Hostel Galia

The flea market right in front of the hostel every day was a highlight, and I loved the neighborhood around it. The building doesn't look like much from outside, but my room in the female-only shared dorm was really cute, with a comfortable bed. Breakfast was excellent, the best free hostel breakfast I've had. The space felt funky and cool, with lots of indoor and outdoor places to sit. I'd happily stay again.

There were 12 lockers in the room, and every single one was broken. The staff knew and didn't seem to mind, so there was nowhere safe to lock my things at night. The bathroom was extremely small, especially with 8 beds, and there didn't seem to be a kitchen for cooking, which was disappointing. There are plenty of restaurants nearby and a supermarket too. The bed was very comfortable, and the curtains were a nice touch.

Staff were very kind and let me check in early, and the free continental breakfast was lovely, with coffee, teas and juices. It was a nice way to start the day. I stayed in a 6 bed female dorm. The beds were fairly comfortable, but cleanliness could be much better. The bed "pods" didn't seem to be cleaned regularly and had a lot of dirt that could easily be vacuumed up. The bathroom wasn't very clean either, and I was glad I had flip flops for the shower. With little ventilation below ground, it gets hot quickly. It's a very average Brussels hostel and hotel, though sadly there isn't much choice for people on a budget. I moved here because I wasn't happy with the area where I'd been staying before.

The front desk was extremely friendly and helpful, five stars there. Everything looked very clean, though I can't say anything about bed bugs because I didn't check. The building is old and the room is small, and the hotel is in a ghetto area, so be aware of the neighborhood. It might suit the price, and if you're a poet at heart you could romanticize the medieval-looking rooms and courtyard. For a few Euros more, I went to the Central area, within walking distance of Grand-Place and the Cathedral in the professional district, and got a top-class hotel I'm writing home about. I wouldn't recommend this place to solo female travelers. Still, the front desk really was great.