Brussels hotel near Gare Nord?

Need recommendation for nice hotel at good price but must be near the gare nord. Only ones I can find are 250 upwards per night!

I’d be very careful on hotels around the Gare du Nord. Many of the cheaper ones are little better than knocking shops. (The red light district is behind the station). The Tulip Inn and the Crowne Plaza are legit but pricey. Also there is nothing much to do around this area at night except look at the drunks and drug addicts in Place Rogier. This is not the safest place in Brussels after dark. See:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Belgium/Region_de_Bruxelles_Capitale/Brussels-357567/Warnings_or_Dangers-Brussels-Avoid_at_Night-BR-1.html

The Ibis Place St Catherine is a few metro stops away and is good value, clean and in a nice area.

Yikes!!! Its for a friend who asked me to enquire and I bet he hadn't a clue about that seedy side!!! thanks, will seek a safer area methinks!!

i'd have to agree that Gare du Nord is not the best and as the metro system is so good, you'd be better off staying somewhere else

.. however it is quietening down there is a lot of building and renovation work being done - still a bit of a kip though

.... if really necessary, the two hotels already mentioned are good and there is also a holiday inn relatively close by that is quite OK as well

thanks to you both. I enlightened him about the area and he has found a nice hotel at a decent price but in a good location, thanks again