Thon EU Brussels, Brussels

For professional reasons I've been travelling to Brussels quite a lot. Since my hotels are booked by my employer, sometimes I get lousy stuff. But Thon EU was a very good surprise and nowadays I beg for it at the procurement department.

Location, for starters. For those who attend meetings in Schuman, the place is perfect. One subway station away or a 7 minutes’ walk. 

The rooms have a reasonable size and are very comfortable. Even some corny details – cone-shaped silver bedside tables, very very colourful chairs in the breakfast room – can be easily overcome by the best breakfast in all Brussels: besides eggs, pancakes, salmon (how I love salmon in the morning!), it has an espresso machine, which is so welcoming and warming...

Attentive staff, quick check-in or check-out, free wi fi. It’s silent, it’s professional, it’s clean.

It’s the best place for business travels to Brussels.

Depending on the days you’ll find single rooms from 70€, breakfast included.

 

 

Conrad Hotel, Dublin

I knew it!

There was something intriguing about the hotel; maybe my expectations were high - after The Westbury Hotel I confess I expected all five star Dublin hotels to be perfect; or was it the location? The neighbourhood was aseptic; it couldn't be the staff - attentive and joyful, as the Irish are. No...

After returning home and having done some research, I finally understood. The Conrad belonged to The Hilton, and no doubt one could feel that "hiltonite"! A large lobby, music in the air, the golden popping up again...

I had the most annoying difficulties in wi fi connection; big and comfortable room, but all night long a buzzy noise, as if the power generator was on the terrace (I’m pretty sure it was!) next to it. In business travels the only thing one demands is a good night's sleep, which unfortunately didn’t happen.

Nice breakfast – still, the room’s layout was a bit strange.

A bottle of water and a towel are at disposal at a small desk in the lobby for joggers (not my case), which I found a very nice detail.

The overall experience was good, not very good.

Prices around 190€, single room.