Renaissance Brussels Hotel

With 262 rooms, the four-star Renaissance Hotel, an outlet of the Marriott Hotel chain, is a mammoth establishment spanning an entire block. Located just around the corner from the European Parliament, the impeccably equipped Renaissance caters mostly to business travelers, but can offer a great value to tourists on weekends.

A complete renovation in September 2010 brought the hotel’s rooms up to date. Colorful accents like lavender carpets and light green retro curtains add some spunk, but on the whole this is a business-oriented hotel, ensconced in oak, bulky fabrics and plush upholstery. Not that that’s a bad thing. The hotel comes with plenty of amenities like 24-hour reception, a heated pool, sauna and gym, all included in the price. Each room is equipped with a minibar, toiletries and satellite television. All the tiling and marble in the en-suite bathrooms sparkles.

While it isn’t situated far from the city center, the Renaissance is still a Metro ride and a ten-minute walk away. The immediate surrounding area is sterile, with very little nightlife, and because of its proximity to EU offices, the hotel tends to be pricey on week nights. However, this fact also means it’s a great value for tourists on weekends, when the room rates plunge and the parking lot becomes free. Watch out for the great last-minute weekend deals.

Wi-Fi and breakfast are available for an additional fee. On weekends, the price for the breakfast buffet goes down from the usual €25 to €15.