Crowne Plaza Brussels - Le Palace
Strolling through the streets of Brussels at 9am on a Saturday morning is a surprisingly peaceful experience; it feels almost as if the city breathes a gentle sigh as it bids farewell to the throngs of corporate visitors before receiving an abundance of excited sightseers. It’s a beautiful time of day to make the walk from the Leopold district into the city centre, especially if you are lucky enough to do so on a sunny spring day.
Seeing the magnificent water fountain in Parc de Bruxelles is a wonderful way to shake off the working week. Our destination this morning is the Crowne Plaza City Centre which is to be found nudged gently between the Hilton and the beautiful Jardin Botanique Kruidtuin. Although the central location means the hotel keeps rather close company with a busy road, the proximity to the shopping district makes it worthwhile. The Grand Place is also only a short walk away and this makes a wonderful starting point for exploring the bustling streets of Brussels. On entering the large, airy lobby, the Art Nouveau décor welcomes you with its light and elegant warmth. The hotel flows;you have a grand entrance but from there you can see at the other end of the building another exit; something which I prefer to numerous other hotels which portray an exaggerated sense of intimacy. We are met by Hugo; an employee of the hotel who is obviously proud to give us a tour. In fact unlike many hotels where staff members seem harassed, every face we see is a smiling one. The hotel has 354 rooms, all decorated in keeping with the style of the building. Each room is spotlessly clean, welcoming and comfortable. Sumptuous robes are available and each room has even a little free sleeping solution tucked on the bed to ensure a good night’s rest. We are also lucky enough to view one of the magnificent ‘Century Rooms’, which is decorated with authentic, antique furniture. This is by no means a modern design of room but for those who enjoy the Art Deco style, it is heavenly. Some of these rooms also have a view of the Jardin Botanique Kruidtuin, which is stunning. As we wander the spacious corridors we notice a subtle aroma which seems to follow us about the place. Hugo tells us that throughout the year the hotel, in accordance with the season, dedicates a different scent to the common areas of the hotel. Even the soap in the bathrooms is in harmony with this theme. The other common areas such as the bar and restaurant are modern but cleverly designed to embrace the personality of the building whilst still being comfortable for numerous guests. The buffet breakfast at a glance looks very well stocked, with little extras such as fruit smoothies on tap and a general abundance of breakfast treats. On leaving the hotel, we notice a variety of snacks and drinks available to purchase close to the reception area. We are informed that this is an initiative which evolved from an ambition to be more ecological. Rather than using energy to refrigerate a mini-bar in every room, the hotel will now just have one area where the same goods can be purchased. I would highly recommend this hotel. For anybody considering a weekend holiday by train, taking the Eurostar from London to Brussels is a must and the central location of the Crowne Plaza makes it absolutely ideal for exploring the city.
