What to Expect When Staying at a Brussels Apartment for the First Time

First time experiences can be scary and nerve-wrecking but that doesn’t mean you have to make mistakes on your first tries in order to learn a lesson. In fact, when renting an apartment on an overseas for the first time, you should try your best NOT to make mistakes at all. Before finalizing any rental or paying for an apartment, you must understand the risks, responsibilities of a tenant and a landlord, and simply put, know what you’re getting into.

If you are booking a Brussels apartment for the first time, you have to know how much you are willing to spend, know where the best neighborhoods are to stay in, plan your arrival and departure flights, and know the kind of apartment you would want to stay in. There are different kinds of Brussels apartments located in different parts of Brussels and if you stay at the wrong apartment in the wrong side of town, your entire trip may be affected.

The first few things which you must consider before choosing an apartment are your budget, the location, the number of people in your group, the “season”, and the ideal number of bedrooms you want in your apartment.

If you are looking for a high-end apartment, naturally, the rates may be higher; however, rest assured, you will get what you pay for. If you are looking for a basic apartment, you can find these as well but they are often located in the less-favorable parts of Brussels. If you want the best trip and more bang for your buck, it would be best to rent an apartment that comes complete with the amenities to make your stay comfortable.

The best apartments in Brussels are often those located uptown. Uptown, parking is easier, you are closer to the high-end boutiques, stores of Brussels, and closer to the best landmarks, and you are also nearer to commercial districts. The best neighborhood uptown would probably be Avenue Louise and its nearby districts. Downtown, parking with be a challenge and it is often crowded and noisy especially when you are near the city center or Grand Place.

If there are four (4) people in your group, a one-bedroom apartment would already suffice since the living room can be transformed into a bedroom at night. Also, most one-bedroom apartments in Brussels have queen sized beds in the main bedroom and a queen sized sofa bed for the living room. If you want the members of your family to feel comfortable throughout the entire trip, then you may try booking rooms with 2 or more bedrooms.

The dates of your trip may also affect the pricing of the apartment. During high season, or seasons wherein there is an influx of tourists and vacationers in Brussels, the rates of apartments may rise, as well. If you want to save a few Euros on rental, rent during the low season. Low season may be anywhere from the second week of January to the first week of May. Things get busy by the last few weeks of May and on the first week of June.

Finally, once you have already selected an apartment, you may need to secure a few things to confirm your booking with the apartment rentals company. Most companies will require you to purchase insurance for your apartment which covers you from liability and damages, or might require you to send a security deposit and pay 50% of the total rate of the apartment upfront. The second half of the rates may be paid before or on the date of your arrival.

When you are a first-time renter, things can get a bit confusing at first, but feel free to converse with your agent freely. Don’t be nervous and allow them to explain the booking process with you slowly and carefully so you can get the best accommodations while in Brussels.