Hotel Sabina

Our room had a strong smell left by a previous guest, and it was still there after we'd kept the window open around the clock for days. The location, though, is amazing, near metro, tram, and bus stops, with restaurants and cafes serving really great food all around. Breakfast was tasty and varied, with a coffee machine and a choice of cheeses and breads. Cleaning could be better, and some room fixtures and fittings badly need replacing.

The staff were friendly, the WiFi worked well, and the location was nice. The rooms are modest and very small, though they looked clean, and the toilet is tiny but works. There wasn't noise at night. The bed was very uncomfortable, so I'd bring your own pillows too, the ones in the room are incredibly bad. Everything feels quite old, but the place is cheap.

The breakfast was a lovely continental spread, with plenty for everyone, and the owner makes his own jam, which was lovely too. Hotel Sabina is around a 20 minute walk from central Brussels. The beds were really comfy, the rooms stayed nice and warm, and the shower was hot, so it's a decent place to get your head down. The rooms could use an update and a fresh coat of paint. I wish they'd put a kettle, cups, and coffee in the rooms so you could have one whenever you wanted.

Think of it as a short-stay Brussels adventure, but bring your own toolbox. There's plenty to keep you entertained, from dead insects to the squeaking hotel beds in neighboring rooms. Every day seems to reveal another hidden gem, whether it's a rusty pipe, an oxidized screw, a broken tile, or a heater hanging off a cliff.