Smartflats City - Grand Sablon

Chic but bit shabby, good location though Me and my wife had a top floor apartment, and it looks as if a new-ish flat was left with a bunch of teenagers who left it in pieces. It is modern all right, but just very worn out. The sockets in the walls with the conduits exposed, one of the window blinds smashed out, many smudges and stains on the walls, free access to all the building's electrical hi-voltage cables in one of the cupboards, and the whole place just not cleaned properly: the space under the washing basin in the bathroom hasn't been cleaned for ages. The skylight in the toilet would need to be replaced, with the water ingress in between the glass panes and the opening mechanism loose. We were disappointed as well that the bed sheets were stained with blood specks- we have called the reception and they were changed, but a bit of distaste was left. Plus the winding stairs- or it’s more than a ladder, it’s so steep- to get to the fourth floor you need to be quite fit. The place gets On the brighter side though, the apartment is close to the city centre, in a very ‘chic-artiste’ area with lots of classy cafes, private art galleries and wine shops. Walk to the Grand Place takes about 20 minutes, but remember though that it’s a bit steep uphill stroll to get back home. Plus there is a lovely view to the Grand Sablon Cathedral straight out of the window, that helps! The windows themselves are all South-East facing, so you would have light from early morning all the way till 3 pm. Generally the place is contemporary and well-equipped, with the dishes, kettle, microwave, fridge and a dishwasher, which apart from the latter were decently clean. But it is clear that the management don't care much about the cleanliness and the upkeep of the place.

The location was good and, while the flat was smaller than expected, it was nice. The restaurants and chocolate shops near by were some of the best in the area. Unfortunately, the flat was very dark as there was not a lot of overhead light. This was most bothersome in the bathroom. We went in October so it was not very hot but it should be noted there is no AC if you go in the warmer months and it was still very warm in October. My biggest issue is I was charged twice for early check in and they stopped responding to my emails so I had to open up a dispute with my credit card company.