoulders... had it not been for the other guests there who told us the first floor of the hostel had hot water, we´d have never known.The staff.... I just can´t explain to you how utterly pathetic and rude they are. Upon checking in we were told that there was no need to book for the next night as there was a lot of availability... the next morning we were not so nicely grunted at by a woman who is waaaaay too old to be working in a youth hostel, that they had a 47 person booking (in their apparent 44 bed hostel) that had been there for weeks, and that we couldn´t stay. Ok, fine... things like this happen, but when we asked about the hot water (ie, if there was any or going to be any in the near future and if not was there some kind of compensation etc) the staff, again not so nicely, had ´no idea´...nor apologies for us. çThis really got on my nerves - we´ve worked in hostels, and when there is no hot water you can AT LEAST apologise for it... instead the girl working there threw a tantrum - I mean there was foot stamping and everything!!!! It was SO pathetic I couldn´t help but laugh a little.... apparently the job of standing behind a bar and telling people there is hot water on the first floor was just a bit much for the poor girl. boo hoo.Ask at the tourist office for a list of hostels... and chose another one.
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(Review ID: 1519)
Good location, security a legitimate concern, March 5, 2003
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Anonymous
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(3)
Charlie Rocket's is indeed a hostel above a bar... a little shocking to anyone expecting stolid HI-certified facilities! However, the rooms are comfortable and warm in winter, and the location (literally steps from Bruges' city center and everything worth seeing) is certainly worth it. However, it was quite expensive for a double room, especially since it turned out to have four beds in it! Nonetheless, the staff was friendly and honored our request for a double, despite a mix-up with the keys that led to a Spanish girl being given the wrong key and having access to our room. Surely not the safest place to spend the night, and loud when the bar closed (nothing beats that 4-AM wake-up to singing drunk Belgians outside the building), but very centrally located... all in all, it's not worth the exorbitant per-night fees, but the location is charming.
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(Review ID: 1520)
Unsafe, Unfriendly, Unclean, January 23, 2003
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Anonymous
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Single worst hostel experience ever. From the moment we walked in it was a bad choice. The employees were ALL rude, surly and unhelpful. We were charged for a breakfast that amounted to LITERALLY only stale bread and then were told we could not take our names off the list for the next day because, "it's in the computer and I can't get it out." But the pinnacle of our two nights stay was when the key to one room wouldn't lock. They refused to give us the master key insisting they'd never had problems before. That night my friend lost 300 euros and his passport. With no apologies. Further, they insist on holding your key at the bar, but don't ask for any indentification or verification when you return and ask for the key. A simple, "room 10 please" was all it took to get our key. I can not advise you enough against this hostel.
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(Review ID: 1521)
ideal location, January 4, 2003
Reviewer:
Tara
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Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
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(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
Charlie Rocket's is a bar with a hostel on the upper floors, I stayed here in May 2002 for three nights. It is a bit loud at night once the bar opens up, but you just have to go with it!! The staff isn't overly friendly as they seemed more pre-occupied with the bar and it's "flies," but the Bauhaus was full and this was the next closest place (and it was raining)! I didn't take in the bar so I'm not sure what their nightlife is like. They offer breakfast in the morning, which isn't that special, but it fills you up until lunch. I ate supper in the bar one night and it wasn't great, eat elsewhere... Better food for the same price.I had a room with two bunks, which were pretty comfy. The linens were clean and the room was bright. The window opens up to the street (which was pretty quiet) so you can peer out on all the bikers, get some air, dry laundry, whatever. There is a sink in the room but toilets and showers are communal (but private, one door = one toilet, another door = a shower, etc.). I don't recall there being a phone to use, I went to the post office, so that's bit of a pain.ChaRocket's is a couple of blocks away from a laundromat, in the other direction you aren't far at all from Brugges' city centre. The hostel is very ideally located within the city and you can walk anywhere to sight see, float the canals, eat, shop, etc. Getting there is unfortunately not as easy as it is a ways from the train station.In all, I would say this hostel serves it's purpose of a place to rest your head. There is potential to meet a lot of people too.I read about a Quasimodo Tour that takes you around Flaandres to some of the World War I sights. I would recommend this tour above all other things you do in Brugges, it gives you a new apreciation for the Belgians and the lives lost in the war. Made me even more proud to have a couple of maple leaves on my backpack... O' Canada!
