Handy Hotel (Europa Hotel)

Member Name: gpollock

Product:	Europa Hotel
Date:	02/03/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great location

Disadvantages: Slightly expensive

The 4 star Europa Hotel which is part of the Hastings Hotel Group is situated in the centre of Belfast on Great Victoria Street and is extremely convenient to everything in Belfast. Having undergone expansion and refurbishment over the years the hotel now has 272 bedrooms, making it one of the largest in Northern Ireland, and a popular choice of many celebrities on their visit to Belfast. President Clinton also stayed here when he visited Belfast in 1998 with the result that the room he stayed in was renamed the Clinton Suite.

The hotel was once renouned for being the most bombed hotel in Europe during the troubles but thankfully those days are in the past! Now it is very popular with tourists from all over the world and has large function rooms which can hold several hundred people and are popular for awards ceremonies, formals and international conferences. There was a recent fly on the wall reality tv show based on the hotel which followed the daily goings on of the General Manager, staff and guests over a period of weeks giving an insight into how the hotel was run and the stories of the types of guests that came to stay.

The hotel is surrounded by plenty of bars and restaurants and only a short walk to all the main shopping areas of Belfast. The famous Crown bar which is very popular with visitors to Northern Ireland is across the road and worth a visit for a pint of Guinness! The hotel is also very convenient for those staying on business as it is close to all the main businesses and a lot of government departments. The fact the train and bus station is next door to it also makes it very handy, especially if arriving up from Dublin. The hotel is also positioned next door to Belfast's Grand Opera House and within walking distance to the Waterfront concert hall and a short taxi journey away from the Odyssey complex which hosts concerts, ice hockey and various bars and restaurants.

The prices per night vary from about £75 for a single room and around about £100 per night for a twin room. There are several cheaper hotels in the nearby area but this hotel is very comfortable and the service is normally of a pretty good standard and the food and hotel bar are both decent enough. There are also some good views of the city from some of the higher up rooms but these may be more expensive.

In my opinion this is a decent hotel for a short break in Belfast. It is in a great location, within walking distance from most places.

Summary: Very handy hotel