We stayed at Chez Dominique's for two nights some days in early December and, although initially i thought there was no point in writing a review, finally i decided that it might be helpful for some since all you can find on Tripadvisor are thriving reviews.
In overall, we enjoyed our stay at Chez Dominique's as it had tasteful and chic decoration, pleasant and well-mannered owner and most importantly unbeatable location (it's 50-70m from GrandPlace).
So this is the aspect where i agree with all the comments beforehand, i just want to highlight some other aspects which were not commented and might interest futur visitors. Be careful, i'm not listing these as positive or negative - it can be either for any of us. So:
1. When it's described as a b&b, take it to the word. It's not just a place where the owners live upstairs etc. It's an appartment and you actually enter the family's living room and dining area when you walk in. For many this might be very cosy, for us it felt a bit unease.
2. There are two rooms with private bathrooms and wc. We specifically asked for private wc and were reassured there is one - however, they are not ensuite for both rooms. So one bedroom has the wc just next to it in the hallway. It's not a big deal, just a bit awkward when you wake up at 08.00 and want to go to the bathroom in your pyjamas/underwear but can't because you're embarrassed someone might see you from the other bedroom.
3. There is no tv in the bedroom. Again, not a pro or a con, just a fact. For us, a con, as we like to watch local tv before sleeping when we travel abroad.
4. The home-feeling also includes that you feel you have to live by home rules. Since the place is so quite and you feel like a guest, you feel rude to take a shower at wee hours or to blow dry your hair late at night. Same goes for sex, if you're a couple..Again, no one imposed anything to us or implied in any way that we should behave one way or the other, i'm just talking about our perception of the place.
5. You can't lock your room. Again, this feels normal since you're in a "guest" situation, and we certainly didnt feel scared of losing our staff. But again, we were travelling for a couple of nights and only with few clothes. Wouldn't feel the same if i was carrying my laptop or valuable things. I'm underlying that the house felt perfectly safe, but i mention it because i guess that a lot of people would feel funny if their private things could be accessible.
So that's it. As i said, all in all a very pleasant stay, although we felt caught off guard with regards to the points i mentioned.
Would definetely suggest it for business travellers who are solo and wish for some homely feeling in Brussels.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
22 January 2012
Dear Antonia, thank you, we have had not seen your text before and we acknowledge for your positive remarks (as you are a professional of tourism) and for the facts you underline for new visitors, yes we are a family and the customers are our guests, but we know how to be very discrete for who wants. The noise you can do with a late shower or anything is never an issue, the apartment is very silent, we have never had someone complaining about the other couple as you could have in a hotel.
Overall we write this answer to inform our guests about the key of each room: of course it’s locking the door, only we recommend not to bring the key outside in order to not lose it –and by chance the room's key is not running outside. For TV, it’s in the cellar as quite nobody wants it. If asked by advance, we can install it –it’s the case for a translator coming sometimes, she needs to familiarize with our language the night before she works. Otherwise the two rooms are equipped with laptops and now a popular tablet.
About the private toilet in the corridor, yes we recommend to use a pyjama ;-)
Thanks for the remarks, it’s helping our guests to know… and overall to make our place the best possible. Dominique & her husband.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC