The Private Traveller

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Hotel Review: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, Bruges, Belgium

The Private Traveller

Overview

The last time we came to Bruges I searched for five star hotels and the only one featured on TripAdvisor was Hotel Dukes’ Palace Bruges and that was where we stayed. I wasn’t writing for a blog then, albeit it was only a year ago, but the hotel was really great - amazing central location and great accommodation/service. Walking round Bruges that time we spotted the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce right on the canal, after we remembered this was used in the Colin Farrell dark comedy film from 2008, In Bruges. We said that whenever we came back to Bruges, ideally visiting in winter for a change from summer, we would stay at this boutique hotel. Having had such a brilliant visit last time, and wanting to revisit the Zandfeesten market again, we booked to come back in August (not winter by any means!) and immediately looked into booking the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce.


Hotel website: http://www.relaisbourgondischcruyce.be/en/

Would I stay here again?   We also loved Dukes’ Palace (currently rated #19 on TripAdvisor by traveller ranking) but also loved the very different experience at the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce (currently #6) out of 97 hotels in Bruges. There seems to be a number of very attractive hotels in Bruges, but yes I would absolutely come back here in a flash. It was a really great experience in another perfect location.

Location

This “Legendary Boutique Hotel” Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce is located on Wollestraate, accessed down a short alley, and backs right onto one of the main canals in Bruges at a crossing of the two canals in the historic centre. Being in such a central area and in a historic building (with its half timbered façade and stained glass windows) it does draw the attention of the canal tour boats that pass on a very regular basis. Having a room on the canal itself, we arrived at the hotel around 6pm and the boats kept coming, despite the front desk operative saying that boats stopped at 5:30pm. I think he meant the last departure time was 5:30pm and the tours took around an hour, so by 7pm no more tour boats passed. In the morning too, they didn’t seem to start until 10am so there was peace until then. We were located on the second floor, a stunning location, the boats were just a minor inconvenience, nothing else.

Accommodation

The hotel has a total of 16 (all non-smoking) rooms across the three floors in two adjacent buildings. Being such a historic building the staircases between floors are narrow and steep, but there’s a (small) elevator to all floors to help with luggage in each of the buildings, connected on the ground floor via reception (9 rooms on the canal side and 7 in the other). There are five room types, split by both size and location within the hotel, ranging from Standard, Deluxe, Superior Deluxe, Classic and Superior Classic. While not usually the description of the premium rooms in a hotel, we opted for the top Superior Classic, with its superb view on the canals and the historic centre. There was a full marble “Rouge Royal” bathroom with twin sinks (which I love), WC and a shower over bath - while I don’t normally like anything other than a walk-in shower this worked well considering the limitations of space and the historic nature of the building. The bathroom was amply supplied with various toiletries (conditioning shampoo, body wash, body lotion, various soaps etc.), soft towels, robes and superbly clean.

The bedroom area itself had a super-king size bed, air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, telephone and fitted out with period furniture and antiques, including (presumably a copy) a Matisse. The bed was incredibly comfortable, there were also two occasional chairs to look out of the leaded glass windows over the canal as well as a writing desk and chair. Though no mini-bar, tea/coffee was freely available downstairs in one of the lounges off reception, as were drinks available to order as room service. In the room however there was a modern mini-fridge in the wardrobe which you could take out to plug in - this was very effective at chilling a bottle of Prosecco we brought to enjoy. The room was supplied with mineral water and a morning cleaning service (everything immaculate and all towels replaced etc.) but no turndown in the evening, which was not really expected here.

Food & Drink

There is a small restaurant on the ground floor overlooking the canals, this is only open for breakfast from 8am to 10:30am - this is part buffet (fruit, juices, yoghurts, breads, pastries, meat and cheeses etc.) as well as being able to order eggs, waffles etc. with tea/coffee. Continental breakfast in the room is also available at a supplementary charge. The hotel seems to offer breakfast complimentary for anyone booking direct, but having booked through Hotels.com we were charged €19 (would have been €24 in room). As I said above, the room did not have tea-coffee making facilities but were available free of charge in the Salon de Thé from 12am to 6pm, as were drinks available to order throughout, in room or downstairs. As well as seats inside overlooking the canals, there were also a number of tables and chairs outside in the courtyard.

The hotel does have a restaurant (Maria van Bourgondie) opened and managed by them located a short walking distance from the hotel, offering classic French-Flemish cuisine, in an authentic Burgundian interior or on the sunny terrace, weather permitting. With so many amazing restaurants too nearby (see a short list below) it’s easy to find good quality dining options - one of our favourites (though you do need to book in advance) is The Olive Tree.

Facilities & Service

The hotel has WiFi throughout, which worked well, and everything you could expect from a hotel of this size, age and location. There was no gym etc. but this was perfectly fitting. Service was excellent from check-in at reception or breakfast, they have a strict policy about check-out by 11am and check-in at 3pm. On the day of departure, we left our luggage at reception and went out to enjoy more of Bruges, before returning for a brief stop and then getting the hotel to order a taxi for the train station. As were waiting in the superbly air-conditioned lounge (it was very hot again in Bruges) we were offered complimentary tea and coffee. Nothing could be faulted about this hotel - loved it! Especially loved watching the In Bruges film again while we were actually staying in the exact location, though I think we had the room above (room #20) than was featured in the film.

ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):

  • Exceptional stay, but would rather than have inclusive breakfast (charged separately for anyone not booking direct)

ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:

  • Location, location, location

  • Loved being in such a historic building and the link to the In Bruges film - we actually watched the film again when there

Useful website links:

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