We were told that this hotel was 'just a short way' from the downtown square, but this was very misleading - it was quite a distance and we ended up getting a taxi to come back. The young man at the front desk was not very helpful helping solve a problem with their internet. I agree with a prior review that you should breakfast elsewhere.

That said, the room was big, clean, and comfortable. The check in process was quick, and I felt safe in the neighborhood throughout our two night stay.

Super clean, contemporary hotel, nice neighborhood, terrific restaurants within short walking distance, excellent breakfasts, close to tram and railway . Spoiled us for other hotels on our itinerary!

I stayed for three nights at the Catalonia Art Forum Hotel in December 2005 and had a great experience. Staff was friendly, breakfast was basic but filling, rooms were clean, and the bathrooms were HUGE (loved the towel warmer!). This hotel is on the outskirts of the city center, but not a far tram ride, and in nice weather it's not a bad walk (from the Musee de Beaux Arts it took me about 45 minutes to walk back to the hotel). Cab rides to the city center and the train station run about 7 euro.


Overall, a great experience -- would stay here again.

Someone mentioned this being a "bad" part of town: I did not feel that way in the slightest. The hotel is definately in a more residential area, but I never felt unsafe.

I have been at the Hotel Catalonia in Brussels for a business trip. I've been there for 10 days and was very confidend having read the excellent reviews others have posted here.
Unfortunately I shall disagree with you.

Personnel was unkind and provided me wrong informations on the direction to take to reach the place I was aheaded: they signed it on a wrong point on the map and suggested me to take a tram that doesn't exist.

When I checked in at 1 pm the room was not ready and I had to wait for it a whole hour in the lounge.

The hotel is located at 30 minutes with bus or tram from the city centre and public transport slows down after 6 pm (only 3 bus per hour).

I received some working phone calls when I was having breakfast or when I was out and I have not been told by the personnel who answered the call and got messages for me, even if ensured the caller they'd had told me as soon as possible.

Breakfast shall improve as it is very essential with few choices and the resturant doesn't reserve a try.

The internet facilities are very expensive and the connection is very slow.

The rooms are very small (1 step from the bad to the window, 1 from the bad to the surrounding walls).
There are no additional pillows or covers and even when asking the personnel not to switch on the air conditioned, I got back in a freezy room every evening.

The only nice thing is that the hotel is very clean, but if you can avoid breakfast - there's a lovely boulangerie just in the corner!) and don't consider it if you want to be in the centre or at a feet distance from the main attractions. I wasted 1 hour / 1.5 hours a day to move from the hotel to get the city centre.

So avoid it if:
- you want to be close to the city centre
- you need internet facilities
- you expect kind and nice personnel
- you want a big room