passported

We will be traveling into Amsterdam and out of Paris in the middle of March next year. Got some cheap air tickets, so excited about that.

We will have 11 nights on the ground. We have been to London and Paris before. Never to Amsterdam or Belgium.

Based on this, how would you advise we allocate our time?

Husband loves London. I'm trying to branch out more. Neither one of us has been overly "smitten" by Paris, so this is probably our last chance to catch that particular bug (or not!).

Amsterdam - 3 nights
Bruges - 1 night
London - 3 nights, perhaps day trip to Cambridge
Paris - 4 nights, definitely day trip to Chartres

-or- should we skip London this trip? Are we doing too much?

Amsterdam - 4 nights
Bruges - 3 nights
Paris - 4 nights

Seems like maybe too long in Bruges? Heck I don't know. There seem to be Bruges lovers and Bruges "meh" ers. Again, going mid week in March. So could be quiet?

I have trip pacing paralysis. Any advice helpful.

pariswat

Bruges is very nice but looks like a kind of Disney city.
It is frozen in time and full of tourists.
We live less than 2 hours from there and we've been several times, never more than one day. It has always been sufficient for us.

Amsterdam does deserve 3 days, depending on how many museums you want to see. We went there several times too, and also never more than a day at a time (we also never visited a museum there).

Paris is worth as many days as possible, as is London.

mvg

janisj

Bruges is really only 'full of tourists' during the day when all the coach tour day trippers inundate it. By late afternoon, evening and in the mornings it is lovely. Having said that I don't think you'd need 3 nights there. I would stay 2 nights though.

Since you really aren't smitten w/ Paris how about A'dam 3 nights Bruges 2 nights, London by train via Brussels 4 nights, Paris 2 nights.

That's how I'd do it anyway.

Kathie

One or two nights max for Bruges. (Having been there once I will skip it forever, but if you haven't been there it is reasonable to spend one night there.) 3-4 nights in Amsterdam, and I'd give Paris the rest of the time, 6-7 nights.

Since neither of you has been smitten by Paris, I wonder how much time you had there previously. IME, it's hard to be smitten by a place with just s few days there. That's why I am recommending a week in Paris.

passported

We rented an apt and spent 5 nights first trip to Paris. 3 nights second trip. Just feel like an outsider there and can never quite get "in the groove." Maybe third time is a charm!

If Bruges can be skipped entirely, please say so! I've been to Venice, and will have come from A'dam. So I've seen canals. Maybe I could add that night to London and make husband happy.

I really want to go to Chartres. It's on my bucket list. So I need enough time in Paris to have time for a day trip. Guess it makes no sense to sleep there?

indyhiker

I'd visit Ghent instead of Bruges, but not knowing what interests you, it's hard to give advice.

PalenQ

You could use Bruges as a base and day trip from there to Gent but Gent is no Bruges though it does have vest-pocket Bruges-like canals, etc. But is a neat city in its own way - who to say which is better but most tourists will be Bruges to be much more dreamier - to me the finest medieval looking city north of the Alps.

By train from Amsterdam to get to Bruges you change from Thalys or IC trains at Antwerp which is also a neat old city very different from the other two - put bags in a station locker and explore this wondrous port city and then end up in Bruges for the night and all the next day and night. Bruges is small - at least the tourist part of it - one full day and night IME is enough for the average traveler.

Don't neglect Brussels oft maligned here but a unique world capital with some stellar sights if not an overnall old-world look many tourists want to have - no museum town it is energetic and commercial but has fine art, a royal palace and gardens, the Grand' Place one of Europe's finest and largest town squares and the Mannikin Pis - iconic status of little boy peeing (and now pariswat told me recently a Mannikin girl peeing - forgot the official name plus the EU HQs.

For trains take Thalys Amsterdam to Antwerp with the ABS fare that allows you to go onto any ( All Belgian Stations fare) Belgian station without 24 hours of your international Thalys arrival) - the cheapest way if you get deep discounted tickets way in advance.

Similar Bruges to Paris you can use the ABS fare from Bruges to join your Thalys train in Brussels (or Eurostar to London too I believe has the ABS fare).

www.thalys.com for Thalys tickets you can easily get online and www.eurostar.com for Eurostar trains - sites with lots of great general info: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com - the latter an expert now on discounted fares.

hetismij2

You could drop Bruges and go straight to London, either by train and boat or cheap flight. Then you could do your day trip to Cambridge. I don't know, but it may be possible to get to Cambridge from Harwich (if you go for the train and boat option) without going to London, then go to London afterwards.
I am of the meh school of thought when it comes to Bruges I'm afraid. Never been to Paris, it holds no appeal so I can't comment on that part of it. I know, I am a heretic.

PalenQ

Great idea from hetismij - if skip Bruges and Paris first from Amsterdam you can take a train to Hook of Holland for sea crossings to Harwich which does have rail links to not far away Cambridge - then go to London from there- Cambridge station I believe has luggage storage but not sure - many stations in UK do not.

Hook to Harwich is a longish boat ride with night boats available but if aversion to rough seas that are always possible...

But then if you want to include Paris you have to go back across the water or under it to France and train to Paris (though dirt-cheap buses run that route overnight or maybe in the day).

Kathie

I agree, you could drop Bruges and put the time toward London. Some people love Bruges - I'm not one of them.

tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...russelsAntwerp

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...russelsAntwerp

These might help you decide. I feel Brugge should not be missed, especially in off season. We also found Brussels to be interesting in many ways. If anything, Antwerp is worth it for the Rubens Huis (house). Amsterdam and vicinity, 3 days, Brugge 3, Brussels 2, Antwerp (side trip for a day...quick train ride). As for travel, it's your trip and only you will post-trip decide what the highlights were or were not! I always feel that pics are worth a thousand words. My guess is that you'll enjoy the trip whatever final itinerary you decide.

tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...jijtPg8r6L6QE#

Sorry for the above duplications......here is Amsterdam and vicinity

wtm003

Bookmarking for trip in the spring. Thanks!

passported

I guess that's 4 mild to moderate against Bruges and 3 "fors."

My husband just keeps repeating a funny line of Colin Ferrell's from the movie In Bruges, so he's utterly useless ; ) "I'm from Dublin. I love Dublin. If I grew up on a farm, and I was mentally challenged, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't. And I'm not. So it doesn't."

More time in London could be good. Not for the wallet though, darn that hideous exchange rate.

passported

Well, we've made up our minds! That's a feat in and of itself.

Trip will be:
Amsterdam 4 nights
London: 3 nights
Paris: 4 nights

We are flying from Amsterdam to London City (BA), and then taking the Eurostar train from London to Paris.

We may not have time for a day-trip to Cambridge this time, but am hoping to go to Chartres while in Paris.

I am looking for a few good ideas for each city beyond the well-known tourist sites.

1. A good "brown bar" in Amsterdam.
2. A day trip option from Amsterdam
3. A good traditional pub in London for a pub lunch.
4. Should we perhaps hire a guide in Paris for a half day? Or maybe take an electric bike tour? (http://www.parischarmssecrets.com)
5. One good restaurant in Paris, hopefully nearish our hotel near Place Vendome. Doesn't have to be fancy, could just be a friendly bistro recommendation.

PalenQ

day trip options Amsterdam:

Delft - wondrous old town laced with canals and home of famous Delftware Porcelain - can visit the factory/museum just outside of town and buy seconds or firsts;

Haarlem, right on Amsterdam's door step - another neat regional city - can easily combine with a stop at Zaans Schanse - and its group of old behemoth windmills:

https://www.google.com/search?q=zaan...w=1745&bih=868

If April thr mid Sept Alkmaar and its famous old-world cheese market

Utrecht - a larger city but with several neat museums and sights

Rotterdam - modern to the hilt but lots of neat modern architecture and museums - can twin with a boat ride to Kinderdijk, Holland's largest grouping of old windmills.

And many many more.

TigerMcQueen

Having been to Bruges in the off season (two nights), I'd recommend that much. Three nights might be too many. My DH and I had a lovely time there, and when we were there (November, weekend before American Thanksgiving), it wasn't too crowded during the day, and it was amazing at night.

However, other towns in Belgium are very much worth visiting for a night or two as well. We spent a week in Antwerp when DH was there for work...while I planned several day trips, was only able to take one due to a foot injury. But I still found plenty there to keep me occupied. I've been to Brussels and enjoyed it (though found two nights enough). Ghent was nice too.

Personally, I love Belgium. Have always traveled in the off season, have never found it over crowded, and have loved everything from the environment to the people we met (locals and fellow tourists, many Brits). We're going to Paris in a week, mostly because my kids want to see the Eiffel Tower, but I was *this close* to taking them to Belgium. They would love the street food (waffles! fries!) and chocolate (the best I've ever had), and they would be welcome in most pubs .

So...I think it's worth a few nights at a spot in Belgium, especially in the off season.

StuDudley

>>One good restaurant in Paris, hopefully nearish our hotel near Place Vendome. <<

We've spent months in Paris & we're foodies. This past Oct, this was one of our favorites - an historic brasserie across from the Gare St Lazare.

http://www.mollard.fr/home-en

Stu Dudley

pariswat

At walking distance. Towards Bastille you find Santa Carne
Argentinian fabulous meat. I recommend provolone for 2 as starter
Enjoy.

passported

Thanks y'all!