Canalview Hotel Ter Reien

Housed in a historic two-story brick building on a pretty, quiet cobblestone street with little car traffic, Canalview Hotel Ter Reien is
situated at the junction of two canals. Some ground-level rooms hover just a
foot above the water, and guests can arrive at the hotel by boat. It's a
thoroughly Bruges feel in its location and look. Hotel interiors have old wooden beams and original stained-glass doors, mixed with
more contemporary elements. Guests enter a lobby of beamed ceilings, black
leather seating, Flemish reproduction pictures, and ceramic busts. Breakfast is
a served in a contemporary room with white tables, black vinyl chairs, and
black-and-white ornamental wallpaper. The courtyard terrace is an inviting spot
to take breakfast on warm mornings. The hotel's ambience hotel is welcoming and warm, and the
friendly staff offers excellent sightseeing advice. The Canalview draws
mainly tourists seeking budget-friendly rates and an authentic Bruges historical
hotel on the canal. 

Overlooking a canal, Canalview Hotel Ter Reien is
tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, yet it's only a
five-minute walk east of Market Square and the Belfort medieval tower; a high concentration of restaurants and bars are within walking distance. Within a five-minute walk are the
Choco-Story chocolate museum and the Basilica
of the Holy Blood. Featuring
Flemish paintings, tapestries, and art objects, the Groeninge Museum is about a 10-minute walk southwest. The Beguinage convent and de Halve Maan brewery and Minnewater Lake are within an 18-minute walk. The Molenbrug bus stop is a half-block east, and the Bruges train
station is a five-minute drive, 10-minute bus ride, or 25-minute walk south of
the Canalview. Ostend-Bruges International Airport is a 35-minute drive west of
the hotel.

Housed in a two-floor building with an elevator, the
Canalview Hotel Ter Reien's 26 all non-smoking rooms come in Comfort, Triple,
Quadruple, and Junior Suite configurations. Most rooms are spacious, but some of
the Comfort Rooms are a bit small, with small bathrooms. The color palette is modern, with beige, white, brown, and black color schemes, and ochre walls in
some rooms. Decor includes art on the walls, wood furnishings, and
white cotton bedding, with canopied beds in the Junior Suites. Some rooms offer
the special pleasure of a canal view, and guests can watch the passing boats from their rooms. Canal rooms on the ground floor give a particularly good
perspective, as they're about a foot above the water. Rooms are clean and
quiet despite the boat traffic on the canal during the day. All rooms have
hairdryers, Wi-Fi (for a per-stay fee), and flat-screen TVs with a good
selection of satellite and international channels. TVs are small, and some are
wall-mounted in the corner of the rooms, so they can be a bit difficult to view
from the beds. Coffee/tea makers
are available only upon request (for a fee). Rooms do not have air-conditioning, but desk fans are provided. Closets could use a few more hangers. Bathrooms are
clean and well lighted, although some are small with limited counter space.
Most have only showers, and offer a dispenser with soap/shampoo gel rather
than bar soap and bottled shampoo. Many of the showers are of the European
variety, with a small glass door that doesn't cover the shower at the top and
side. This can compromise privacy, and there's a greater chance of water flooding the
floor. Small pets are allowed in rooms or a fee with prior notification. 

As a small budget hotel, the Canalview Hotel Ter Reien's highlight amenity is its free breakfast buffet, which includes cold cuts, cheeses, pancakes, hard-boiled eggs, fresh-baked bread, croissants,
muesli, fresh fruit, coffee, and juice. The hotel also has a public
computer, and the friendly staff provides good Bruges touring advice. The
front desk closes in the evening, so guests should make arrangements if they are
arriving after this time. Nearby parking is available for a fee and there's also a charge for Wi-Fi.