Hotel gyms. One is normally enough – in fact, sometimes we dont even get one. But two? Two is definitely out of the ordinary.
The photo above (cropped to avoid showing sweaty guests) is the normal hotel gym at the Wiltchers, a Steigenberger Hotel and one of Brussels grande dame properties. On the second floor, its a decent place with Technogym equipment and a good selection of machines.
But its not a patch on this one:
This is one quarter of the private Aspria gym in the basement of the Wiltchers. It has every piece of equipment you could possibly need – spaced out around four sides, instead of that creepy four-in-a-row feeling gyms can sometimes provoke. The equipment is state of the art, every machine is compatible with all possible devices, as well as TV, internet, radio and more. Theres even a power plate. It also has a separate room with yoga mats, another classroom, a cafe and – on the -2 level – a 16m pool.
The gym is a private members club, but it takes guests of the hotel for a 30 ($ 33) fee per day. Better value – book a spa treatment worth over 50 ($ 55), and you get access to the gym for the day of treatment and the morning after, up until midday. We booked a massage (92) for the morning after our arrival, and were immediately let in as a favour (30 minutes before the gym closed), had unfettered access the next day, and had a third session the third morning. For 2 more than three days access would have been. Thats basically a free massage (which is just as well since we had a brand new therapist who was not very good).
Anyway, its a welcome change from the chocolate menus and chocolate shops that weve found in other Brussels hotels. And yes, were going to keep telling ourselves that.
Whichever gym you prefer, rates at the Wiltcher’s start from 199 ($ 229) tonight.
[Photos: Julia Buckley/HotelChatter]