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Brussels, Belgium is a great European destination for a family vacation because of its reasonable prices, fine food and shopping. The climate is moderate year round, and its location is easily reached. Thalys, an international high-speed train, operates in Brussels and commutes to Paris in less than 2 hours. This track is also shared with the Eurostar train and will take you to London from Brussels in approximately 2 1/2 hours. Another inexpensive form of commuting is via the Brussels Airlines that has rates as low as 99 euro fares from a variety of cities. Hotels book up early on weekends, so plan ahead, especially if you’ll need a room for three or more.

For tourist information about the city, visit the Tourisme Information Bruxelles (TIB)

Brussels' Belgium Family-Friendly Hotels

Novotel Brussels Centre Tour Noire
32, rue de la Vierge Noire
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
32 (0) 2 505 50 50 
$-$$
The contemporary Novotel hotel is centrally located one block from the De Brouckeres metro station. Like Europe's other Novotels, this family-welcoming hotel sleeps four to five people in a room. Large, comfortable modern guestrooms are configured with a king bed or two doubles, plus a daybed for kids. A separate bathing room holds the tub, shower, and sink; and there's a private water closet for the toilet; making it easy for the family to get ready for a night on the town.  Just a 10 minutes walk from the hotel is the medieval old town district of Brussels.

Hotel Amigo
Rue de l'Amigo
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
32 (0) 2 547 4747
$$-$$$
A convenient alternative for families with young children is staying right off the Grand-Place at this hip boutique hotel. The Amigo is within a renovated prison; "amigo" was said to be the nickname for all inmates incarcerated there. The British Rocco Forte chain restored and opened it in 2002, and today the Amigo captures kids’ imaginations with stark whites and accents of color, imaginative décor, and mosaics of Tintin characters on bathroom walls. Value family packages include adjoining rooms at good rates, plus museum tickets so kids can see a current show. Packages are available every weekend and over school holidays. The Amigo has cribs and babysitters available on request. Best yet, families can tour the cobblestone lanes of the old town at their front door, and forego hauling a stroller around. 

Hotel Ibis Brussels off Grand Place
Rue du Marché aux Herbes 100
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 32 (0)2 514 4040
$
This contemporary, low-budget sister of the Novotel is conveniently located very close to the Grand-Place and just a five minute walk from the metro and the railway station.  Amenities include 184 bright, comfortable rooms, many with double beds and WiFi. Other amenities include paid parking premises, and a snack bar with terrace seating that’s conveniently open 24 hours a day, allowing jet-lagged parents and children to dine at any time. This hotel is well-located and has summer rates under $100/N, but for families that are even more budget conscious, the Hotel Ibis Brussels Expo-Atomium, which is situated opposite the main entrance of the Exhibition Centre has double room rates that start at US$69. This area, known as Brussels Expo and close to Brupark, is not so bad for families because it's just a short walk to the the Atomium, King Baudouin stadium and the Royal Castle of Laken.

IYH Hostel Brussels – Bruegel
Heilige Geeststraat 2 at the corner of Keizerslaan-Kapelleke
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
32 (0)2 511 043
$
This contemporary hostel, one of dozens in the city, is well located in the old town, near the main train station and within a five-minute walk of the Grand-Place. Reports suggest that it is somewhat less of a party place than many others; however, it can be noisy at night during the summer, when most hostel guests keep their windows open and crowds gather on the lanes below.  On the plus side, there are several four-person family rooms, and breakfast is included in rates which start at about €20 per person including linens.