Hi , me and my friend are staying 2 days in Brussels arriving Sunday afternoon till Tuesday. Arriving Eurostar. We are staying at the Floris in Rue Stalingrad. Reading the forum indicates plenty of challenges at Midi. In order to make a hasty exit from the station to our hotel can anyone describe the signage to exit from the station to the direction of our hotel so we are not hanging about looking like tourists ( despite having a suitcase! ) . Is it best to get the metro to our hotel or taxi / walk. We are tough Londoners and know all the tricks but when in a new place we need to have the best preparation.
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Curiously the internet (google hotel floris stalingrad brussels metro) says the closest metro station to this hotel is Bourse, which I find hard to believe. I am fairly certain that it is at the Place Rouppe end of Avenue Stalingrad (which is itself the continuation of rue de Midi coming from Bourse), in which case the nearest metro station is Anneessens, only 2 stops from Gare du Midi on the pre-metro, i.e. underground tram. However, you may need a street map to find the hotel from there.
At Gare du Midi, first follow the signs to the metro, where you can buy tickets from the machines, and then to the numbered trams - I forget which numbers are underground and which overground at Gare du Midi but I think the 3, 52 and 55 are underground. If by any chance you come out under the railway bridge itself, you can take tram 81 etc. but I don%26#39;t think there are any ticket machines there and it now costs extra to buy your ticket in the tram (2 EUR as opposed to 1.50 when purchased beforehand).
You will find the network map (plan réseau) at the bottom of each numbered bus, tram, etc. on here:
http://www.stib.irisnet.be/FR/40000F.htm
You could walk but you have to cross a horrible junction (in fact you are not staying in a pleasant area at all) and you could try taking a taxi but they might just refuse to take you: this is not London and taxis regularly refuse short journeys.
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It%26#39;s a very short walk. The area is a little dodgy but a couple should have no problems. It%26#39;s equivalent to a nice version of Tottenham in London... Descend the stairs/lift to floor 0 on arrival in Zuid station. Take the doors on your left and behind you to where the taxis are. If you don%26#39;t fancy the max 10 min walk take a taxi. They will charge no more than 8 euros. Walking: Turn right and walk to the end of the road leaving the rail lines on your right. At the big road junction cross straight over. You will see the Hotel Ustel on the opposite corner. You are now in rue Stalingrad. Hotel 3-400m on the left. Nice hotel Looks brand new but is 2 years old.
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Thanks for the replies. We had a very good time in Brussels and were concerned that some comments indicated we would be met by thieves with knives in their teeth!! It was absolutely fine and we made our way by tram to our hotel,The Floris Avenue, which is a brilliant one. Our room was massive, spotlessly clean and our breakfast very substantial by continental standards. We would definately stay there again.
Points to make.
If you are a Londoner and used to living in a poor and multi cultural area then you will feel entirely at home, which it was for us. Tottenham and Woolwich it is, although quiet because of the time of year I guess. We walked everywhere and found every place nearby , the Moreilles flea market about 5 minutes walk, the Grand Place area about 10 minutes. The only downside was the rain, however we found plenty of bars to drink hot chocolate, wine and beer. Steered clear of eating at anywhere in Boucher, but enjoyed the Mannekin bar just off Grand Place , which although in the midst of the tourist area, was very laid back and atmospheric. We dried our socks and shoes on the fire! I guess the time of year dictated less tourist activity. We brought our take home beers in a supermarket used by locals and found them to be a quarter of the price of those in the beer shop opposite.
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