Le Grain de Sable

The staff were very nice, but the hotel feels quite old and not up to the usual Mercure standard. During our stay, they collected rubbish right outside the hotel at 7 in the morning, and the noise woke us.

Usually it’s a good hotel, and the riverside view is lovely. This time the water heater failed, so we couldn’t shower before bed. We’d hoped for at least an apology or some small gesture, but got nothing.

Check-in and checkout were easy and pleasant, and breakfast was good. The hotel itself was fine, though it felt closer to three stars than four. If you sleep past 7 a.m., avoid rooms with an internal connecting door. At some point in the morning, I could hear our neighbours so clearly I thought they were in our room.

The rooms are fine, the beds are great, and room service was fantastic. Reception staff all speak English, and they were very accommodating when we had trouble getting the water warm enough. Corner rooms have nice windows, though the road is busy, so a higher floor may be better. There’s a coffee machine, TV, and hairdryer in the room. Lyon de Bruxelles, right next to the hotel, is an excellent restaurant.