13/10/2019
On July 15th 2019, Greg wrote:
rating 5/5
La Maison Magique (or, The Magical House)
The Villa Botanique Guesthouse could not have been more perfectly suited to our needs. We rented the entire guesthouse for 12 days and it handled our multi-generational family trip with elegance and ease. It is a beautiful structure with many architectural items of interest. The bedrooms and bathrooms are large, clean, and airy. Is there street noise? Of course there is...this is an old section of Brussels. But the house is uncommonly quiet. The common living areas were very conducive to a family gathering place. But of special mention is the garden area out back. It was quite the peaceful, calming area that, frankly, was a surprise as to its size and atmosphere. It was simply perfect for morning coffee and croissant gatherings (purchased right out of the oven everyday across the street at the local Boulangerie), as a place for the aperitif course of a dinner, and a great, safe place for the children to play. The pictures online do not do it justice! We were able to host a few events at the residence to include a catered dinner for 20 people and a smaller brunch. The owner, Karel Mondt, and his support staff--Yaani and Christina--were very attentive and immediately responded very satisfactorily to the few minor issues that arose. They were also a wealth of information on local attractions, especially Le Musée du Jouet de Bruxelles (The Toy Museum of Brussels) which our two young grandchildren loved. Our family is very active, and we found the location of the guesthouse was within easy walking distance of the Royal Palace and Gardens, the Grand Place, and many other areas/points of interest around the city. The Gare du Nord is just a quick, 10-12 minute walk away for easy access to the trains and the Metro is even closer. Buses and trams are just around the corner. So we found its location to be excellent. In conclusion, it was a trip to remember for the family, and Villa Botanique Guesthouse--or as we have named it, La Maison Magique--played a large role in the warm feeling and fond memories with which we returned home. Thank you, Karel!
