Hotel Vendome - Brussels, Belgium 

Found the hotel ok, and checked in. Man insisted on ?20 deposit for mini-bar and phone, even after assurances that neither would be used. Corridors to room, and room itself unbeleivably hot for a summer month. Underfloor heating must have been on full blast, and radiator on in the bathroom - unable to control either. Air-con cooled far corner of room only. Most unpleasant night's (lack of) sleep due to the heat of the room, and bathroom even hotter ! That said, no complaints at all about the breakfast, which was lovely, as was a Saturday night around the Grand Place area of the city. Comments about room temperature on departure rendered the man on reception suddenly unable to understand much English at all. Would we go there again ? Most definitely 'Yes'. To the same hotel ? Most probably 'No'.

Booked through Leisure Direction - were offered this hotel as a substitute for our original choice which turned out to be fully booked. Disappointed because have used this company for years and they have not let us down before. There are not words to describe the awfulness of this miserable place. It stank of smoke. Our first room had a constantly banging pipe, we complained and got one without a clanking pipe but which was always dark because it looked on to a wall. No bathroom door. not enough towels. Staff were okay but not exactly committed. Dark, dingy, run down, not properly cleaned. Not restful, horrible in fact. Brussels is fab however.