Looking for suggested itineraries- Have to spend 4 days in Marberg, Germany on business, and have 5 days before to do anything. Will be going in October, would like to visit Brugge and Gent. How much time for each? Fly in where? Stay?<BR>Thanks, Jane

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I would think you could fly into Brussels, Frankfort or Cologne. Brugge is nice but busy. I would encourage you to also visit the coast especially if the weather is still good. Oostende is a nice little town & there is a Best Western a block from the beach that is very nice & inexpensive. You may also want to consider a trip to Maastrict or even Paris or Amsterdam. From Brussels both are very close.

Actually if you fly into Brussels, you can take the train up to Brugge (1 hr), and get off in Gent-tour around, then continue on to Brugge. Another option is taking the train from Brussels to Antwerp which is also pretty close (35 min from Brussels).

Jane,<BR>We were in Brugge last August for part of our honeymoon, and we enjoyed it very much. It was touristy, but still beautiful and enjoyable. I would think in October, when you're going, the tourist numbers would be much lower. <BR><BR>We were there for 3 nights, which gave us 2 full days of sightseeing. This was a nice amount of time for us - enough to see everything we wanted to see at a leisurly pace. Two nights would probably be sufficient for most people. We did not see Gent, so I cannot comment on that.

If you have a car and are interested in history, you could do a short tour of the WW1 battlefields and museums areound ypres( Ieper) , not terribly far from Brugge, alos Lille is nearby

Thanks to all for the suggestions. We were in Paris last December, so won't go there this time. I'm finding lots of great info at this iste.<BR>Jane

If you go to Brugge don't overlook Damme. It's a small town only seven miles away -- by canal boat from Brugge. Most of the tourists don't go there, so you feel as if you've stepped back in time. It's like a miniature Brugges, a lovely tiny town with very nice outdoor cafes. The boat leaves from a canal near the railroad station. It was one of my fondest experiences in Belgium.

Thanks for all the suggestions-others are still welcome.<BR>Jane

I just returned from Belgium and can heartily recommend a trip to Antwerp. It was a short (40 min) trip from Brussels and well worth it. While a 'city' it is not as large or spread out as Brussels, but with (IMO) lots more charm, sights, friendly people, cheaper prices etc. I also found Gent to be worth a visit, although you don't need a full day for it--as it is pretty small, but directly on the train route for Brugge.

Thanks, Maud. We weren't sure whether to include Antweerp, but now will. Any special restaurants you'd reccommend? Did you overnight there? Hotel?<BR>Jane

Hi. I'm from Antwerp, so I'll just stick to giving you hints on restaurants and drinks, and leave it up to others to tell you why you should visit it.<BR>My favourite places for dinner are: "La Luna" (Italian name, but fusion cooking, not cheap), "De Kleine Zavel" (Belgian-French cuisine, excellent, but book in advance), for mussels and fries (the typical Belgian dish) go to "De Rooden Hoed" (right next to the Cathedral), also "Le Petit Vatelli". For lunch try one of the fries shops or have a sandwich or little snack in one of the numerous tea rooms and bars around the Cathedral (for peace and quiet go to the "Groote Witte Arend") or the "Zuid" area, the southern part of town, kind of the place to be for the cool and trendy with very nice bars (Hemingway, Entrepot du Congo, Nick's Cafe, Hopper), restaurants (Hippodroom) and galleries. It's also home of the Museum of Fine Arts, a must.<BR>If you like a good party, Antwerp is your place. We always dance, also in bars, so you don't have to go to a club if techno is not your thing, but still want to stretch your legs. Bars where people dance (mostly on Friday and Saturday night and you don't pay entrance): 't Bolleke, Hemingway, Nick's Cafe, De Kaai and many others in the city center; Quiet bars: Pelgrom, Negen Vaten (really wonderful, especially when the wheather is good), Zuiderterras (great view over the river); Clubs (you pay entrance): Industria, Caf&eacute; d'Anvers, Red & Blue (only on Saturday), Club Geluk.<BR>Culinary experiences you should not miss out on: fries (whoever told the americans they were French ???), chocolates, biscuits (De Strooper, Delacre, De Beuckelaer, hop into a supermarket to find them), 't Bolleke (Antwerp's typical beer, served, as all Belgian beers, in its own glass, which has the form of a bowl, hence the name, a "Prinske" is the same beer, only in a smaller glass) and generally, all Belgian beers (but not all in one time, they're a little bit stronger than what you are used to), the grey shrimps, either freshly bought in a fish shop, or in dishes such as the "Tomaat-Garnaal" (tomato with grey shrimp, double-check with the waiter that is the grey ones: "grijze garnaal") or the Garnaalkroketten.<BR>Antwerp is also "a diamond's best friend", but if you still want Antwerp to be your friend after your visit, avoid the street longing the central railway (which, by the way, is worth a little visit), called the "Pelikaanstraat" and take a look in the small shops in "Vestingstraat" and "Hovenierstraat", do not hesitate to stop one of the people walking around there (on weekdays only) for advice, for special designs check out one of my favourites in "Appelmansstraat", Peter Poussemiers.<BR>Check out www.hrd.be, to read some useful information and avoid unpleasant surprises.<BR>Finally, do go to Brugge before the end of this year. The city is Europe's cultural capital for 2002 and the offering of cultural events is really amazing. For further info go to: www.brugge2002.be.<BR>Enjoy our little country, but don't spread the word around to much, we like being unknown

Katrien,<BR>Thank you for all the great suggestions. Do you or others have any for Ghent? We will be going for the Adoration of the Lamb alterpiece, but what else should we not miss? Also now planning to try and include a visit to Damme.<BR>Jane

Jane: Katrien's reply was great. Don't let anyone tell you that Antwerp isn't worth visiting (some will). Do yourself a favor. Go to the website www.jack-travel.com/belgium. The Gentleman that writes the guides at this site is Belgian, writes with passion and wit, does it as a hobby and is one of the best I have found in may years of travel. He not only does a thorough job of describing everything there is to see in each city/area, but he also describes his favorite reataurants and places to stay. I wound up just printing his whole website and that became my guidebook. <BR>We flew into Brussels and spent that afternoon and evening there, enough to see the Grand Place in the daytime and in the evening and get into the neighborhoods a little (found a wonderful restaurant. Don't let them tell you Brussels isn't worth some time either (they will).<BR>We stayed at the Hotel Welcome in Brussels, the Hansa in Brugge, the Erasmus in Ghent and the in Antwerp. The cities are close enough to do them as daytrips if you choose, but we like to have the evening in a location as well as the day. We did one night in Brussels, two nights in Brugge, and one night each in Ghent and Antwerp. We had more time and, so, went into North Belgium and Southern Belgium as well, but with five days, I would do those four cities to get a good flavor of Belgium.<BR>We were in Belgium this last May. Yes, there were a lot of tourists. What would someone expect in a Country that is so beautiful (reply to complaints above). Same is true for all the major places to see in the world. You won't have this problem in October.<BR>You will love Belgium. Have a great trip.

Jane, <BR>It's my pleasure. Hope you enjoy my often disregarded (whether rightfully I'll leave up to you) little country.<BR>Forgot one website for restaurants all over Belgium: www.resto.be.<BR>Gent is really beautiful as well. Go to Gravensteen, the Leien and many other things. Patershol is where you should go, when going out at night. For restaurants, I don't really know, it's been a while since I've been there.<BR>My parents stayed in Brugge this weekend and really loved the hotel. Unfortunately I can't remember the name. I'll try to get back to you on that.<BR>Don't really know where Marberg is. You can take the Thalys from Cologne, but if that's far, I'd recommend flying. From the airport I would take the bus to Antwerp, then take the train to Gent, from Gent to Brugge and then why not take the train back to Brussels and see some of that as well (there is more to it than Manneke Pis). Buy the Green Michelin Guide.<BR>Do take your umbrella. We always take one, out of superstition: if you take one it will not rain, unfortunately nine out of ten the theory doesn't really apply.

Katrein and Joe,<BR>Thanks to both of you for web site suggestions. Your replies/suggestions have upped the anticipation level in our house.<BR>Jane