Surrounded by a huge variety of shops and cafes
Surprisingly affordable with minimalist yet classy decor
Quiet, clean guest rooms with comfortable beds, rain showerheads, and lots of natural light
Hip, sparsely sleek ambiance in the lounge, complete with vending machines
Corner rooms have great views of the city
Located within a 20-minute walk of major sights
Lots of channel options on TVs (for a fee)
Wi-Fi isn’t free or reliable
Check-in via automated machines is impersonal and
off-putting for some guests
Self-serve lounge and vending area instead of a restaurant
Flat-screen TVs are very small
Geared toward budget travelers,
the Max lives up to its mission of creating a high-quality product at a low
price. Centrally located within a 15 to 25 minutes' walk of the main square, Royal Palace, Museum Quarter, and most of the city's hot spots, it’s ideal for anyone wanting a clean,
comfortable, modern room with a private bath and television -- but who doesn’t mind
a self-service approach to communal amenities; picture machines for check-in rather
than a reception desk, and vending machines instead of a restaurant. However, the hotel is not well-suited for business travelers (or others) in need of a solid Wi-Fi connection, as the paid in-room access is very inconsistent -- or even non-existent in some rooms.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Minimalistic, modern, and IKEA-like
If IKEA launched a minimalist hotel, it would look just like this. The nine-story, boxy, modern building sits on a busy street in an area popular among tourists. Upon entering, guests are confronted with a lime-green wall with arrows directing them toward self-automated check-in machines, rather than a reception
desk. While there is an office next door with a staff member who can help with
complications, humans do not provide the services at the Max. There are
lime-green elevators and an uber-modern lounge area open all day and
night with vending machines -- offering food, drinks, and toiletries -- in lieu of a restaurant or shop. The lounge has plenty of grey-colored, cushioned seating around small white tables, counter seating against the windows, and lime-green vinyl chairs. There are a flat-screen TV and single computer terminal for guest use in the lounge. Guests may also use the locker
room for a fee, as well as a communal iron.
Location
Central location, close to shopping and financial district
The hotel is situated directly opposite the Hotel Le Plaza, on one of
the major roads running through the center of Brussels, and is surrounded by shops,
restaurants, and many other hotels. This area is popular with both tourists and
locals, as it's within a 10-minute walk of the financial district, and one of
the major pedestrian shopping districts is just two minutes away on the next block. It's about a 15-minute walk to reach the main square and the old center, and a 15- to 25-minute walk to arrive at Grand-Place, the Royal
Palace, and the Museum Quarter. The hotel doesn’t have its own parking, although there are multi-story parking options within a five-minute walk. The Rogier Underground Station, for easy access to the city, is a few minutes' walk away.
Rooms
Simple but modern and bright, with good beds; some with nice views
Although spartan, with no wall art or accessories of any sort, the guest rooms are modern and
comfortable. All are bright with large windows; some, particularly corner rooms, have spectacular views of the city. Each has a large flat-screen TV with a variety of channels (for a fee). Decor includes black-and gray-striped carpeting, sleek gray headboards, and clean white walls and bedding. Beds have soft, high-quality mattresses, and there are small, high-tech reading lights affixed to the headboards. Lime green makes another appearance in the form of an armchair, which sits before a tiny, vaguely futuristic metal desk. Bathrooms are
clean and modern but small; each has white tile, a glass-door stall shower with rainfall showerhead, toilet, small
sink, and hairdryer. Wi-Fi is not included in the rooms, and the signal is often weak or non-existent even when guests pay for it.
Features
Self-service is the motto here.
Wi-Fi is acquired via cards bought
in one of the 24-7 lounge vending machines, and is not altogether reliable. The
lounge vending machines also sell a variety of items, including snacks (from fresh fruit to sandwiches), hot and cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, toiletries, quilts, pillows, and extra room-cleaning service. The lounge has a large flat-screen TV for guest use, as well as a small business center comprising a computer with Wi-Fi and a printer. There are no safes in rooms, but a locker
room for guests is available for a fee. The communal iron and a shoe-shine machine are both free. There
is no hotel restaurant, bar, or parking.
