Belgium has a large range of hotels from luxury to small family pensions and inns. The best international-class hotels are found in the cities. Grading: The Belgian Tourist Office issues a shield to all approved hotels by which they can be recognised. Hotels which display this sign conform to the official standards set by Belgian law which protects the tourist and guarantees certain standards of quality. Some hotels are also graded according to the Benelux system in which standard is indicated by a row of 3-pointed stars, from the highest (5-star) to the minimum (1-star). However, membership of this scheme is voluntary, and there may be first-class hotels which are not classified in this way. If an establishment providing accommodation facilities is classified under category H (plain hotel with moderate standards of comfort) or above (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 stars), it may call itself hotel, hostelry, inn, guest house, motel or other similar names.

In some regions of the country, farm holidays are now available. In the Polders and the Ardennes visitors can (for a small cost) participate in the daily work of the farm.

There are ample opportunities to rent furnished villas, flats, rooms, or bungalows for a holiday period. There is a particularly wide choice in the Ardennes and on the coast. These holiday houses and flats are comfortable and well-equipped. Rentals are determined by the number of bedrooms, the amenities, the location and the season. On the coast, many apartments, studios, villas and bungalows are classified into five categories according to the standard of comfort they offer. Estate agents will supply full details. For the Ardennes region, enquiries should be made to the local tourist office or to Belsud (for contact details, see above under Farm Holidays). Addresses of local tourist offices and lists of coastal estate agents can be obtained from Tourism Brussels-Wallonia/Tourism Flanders-Brussels.

There are two youth hostel associations: the Vlaamse Jeugdherbergcentrale (VJHC) (website: www.vjh.be), which operates in Flanders, and the Centrale Wallonne (CWAJ) (website: www.laj.be), operating in the French-speaking area. The hostels of the former are large, highly organised and much frequented by schools and youth groups; the hostels of the CWAJ are smaller and more informal, similar in some ways to those in France. A complete list of youth hostels and other holiday homes for young people can be obtained from Belgian Tourist Office – Brussels & Wallonia or Tourism Flanders-Brussels (see Top Things To Do).

The majority of campsites are in the Ardennes and on the coast; many of these are excellent. A list of addresses, rates and other information can be obtained from the Belgian Tourist Office – Brussels & Wallonia or Tourism Flanders-Brussels (see Top Things To Do). The local Verblijftaks or Taxe de Séjour is a tax usually included in the rates charged. On the coast during the summer season, a supplement of about 25 per cent is charged on the majority of tariffs. Camping out in places other than the recognised sites is permitted, provided the agreement of the landowner or tenant has been obtained.

Horeca Brussels Office (Hotel Association)
BP 4, Anspachlaan 111, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (2) 513 7814.
Website: www.horecabrussel.be

Horeca Wallonia Office
Avenue Gouverneur Bovesse 35, B-5100 Jambes, Belgium
Tel: (81) 721 888.
Website: www.horecawallonie.be

Horeca Flanders Office
Website: www.fedhorecavlaanderen.be

Flemish Federation for Farm and Country Tourism
Minderbroederstraat 8, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Tel: (16) 242 158.
Website: www.hoevetoerisme.be

Belsud (Information on Bed and Breakfasts, Self-Catering Accommodation and Farm Holidays)
61 rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (2) 504 0280.
Website: www.wallonia-tourism.net