The Ibis Centrum is located in a quiet neighborhood on Katelijnestraat, about 600m from the Markt, so it is relatively central. Parking is available in a public car park (Katelijne) for about 9,- EUR per day. The receptionists were friendly and professional without exeception and check-in (as well as check-out) quite fast and efficient. The hotel is just opposite a Novotel (also by Accor), and both frame a quiet courtyard. I liked the Ibis's red brick facade better though, as it was more in keeping with the style of the surrounding houses. The property must have been renovated fairly recently as the rooms had modern flatscreen TVs and updated furniture.
As is generally the case with Ibis, the general design and decor were pretty functional and not very inspired but - as I've said above - all in good working condition and clean. One sad exception was the telephone, which must have seen better times some time in the Eighties but was now a disgusting and grubby affair mercyfully hidden by part of the curtain. A/C seemed to be working ok but was switched to "hot" for the winter. The bathroom was clean in my room; I didn't like the combination of bathtub/shower, which was hard to get into and out of. My travel companions found bloodstains in their bathroom though. No in-rooms safes available but some safes were located at the reception and were individually accessible with two keys (one given to the customer via a rental agreement and one which was held by the receptionists). Not such a bad idea: safetywise it beats the unsafe "safes" usually found in hotel rooms.
Breakfast was a standard buffet thing and cost a not-so-sleek 14,- EUR.
PROs
- location
- friendly service
- safes @ reception
- clean (w/exceptions)
- okay value for money
- firm beds (if you like them)
CONs
- bloodstains in one bathroom
- disgusting in-room telephone
- firm beds (if you don't like them)
- Ibis Hotel Bruges
- Ibis Hotel Brugge Centrum
