Author: Ruth (stanruth @erols.com) <BR>Date: 7/13/2001, 12:37 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: We are planning a 15 day trip at the end of July to Amsterdam. We are planning to stay in Amsterdam (need suggestions of 4 or 5 star hotels). We then are planning to drive around the Netherlands. (How many days and where should we stay?) We plan then to drive to Brussels.(How many days and what hotels?) From Brussels we plan to drive or take the train to Paris. If we drive, is there anything to see on the way to Paris? Is there a place to leave the car close to Paris, so that we do not have to drive into the city?

Ruth, you probably aren't getting any answers because you haven't given us anything to help us help you, such as what your interests are. I do have one suggestion: perhaps you need to rent a car for only a part of yor trip. Trains will get you between these cities, and public transportation is much better than driving and parking in cities. These are all popular destinations and frequently discussed on the board, have you done a search of Paris hotels, for instance? Hope you mean July 2002.

I second the use of trains. You can use a car to drive around the Netherlands -- but use the train to Brussels and then to Paris.

Hotel rooms are going to be difficult to come by if you don't book immediately. My brother tried booking in Amsterdam and Paris last week and ended up having to settle for a high priced dump. Granted he got cheap airfares, but now isn't too thrilled with the lodging.

Stan and Ruth, <BR>If you drive into Brussels, plan on staying somewhere near the city outskirts for parking and general peace of mind (traffic in the most congested areas of Brussels can be a nightmare, far worse than Paris). <BR>For hotels, I suggest Les Tourrelles on the Avenue Winston Churchill, a very pretty country style inn located in a nice residential area with great access to mass transit to go anywhere in the city (doubles with bath are just under $100 a night). On the high end, try the brand new, upscale Hotel Barsey Mayfair on the Avenue Louise. <BR>If you want to stay outside the city, there's the luxury hotel Chateau du Lac on Lac Genval, about 30 minutes by car or train from Brussels. Genval is an upmarket suburb and the hotel is located on a beautiful lake. Lovely grounds. There's also a much cheaper, but pleasant, Best Western nearby (small rooms, though). Genval and adjacent La Hulpe are full of nice restaurants, shops and cafes and the Chateau de la Hulpe is wonderful for walking and relaxing at the cafe on the castle grounds or for touring the Fondation Folon (Folon museum). In early August, there also will be outdoor performances of Rigoletto at the chateau. La Hulpe is my favorite part of the countryside near Brussels. Both Genval and La Hulpe have train stations that will take you into Brussels in about half an hour (or you could drive). For Brussels, I would give one day for the main city sights (Grand'Place, etc.), one day for the La Hulpe/Genval area, another day for Leuven or Brugge. <BR>From Brussels, take the train!! The Thalys takes 1.25 hours versus at least twice that long to drive. <BR>BTilke (Brussels)