Marivaux Hotel

The staff were welcoming and glad to offer advice, and the location is excellent for visiting Brussels sights. The hotel feels like a maze, apparently made up of several old buildings joined together, with different lifts serving different floors. Our room was a good size and the bed was comfortable. It faced a central opening and had very little natural light, so it felt dark, and the lighting could have been better. I'd ask for a street-facing room if possible, though that could mean some late-night noise from passersby. I'd stay again because the price was good for the location and friendly service.

I booked a stay from the 7th to the 9th, and on the final day took a glass of water from the tank by the entrance, the one filled with oranges. The water was rotten. I don't know how many days or weeks the tank had been left unchanged, but I tasted the rot as soon as I swallowed and felt sick all afternoon. A lovely way to end my first trip to Brussels. I have to write this because it's a health hazard.

The location is excellent, and getting a hotel at this price is a good deal. The rooms are good, though reaching ours was complicated, narrow and difficult. The carpets made the atmosphere feel a bit damp and smelly, but it was fine for us.

The room was dark and cramped, with no lights, and there was no minibar. Hallways are very narrow and small, so don't book if you have a buggy or wheelchair. I was shocked that we were given a broken crib without a mattress. Someone had tried to fix it with cello-tape, which is a complete health and safety violation for a baby. The owner has no regard for children's safety. You can see it in the photos. The hotel is behind a big shopping district if that's what you're after.