Scam in Brugge

I just want to warn travelers that beautiful, idyllic Brugge also has its scam artists. Walking down one of the side streets in the middle of the afternoon, we were stopped by a young man wanting us to take his picture. He seemed nervous, though, as he was having trouble explaining how to use his video camera. Suddenly, a second well-dressed man in a sport coat came toward us, flashed a badge %26quot;Polizei%26quot; that also had a name and his picture on it, and demanded our passports. My husband and I immediately turned around and started quickly walking back to the main street while my husband shouted at the guys, %26quot;You, you follow me.%26quot; He loudly repeated this three times. The men stayed where they were with shocked looks on their faces. The %26quot;policeman%26quot; finally said, %26quot;No problem%26quot; and walked off in the opposite direction. Our intent, if they followed, was to go to a shop on the corner and have the shopkeeper call the police.

We could not find a Brugge policeman, so we continued our walk back to the train station. Guess who was there? Our %26quot;policeman%26quot; and %26quot;video camera man%26quot; were there together buying train tickets. Luckily, they did not get on our train. We had had all the drama we needed for one day! A man I met who worked in finance (Euro) told me that a stolen passport is going for 17,000 euros. Not letting those jerks get ours, though, was %26quot;priceless.%26quot;

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If anyone claiming to be a policeman flashes a badge that is not in the national/regional/local language (%26quot;Polizei%26quot; is German: in Dutch this would be Politie, in French, Police), you had better be suspicious!

A good tactic is to ask to accompany the %26quot;policeman%26quot; to a police station.

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My wife and I just returned from a trip to various places in Europe, including Brugge...and seem to have met these same men, by the details of your experience!!

We were taking a stroll inside a beautiful church campus near the lake, when the first guy walked up to me and (with the same nervous exporession) asked me to click his picture. No sooner had he started talking that the second guy (the %26quot;policeman%26quot;) approached us, and demanded to see all our passports, and even our wallets!!

Quite taken aback as we were, we did show him our passports (the point about the badge not being in the local language hadn%26#39;t struck yet!)...and that%26#39;s when he demanded to see our credit cards (he did the same to the other guy, who complied and even told him his PIN). That%26#39;s when we got suspicious, and refused point blank to show him our credit cards.

And just as your case, it didnt take a moment for him to back out...he started saying %26quot;yes yes, you go, be careful..do not talk to strangers%26quot;...yeah, like we would, after this!!!

We looked for a (genuine) policeman all the way back to our hotel but couldnt find any...

Probably the crime rate in Brugge is still not alarming enough for the police to be very alert, but if this was any indication, they better buckel up while its still so..

These guys didnt really look very professional after all, their play seems to fall apart the moment their %26quot;victims%26quot; get suspicious...but people, Brugge may not really be the safe haven it looks for long, if conmen like these are not nabbed on spot!

Till then, please beware...keep your wits about you..though its easy to get carried away..what with so much beauty around you!! :-) :-)

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Same again...me and my fiancee came across the same pair, plying the same scam, in the same location but their roles were reversed - we didn%26#39;t have passports or foreign currency - only euros - the pair were uninterested. Brugge needs to sort this out. it would be simple to set this pair up with a honey trap...

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This once happened to us in Barcelona, about 10 years ago, but it%26#39;s the first time I%26#39;ve heard of it happening in Brugge.

My advice to anyone worried about this, is don%26#39;t let it stop you from visiting Brugge.

We%26#39;ve been going there for 12 years, and have always found it to be one of the friendliest and safest places we%26#39;ve ever visited.

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Removed on: 4:20 am, October 01, 2009

Christmas in Brussels

Eight of us are thinking about spending a long weekend in Brussels for the Christmas markets and anything else thats on.

We are not sure if we should fly or use the Eurostar and I am looking for anyone who can give some advice about places to stay and what parts of Brussels that are a must to see.

Thanks

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The christmas market in Brussels is pretty big. But i%26#39;ve only been there once. And if you can get a good deal on the eurostar, i would go for that.

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Removed on: 1:20 am, October 05, 2009

Parking in Ghent

Next weekend it´s us to enjoy beautiful Ghent and the belgium beer, which is by far the best in the world.

As our hotel, the Holiday-Inn Express is far out of the center I would like to know a good place for cheap parking.

The Hotel is situated south of Ghend at E 17 close to

UZ Ghent. Thanks a lot. Dank U wel!

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Not sure what you consider cheap but underground parking in Gent costs around 1.5 euro per hour during the day and slightly less at night.

There are parking lots around the old center of Gent but for you I would suggest the following, parking REEP.

From your hotel you drive back onto the highway in the direction of Antwerp and get off at the next exit (very short distance) called Gentbrugge.

At the end of exit turn left towards the center of Gent and keep driving straight for a couple of km%26#39;s.

There are several stoplight but you keep driving till you get to rather big roundabout and from there you should see signs for REEP parking and possibly others too.

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Removed on: 3:17 am, October 05, 2009

brugge to paris;

how far is it to travel from brussels to brugge? from brugge to paris? we will be driving.

any suggestions for a place to stay outside of paris where we catch a train into paris?

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According to Viamichelin:

- Brussels to Brugge: 102 km, 1h17.

- Brugge to Paris: 296 km, 2h59

Place to stay outside Paris: not really a question for the Belgium/Brugge forum, but you could consider Lille (1 hour from Paris by TGV) or if you want to be closer, Chantilly, 25 minutes from Paris-Nord: station is Chantilly-Gouvieux.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Chantilly%2C_Oise

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sorry about the paris question got off track. thanks for the info

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Removed on: 4:22 am, October 05, 2009

Novice backpacker trying to see as much as possible~~Advice?

I know this is somewhat of a general question not specifically related to Belgium itself but I%26#39;m trying to look for any type of feedback...positive or negative. I am trying to make the best trip possible seeing everything I can in a 2 week period. I was planning on making a giant loop through western Europe. Starting in Spain, Southern France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, and to finish Northern France. Am I getting ahead of myself by trying to visit all these places in the time allowed? I%26#39;ve done plenty of research but I%26#39;d like to hear from experienced travelers who have done such a journey.

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I think what you will mostly see is trains, assuming that that is how you intend to visit these 6 countries in 2 weeks! Not counting day of arrival and departure, that%26#39;s 2 days per country, and you have asked this question in the smallest one you would be visiting, or perhaps merely changing trains in.

All I can say regarding Belgium is that if you are coming to Brussels from Amsterdam, make sure you get an InterCity train and not Thalys (both take 3h), then you can get off at Gare centrale which is the best area both to stay in, if you are, and for visiting - the Grand%26#39; Place is just 5 minutes%26#39; walk down the hill. When continuing to Paris, however, you will have to take a local train one stop from Gare centrale to Midi, since that is where Thalys (1h22 to Paris) starts and other than by bus (4h) it%26#39;s the only way you can go. If you are using some sort of rail pass, bear in mind that you will have to pay a supplement for Thalys.

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Thanks for your input. I made a vague preliminary list of places I%26#39;d like to go no matter how unrealistic it may be. And eventually I will be cutting it down probably 2-3 more times before I am satisfied. I know a lot of the trip will be seeing the inside of a train but I do wanna make the most of it.

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It may be more realistic to spend 2 weeks each on Spain, France, N. Italy, S. Italy, Germany, and Benelux. Or you can cross countries by perhaps e.g. tracing the pilgrimage route from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

To me, to be a backpacker has a different meaning than %26#39;living out of a suitcase%26#39;. It implies a down-to-earth traveling experience with emphasis on the local life and splendor. This aspect is not attainable by a whirlwind tour. Please goto the website of New York Times and read about the blogs of the Frugal Traveler currently doing the Grand Tour of Europe.

My experience is: without adequate time one should try to minimize long distance trips.

I don%26#39;t know if you are interested in museums. The Louvre alone needs more than a day, The Vatican needs a day. The museum island alone in Berlin needs 2 days. Munich will need 2 days. Even in Brussels it needs the greater part of a day.

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Well, with my work schedule and economy looking so dim right now it%26#39;s gonna be hard to make my trip any longer than what I already have planned. I think I may shorten my itinerary to focus more on a region. That way I can take more time in each place. You are right, I%26#39;d like to %26quot;get a feel%26quot; for a place and its people rather than just a glimpse. But on the other hand, the whirlwind tour to me would give me kind of a general idea of what its like in multiple countries. Eventually at a later time I could take another trip and actually explore a specific place that I had liked from my previous travels. I hope all that makes sense. I believe there are adv/disadvantages to both types of travel...I just want to make the most of it and enjoy my surroundings.

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I replied to you in another forum--France I think--and said it would be best to pick three places and go with those. It is tempting to try to %26quot;see%26quot; as much as possible, but you really aren%26#39;t experiencing a place when you just breeze through it.

My backpacking buddy and I spent less than a day in Venice--imagine!--and I barely recall it. We spent the following three days in Florence and we loved it. Why a %26quot;kiss%26quot; only of Venice, I don%26#39;t recall, but I%26#39;ve always wanted to go back and do it justice.

This won%26#39;t be your only trip to Europe. So relax and enjoy where you do manage to get to on this trip.

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Hey Tex, thanks for your comments they are definetly appreciated. All the feedback by other travelers like yourself are gonna help me plan a way better trip than I imagined. Thanks again.

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Removed on: 6:21 pm, October 04, 2009

travel to Ghent

I am thinking of having a 3 night stay in Ghent in July. Which is the best way of getting to Ghent? We will use Eurostar but don%26#39;t know which is easier - changing at Lille or Brussels. (or some other station?)

Having recently read (on Trip Advisor) some woeful reports of the dangers at Brussels Midi I am not sure about going there, although we never encountered any in February this year.

Your advice is much appreciated.

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It depends what you mean by %26quot;easier%26quot;, but if you change in Lille a) you have to change stations from Lille-Europe to Lille-Flandres (not far away) and b) you will usually have to change again at Kortrijk. Although it will take you about 3 hours (London to Ghent) in both cases, slightly less via Brussels and slightly more via Lille.

I would suggest you put your date and time of departure into http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en and see what connections it gives you, entering London and Gent-St. Pieters.

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as i keep saying brussels midi/zuid is not dangerous - may not be the most pleasant place on earth but...

your eurostar tix include onward travel to ghent if you go to brussels but not if you go to lille

i think it%26#39;s much easier to go to brussels - no change of station as at lille and at least 3 trains an hour from brussels

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Hi,

I would change in Brussels. Brussels-Midi is not such a nice train station, but as long as you stay in the station itself everything is fine... off course you need to watch out like you have to in every place where a lot of people are around !

Changing at Brussels-Midi is much easier why in Lille you have to change station.

And from Brussels you have a train to Ghent about every 1/2 hour !

Have a nice stay in Ghent ... be aware that there are %26#39;Gentse Feesten%26#39; from the 17th until the 27th of July : party and concerts all over town, but difficult to find a hotel room then !

Kathy

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Hi,

Sorry but Kathy has made a mistake about the period of the %26quot;Gentse Feesten%26quot; (Ghent Festivities), they are from 19th until 28th of July.

The Ghent Floralies exist this year 200 years and there will be a historic parade in the city centre on 21th of September. It%26#39;s still a while but it will be something unique and a must to see.

If you want more information about Ghent (history, monuments, events, publications, etc) you can find it on www.visitgent.be. It%26#39;s also in English.

Have a nice time in Ghent!

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Bruxelles Midi / Brussel Zuid is not dodgy at all, they wouldn%26#39;t exactly house Eurostar and Thalys there if everyone got mugged .....

As people have said , via Brussels will be cheapest , quickest and easiest (about 35 min train ride to Gent). In Lille you%26#39;d have to change trainstations and the train from Lille to Gent is a slow one , takes over an hour.

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Change at Brussels-Midi because (a) you can use your Eurostar ticket to get there for free (b) you have to traipse from Lille-Europe down the road to Lille-Flandres and (c) you%26#39;ll have to queue up for ages to buy a ticket at Lille-Flandres. Brussels-Midi is not dangerous so long as you keep your wits about you - stick all your valuables in your case, you%26#39;re only changing platforms so you won%26#39;t need them (obviously on the return journey only get your passport out once you get in the Eurostar departure hall). The Gent trains usually depart from round about platform 15 - look for trains whose destination is Ostend or Blankenberg/Knokke-Heist on the departure boards, they always stop at Gent. Check on the sncf-be website to check on train times.

Oh and when you%26#39;re booking on Eurostar, depending on the gap between connections, make sure you%26#39;re booked in coach 17 or 18 as they%26#39;ll be nearest the exit at Brussels-Midi - invaluable if you%26#39;re getting the 8.05 out of St Pancras and wanting the 11.05 to Gent out of Brussels!

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ReuzeEmma - excellent advice. Thank you. Thanks also to everyone who has replied. Changing at Brussels it is then.

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Removed on: 1:25 am, October 01, 2009

Is the station far from the centre?

Hello all

Am considering a trip to Ghent on Eurostar but the station (St Pieters?) looks a bit far from the centre? Am I just misreading the map? Otherwise, is it easy to get a tram or something else to travel around?

Thanks in anticipation!

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it%26#39;s a couple of km but take tram no 1 towarsds wondelgem and get off at the korenmarkt. buy tickets at the machines - in english and take change. about 1.50 euros

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It is too far to walk.

The Number 1 tram mentioned above is sometimes also marked %26quot;Evergem%26quot;. Both take you to the center. I like to get out at the castle stop. To return to the station, take the number 1 marked with the direction %26quot;Flanders Expo%26quot;.

The ticket machines sell single ride tickets as well as the day passes. Buy a ticket before you board. The day pass needs to be date and time stamped. The individual tickets also need to be stamped and you can do that on the train.

For the single tickets, insert it into the cancellation machine and press the button corresponding to the number of zones you intend to travel. To the center, press the buttoon marked %26quot;1%26quot; for one zone. And you should see the time and date printed on the ticket which means you have a valid ticket.

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Removed on: 6:21 am, October 05, 2009

Basilica of the Holy Blood

Hi

I%26#39;m visiting Bruge later this year with a friend who would really like to visit the Basilica and see the Holy Blood relic.

I%26#39;ve read different information about when the relic is displayed, ranging from daily to once a week. Could anyone help?

Thanks in advance

Deb

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As far as I know, the holy blood itself is on display on Fridays and every day during the month of May, or at least most of the month of May, that is to say a number of days before Ascension Day when it goes walkabout around Brugge (Procession of the Holy Blood). But there are also reliquaries made to hold the relic which are on display every day, in the Basilica museum, maybe this is where the different information comes from.

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Thanks for your help, gaminari.

Deb

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Basilica of the Holy Blood

Double chapel.

On ground level : St. Basil%26#39;s Chapel (1139-1149) in roman style. The first floor chapel, converted into gothic style in the 15th century, contains a.o. the famous Relic of the Holy Blood (worship : every Friday). Church services on Sundays: 8 a.m. %26amp; 11 a.m.

The museum displays the reliquary of the Holy Blood, clerical vestments and paintings.

ADDRESS

Burg 10, 8000 Brugge, website: www.holyblood.org

Live map

OPENING HOURS

April-September : 9.30 a.m.-11.50 a.m. %26amp; 2 p.m.-5.50 p.m

October-March : 10 a.m.-11.50 a.m. %26amp; 2 p.m.-3.50 p.m.

ENTRANCE FEE

Individual : 1,50 euro Groups : 1,00 euro

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The relic is available for veneration for only a few minutes each day. The time is posted on the basilica door. It seems they take it out promptly at the posted time, and it stays out only long enough for everyone in line to view it, and then put away until the next day.

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Hi dany de and jk01

Thanks for the info. Hopefully we%26#39;ll be there at the right time - this would be the highlight of my friend%26#39;s visit to Bruges.

Deb

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Removed on: 5:18 pm, October 04, 2009

Eating out - Gluten free

I will be in Bruges in June and wonder if any other coeliacs have any recommendations on where to eat (at reasonable prices.) I have already been to Bruges about 3 years ago but would like some recommendations, especially for a gluten free lunch time snack.

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Hi, I am taking my mum to Bruges in a couple of days and she is a coeliac. Could you please tell me whether you found anywhere to eat or buy gluten free when you were there. Many thanks

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Unfortunately I had to cancel my trip to Bruges in June. There are lots of eating places and I don%26#39;t remember having any problems when I was there 3 years ago. I was just trying to get some recommendations.

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Removed on: 4:26 am, September 28, 2009

Best way to Westvleteren Brewery

Hi all, I will be in Brussels from June 28-30th and would love to try the trappist beer at Westervletern. I was wondering how you would suggest getting there from Brussels? Should I rent a car, or is there a bus or train that will take me there. I would Imagine cab would be way too expensive.

thanks

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As far as I can see on the Belgian Rail and Belgian Bus websites, there is no train or bus going to Westvleteren.

You can get from Brussels to Ieper or to Diksmuide, and from there on to Westvleteren you%26#39;ll need a car (or a cab) for the last 28/38 km.

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Your best bet is training it to Poperinge and then either hiring a car or getting the Belbus - a v. good little service where you ring up the bus company (with plenty of notice), they pick you up and take you where you want to go! Here is the link for the West Flanders service - unfortunately its in Flemish but if any of the Flemish speakers on here could do a translation for skruphie3...

delijn.be/over/…

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Translation:

If you want to reserve a ride with the Belbus in West Flanders, you need to contact the Belbus station at least 2 hours in advance. The telephone operator needs following data:

-your name

-the day and the required time of departure

-the municipality and the departure and arrival stop

-if you want to connect to a train.

Reserving a ride can be done max. 2 weeks in advance.

Contact:

phone 059 56 52 56

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I have also been told that you can rent a bicycle in Poperinge and ride to Westvleteren. We are planning to do that in August! Keep in mind that you likely won%26#39;t be able to tour the brewery, but there is a little cafe that serves their beer across the street. Closed on Fridays. A good beer guide by Tim Webb is called Good Beer Guide Belgium. The edition I have is a little dated (2005) and not really well organized, but chock full of information about travel in Belgium and reviews hundreds of breweries, pubs, and the like. Also, visit beermapping.com for excellent Google maps of places to drink good beer in Belgium, the US, and several other countries.

Cheer, and Bon Voyage!

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i have been to the westvleteren brewery a couple of times. it is in a nice enough are but nothingspecial.The abbey is fairly unprepossessing a ot ncer places to go to drink beer.

If you want the beer just drink some in BXL and save the journey.

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Thanks for the tip, Brussels boy!!! :)

I think for us it%26#39;s more of a beer %26quot;pilgrimage%26quot; - the quaintness of going to the countryside, and getting away from the big cities for a day. Additionally, of course, Westvleteren has gained a reputation in the USA for being one of the %26quot;best%26quot; beers in the world, if not THE best. I have had some before, and not sure I would rate it quite that high. We live near the Three Floyds brewery just outside of Chicago, and their Dark Lord beer is highly rated as well. But I personally don%26#39;t like it all that much, and think that the fact that it is only available one day per year raises everyone%26#39;s expectations. However, that doesn%26#39;t stop me from going to the annual release day party. I%26#39;m sure St. Sixtus%26#39; reputation similarly has somewhat to do with the fact that it is not as widely available.

We do plan to enjoy the beer scene in Brussels and much of West Flanders as well. Recommendations of particularly tourist-friendly small breweries would be welcomed.

Cheers!!!!

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Removed on: 10:18 am, October 03, 2009

Restaurant for my birthday in August

Hi, I am staying at the Metropole in Brussels for 3 nights in August for my birthday. My birthday is on a monday, so can anyone recommend a good restaurant in the area I am staying? Just want somewhere where the food is good and has a nice %26quot;feel%26quot; - stars are not necessary!!! Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks!

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A nice feel is awfully subjective but if it isn%26#39;t on holiday (some Belgian restaurants close for an entire month in July or August!), I can recommend L%26#39;Ogenblick in the Galerie des Princes, about 10 minutes walk from your hotel in a side-passage of the Galeries St. Hubert: http://www.ogenblik.be/.

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Hi thanks for your reply! I meant anywhere where the food is good - fresh - and with a good atmosphere - perhaps some music in the background and has a good reputation! You mentioned that some places are closed the whole of july/august - promise me I won%26#39;t starve for 4 days!!!!!! Anything else I should know from a nice local such as yourself???

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At the risk of not being considered %26quot;a nice local%26quot;, I said %26quot;SOME Belgian restaurants close for an entire month in July OR August%26quot;, not ALL restaurants close in July/August. Of course you are not going to starve, my point was merely that it is hard to recommend a specific restaurant for that time of year without researching its holiday plans.

Few restaurants here have %26quot;music in the background%26quot;, they tend to take food more seriously than that.

My only other recommendation would be to avoid restaurants in the rue des Bouchers and Petite rue des Bouchers (area near Galeries St. Hubert, not actually in the Galeries like L%26#39;Ogenblick), apart from Chez Léon and Aux Armes de Bruxelles: basically avoid all those with a display outside and/or waiters who try to drum up custom (nothing wrong with the food but this is the only area in Bxl where they have a cover charge, and they are also inclined to pad the bill, there are always strange misunderstandings over which wine was ordered etc....).

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Hi! thanks for your reply . I WAS joking - really didn%26#39;t think I was going to starve for 4 days!!! Seriously tho, I do appreciate all the advice you have given me - it is great to know in advance which places/areas to avoid and also those to go to!!!! I think I like the sound of Brussels if they take the food that seriously there is no music in the background!!! I love eating %26quot;local%26quot; food when away from home - any big city has its good and bad points (London being a prime example!!!!). Looking forward to my trip already!!! Thanks again!

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for belgian stuff try Aux Armes de Bruxelles,

i like in%26#39;t spinnekopke, t%26#39;kelderke and au stekkerplatte.

For meat i like Vincent and some nice fish places round st katherine.

look at resto.be for more details

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i forgot to mention Belgaqueen whci is pretty special if a bit noisy. good place to go to at least once.

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Hi thanks !! I have saved all your suggestions and will print out the list and take it with me on my trip!! I like the sound of the Belgian places - I always like to try the local food/drink etc when I go somewhere new. Belgaqueen looks good - but expensive - don%26#39;t know how much my husband loves me for that one!!!! Thanks again - I will let you know which one I like best on my return!!!!

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lunch at belgaqueen it has a seafod bar and a beer place as well

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Removed on: 2:19 pm, October 03, 2009

festival on the canels bruges

Any information on the Festival on the canels? Any information would be appreciated,Thank-you. I%26#39;ve had no luck.

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This preious thread should help tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g188671-i448-k2006…

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Removed on: 9:21 am, October 05, 2009

Kayaking in Belgium

Could anyone give advice about where to go kayaking in Belgium? I will be staying in Brussels, and will not have a car, but of course could go to other areas by train. I%26#39;m not an expert, so if possible, I would much prefer a group tour, as opposed to heading out into unfamiliar waters by myself.

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You%26#39;ll have to reconstitute this into one line as Tripadvisor can%26#39;t take long URLs:

http://www.opt.be/informations/

sports_anseremme__descente_de_la_

lesse__kayaks_bleus_/en/AS/1583.html

There are no group tours from Brussels (except of course for people who make up their own group) but you can buy a B-excursion from Belgian Railways including kayaking in Houyet, which costs €27:

http://www.b-rail.be/php/

bexcursions/index.php?lang=F%26amp;task

=view%26amp;sectionid=4%26amp;bexcode=174

You get the train from Brussels to Houyet (3h from Bruxelles-central changing at Libramont or a bit under 2h changing at Namur and Dinant), kayak from there to Anseremme and take the train back to Brussels from there (same changes).

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P.S. Don%26#39;t worry about unfamiliar waters, entire families who have never done it before go kayaking down the Lesse on warm days in summer - you will not be alone.

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%26quot;Durbuy Adventure%26quot; specialises in all kinds of outdoor activities. Kayak is one of them.

Durbuy is a very pretty city, the smallest city in Belgium, and nature is at its best there.

http://www.durbuyadventure.be/index_eng.htm

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Removed on: 10:32 am, October 05, 2009

Has anyone checked in late at Bryghia Hotel?

We are travelling to bruges in 2 weeks, but our plane lands at 20:20 we then have to get train from airport to brussels midi and then onto bruges. So we probably won%26#39;t get to hotel until about 23:00. We are booked into the Bryghia hotel. Has anyone else arrived this late? Will we have problems checking in do you think? Was going to email or phone them next week to let them know as my wife is worrying about late check in... any advice??

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there wil be someone on duty but common courtesy dictates that you should let them know of your late arrival. most hotels are contractually able to let your room go if you have not advised them of a late check in and have not arrived by 8pm (but very few would do this!)

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I suggest sending them an email. We%26#39;ll be staying at the Bryghia in a week%26#39;s time, and when I emailed them about a parking place they replied very promptly and were most helpful. Their email address is info@bryghiahotel.be.

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Removed on: 1:15 pm, October 05, 2009

Breakfast on Sunday morning

Is anywhere open on Sunday morning for getting breakfast; just want a coffee and croissant.

Will be staying in Hotel Le Plaza on Boulevard Adolphe Max, but don%26#39;t want to pay 18 Euros for their breakfast. Hopefully no more than 5 minutes walk from the hotel.

Thanks

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look for the EXKI chain, have a nice place at Boulevard Anspach (close to %26#39;Brouckere%26#39; and less than 5 minutes from your hotel. They serve all day round healthy and good food, not only for breakfast.

Bon appetit !

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Thanks for the info.

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I would be very surprised if that Exki was open on a Sunday, the one near me (rue des Tongres) isn%26#39;t! What you want is the nearest Pain Quotidien, since these ARE open non Sundays. Unfortunately I don%26#39;t know of one nearer to your hotel than rue Dansaert (no. 16): you would have to walk - or take underground tram 2 stops from Rogier - down to the Bourse (stock exchange) and take the street immediately opposite, it%26#39;s a little way down on the left. Or, of course, you can get a croissant and coffee at any of the places in the Grand%26#39; Place or in the Galeries St. Hubert.

If you want to go a bit further, there%26#39;s also one in the Sablon where everything is open on Sundays because of the antiques market. Or you could take the metro from De Brouckère to Mérode, e.g. if you wanted to visit one of the Cinquantenaire museums afterwards, or go up to the top of the archway from the - free - Military Museum, and go to the PQ in the rue des Tongres.

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Removed on: 1:15 pm, October 05, 2009

Are there trains from Brussels to Loire Valley?

I%26#39;m planning a U-drive canal cruise through Belgium (Brugges/West Flanders area)in early September and will have a day or two after the cruise before leaving. I%26#39;ve always wanted to do a hot air balloon or guided tour of the chateaus of the Loire Valley. Does anyone know if there are trains directly from Brussels to this area or to we have to connect through Paris? If so, what%26#39;s the best train station for Loire Valley? Thanks.

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There are direct TGV trains from Brussels to Poitiers (final destination Bordeaux) via Lille, CDG Airport, Marne-la-Vallée (=Disneyland Paris), and Massy, bypassing central Paris. BUT, only one a day (and not quite every day), departing Bruxelles-Midi at 07:32 and arriving at Poitiers at 11:17. Cost depends on how far in advance you can book (e.g. 14 days, 7 days) but you can expect to pay about €100 one way, 2nd class.

Otherwise, you can take the Thalys (www.thalys.com) from Bruxelles-Midi to Paris-Nord, then you have to cross the city to either Montparnasse (TGV) or Austerlitz for trains to, for example, Tours.

I would suggest you put your date, or equivalent day of the week, and required time of departure as well as desired destination into http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en.

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Removed on: 2:16 pm, October 05, 2009

1 day in Brussels - cycling and what else?

Hi. I%26#39;ve been lurking on this board for a while, reading the various message, and have a draft itinerary which I%26#39;d like your thoughts about.

This is my first visit to Belgium so I%26#39;d like to make the correct choices.

I will be arriving 3 pm Tuesday and after checking into my hotel would like to take a tour of Brussels either by coach, or preferably, on bicycle. I understand that there are firms that do this around the Grand Place - do you recommend any particular company, or would it be better to do this by a guided bus tour?

In the evening, I%26#39;ll find some Belgian bars which a friend is recommending and then would like to play some chess at Le Greenwich in rue de Chartreux, and afterwards would like to sample some fish and moules-frites, would this be the right area to do this?

Wednesday morning, I check out of the Warwick Barsey, Avenue Louise, at noon, and so would like to find a museum nearby that I could visit in the morning.

Any suggestions on Wednesday afternoon/evening? I fly to London at 9.30 so will be at the National Airport at 7.30. I was thinking of visiting the top floor cafe at the Musical Museum for the view (I%26#39;ve no interest in music), taking a walking or boat tour and visiting the Fine and Modern Arts Museums, but would welcome any suggestions.

Thanks again for your time.

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One other question - is there anywhere I can leave my case during the day, perhaps near a train station? Approximately how much would that cost?

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1) To answer the last question first, any hotel should keep your case on your last day for collection later the same day, for free. If you prefer to have it waiting at the station for you, there are both lockers and a staffed left-luggage office (%26quot;consigne%26quot;) next to each other at Gare centrale (down stairs, behind flower shop, near one of the entrances to platform 4). I think it costs €3 or €4 per 3- or 4-hour period, either way.

2) Provélo do bike tours but mostly at weekends and they are nowhere near the Grand%26#39; Place. See http://www.provelo.org/agenda_fr.php3. There are Segway tours which might interest you, see http://www.brusselsinternational.be/wabxlint/

en/12723/brussels-segway-tour.act (reconstitute into one line) or yes, you can take a HoHo bus from outside the Central Station - of course you don%26#39;t want to hop on and hop off if you just want an overview of the city.

4. Rue des Chartreux is near the trendy bar area of St. Géry, not necessarily the best place to find moules-frites OR fish (btw I think it would be a bit unusual to manage both at one meal!). You can get either or both at this place, http://www.spinnekopke.be/baseFR.html

Or, if you have located the rue des Bouchers (the bit just off the Galeries St. Hubert), Chez Léon is a classic for mussels.

5. Warwick Barsey is near Bois de la Cambre at the end of Avenue Louise furthest away from the city centre. There is no museum nearby, the closest would probably be the Horta Museum in rue Américaine, http://www.hortamuseum.be/. You might do better to take a tram (94) straight to Place Royale for any of the museums you mention.

There are boat tours on the canal every day in summer from Quai Béco (near Yser metro station) at 12.00, 14.00 and 15.00 hours, I wouldn%26#39;t leave it any later than that as you still have to get to the airport when the boat gets back. Gare du Nord would then be the closest station from which you can catch the airport train, being 1 stop from Rogier which is itself 1 stop from Yser; for Gare centrale the easiest way from Yser, even if it looks a bit of a long way round, is to take metro line 2 direction Delacroix and change at Arts-Loi to metro line 1 direction Erasme/Roi Baudouin.

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3) (sorry!) If you are arriving only at 15h00, you can%26#39;t do a guided bus tour other than on the HoHo buses because the last one leaves at 14h00, see http://www.brussels-city-tours.com/

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Thanks for all this great information.

I understand that %26quot;Brussels Bike Tours%26quot; leave from just outside the Hotel de Ville on the Grand Place and may now be doing this on Wednesday morning rather than Tuesday afternoon.

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Removed on: 7:22 am, October 05, 2009

Hotels and general advice

Hi, i am going to Brussels with a few friends and am needing some advice.

I am looking for a reasonably priced hotel not to far from the center and any advice on bars/restaurants to visit.

I have noticed there are a few topics about areas not being safe, as we are 3 lads could you tell me where to avoid as we dont want to end up in any trouble, thanks for any help.

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I would advise you to stay away from Gare du Midi area, some people think it%26#39;s unsafe, but in any case it%26#39;s not a pleasant area, bits of it are being demolished and bits of it should be.

It%26#39;s only one stop on a local train to Gare centrale which is much nicer and near everything you want including bars. Look up the Ibis %26quot;Off Grand%26#39; Place%26quot;, the Novotel (ditto) or the Madeleine, Opéra, etc. in the list of %26quot;Brussels Hotels%26quot; in list on left, as rated by TA members.

Although that would be very close to the Ilôt Sacré restaurant area (rue des Bouchers, etc.) I would not recommend you eat here, although the places in the Galeries St. Hubert are fine. Otherwise, try the rue Ste. Catherine (take the street to the right of Macdonalds opposite the Bourse, and keep going) where you will find the %26quot;all you can eat%26quot; ribs place (it does other things as well, like scampi), Amadeus (no. 26).

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Thankyou for the advice, will have a look at the hotels mentioned. I also think we will maybe try the beer tasting places mentioned on here.

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Removed on: 6:24 am, October 05, 2009

Christmas in Ghent

Any ideas for Christmas meals and entertainment - we are booked in for five days over Christmas - preferably accordion\folk\classical music.

Heather

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Heather,Christmas isn%26#39;t the greatest time to visit Ghent but you%26#39;ll sure be able to attend some classical mass in one of the churches with nice music.Just ask around when you arrive in Ghent.

Mark

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Hi Heather,

We are also thinking of Ghent this Christmas. We have been twice before but would like to know what it%26#39;s like over the festive season. Any thoughts - did you enjoy your trip?

Thanks

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Removed on: 4:16 pm, October 05, 2009

self catering apartment in brussels

Hi!!

A group of about 6/8 of us are planning on heading to Brussels for a long weekend in feb 09. we%26#39;re thinking of renting an apartment for our stay - can anyone recommend a company to book through? we%26#39;ll be a mixed group - all in mid/late 20%26#39;s

we%26#39;ve been before, and stayed in a hotel up from the parliament buildings. we%26#39;d like to be closer to the bars / main squares this time around.

Thanks!

Lisa

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I can only suggest Les Citadines, the branch near Ste. Catherine would be handy for restaurants and the bars of St. Géry.

http://www.citadines.com/en/

belgium/brussels/sainte_catherine.html

http://www.apartotels.com/

ApartmentInfo.asp?Code=6887

Note that transport information given on this last site isn%26#39;t correct, the closest metro station is very definitely Ste. Catherine, the most convenient railway station Gare centrale since it is on that metro line; if you are arriving at Gare du Midi on Eurostar, it would be worth taking the metro all the way around rather than struggling on the underground tram to De Brouckère: line 2 direction Simonis to Arts-Loi then line 1 direction Erasme/Roi Baudouin to Ste. Catherine.

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Removed on: 4:18 pm, October 05, 2009