Crowne Plaza Airport

I've stayed at this hotel now a number of times whilst on a Leger coach trip, and I am always so pleased to see it on the itinerary list, however this time my stay just wasn't as good as on previous trips... There are a lot of road works around this hotel, which means a VERY circuitous route to get to it - it's nice to see some Brussels suburbs, but after a long day knowing you are so close to the hotel but so far from it can be a bit irritating! Staff on reception were nice enough when I asked for an additional key card (two of us sharing a room, not sure why two cards weren't given as standard but oh well), but the staff in the restaurant really let them down. I was really looking forward to a nice meal but the staff definitely gave off a vibe that, whilst not unpleasant, was not welcoming either. I tried to get the attention of a few to ask for the bill and I swear I must have been invisible and inaudible - in the end I had to get up and find someone to ask for it. The food was still really tasty though, if on the more expensive side. Upon our arrival we found that 3 of the 4 lifts were out of action - obviously these things can happen but when you have a couple of large coaches all arriving at the same time this caused a bit of chaos. I ended up using the stairs whenever I needed to go up to the room as it was easier - but the stairs were also fairly hard to find (and basic, which was at odds with the rest of the hotel). The room itself was what I have come to expect from this hotel though - quiet, clean, spacious - plenty of charging points at the desk. There is always a little seating area as well which lends a cost feel to the rooms. There was free bottled water provided which is always a plus in my opinion. The bathroom was, as always, spotless - though the shower head in our room was noticeably old and could maybe do with a good deep clean or being replaced. The shower pressure was strong as always, and again, as always heated very quickly. The provided toiletries in the rooms were great - I really liked the smell as it was neutral but pleasant and not over powering. We had a good nights sleep, in our room we heard literally no noise from the corridor or other rooms - we were overlooking the restaurant area at the rear of the hotel. In the morning I was really looking forward to the breakfast offering as I remember it being good, but again it seemed to have done down in quality since my last visit. The breakfast selection was still plentiful, but the staff definitely hovered over 'targets'. I had barely finished using a plate before it was suddenly removed, yet another table remained with used plates on it whilst people were searching for somewhere to sit! There is plenty of seating in the atrium area above the restaurant which is really pleasant to sit in whilst waiting for the coach departure - even with a lot of people leaving the hotel it was still peaceful. The seating is very comfortable and well arranged so you can sit alone or in a group. If you are using this hotel for the airport service there are screens showing upcoming departures, and I think times of the shuttle bus which was a great touch for travellers that needed that. I would still be happy to stay here again on future trips, but I will be lowering my expectations on the food/restaurant service front.

I looked everywhere for instructions for coffee machine in my room that had 2 coffee pods. I googled instructions and did what it asked and a red light showed. At least at the hotels expense. Also at 00.00 I have not had my case delivered to room. A zero rating for this hotel.

I usually choose Crowne Plaza because I find the brand to be a step above many other IHG hotels. Unfortunately, this property didn't live up to those expectations. The lobby and bar area were attractive, and every staff member we interacted with in person was friendly and professional. The disappointment started with dinner. I ordered the hamburger, and it looked nothing like the photo on the menu. The patty only covered about half of the bun—it was more like a small meatball than a hamburger. The biggest issue was the comfort of the room. The bed was very firm, and all four pillows were equally hard. Since the hotel encourages guests to communicate with the front desk through WhatsApp, I asked about the pillows and was told there should have been two soft pillows and two firmer ones. Ours all appeared to be the same, so I requested two soft pillows. I was told my request would be forwarded to the team, but the pillows never arrived. By then it was late, and we had already settled into bed and eventually fell asleep without them. The staff were courteous throughout our stay, but comfortable beds, good pillows, and food that matches what's advertised are basic expectations. For the price and the Crowne Plaza name, I expected a much more comfortable experience.