Amsterdam to Brussels, then where?
 

My sister and I are separately flying to Amsterdam for my daughter's graduation Oct 5-7 in Brussels at Vrije Universiteit Brussel at the Grand Place, and then we have another few days to visit the area. Hotel recommendations near the Grand Place?

My 70yo sister doesn't get around too well though she can walk a few blocks. We're thinking of visiting Brussels for the graduation days and then have about four more days to perhaps take some trains to nearby locales, preferably off the beaten path. Perhaps Luxembourg countryside, Vianden?

Thanks in advance!

I can recommend a few places near the Grand' Place, although I will name just a few (there are dozens) as I don't really know much about you or your needs. There is actually a hotel on the Grand' Place, although I have never stayed there, and I have heard it is very good but the carpet in the entry is dirty. Unfortunately I couldn't find it in a search and that might be one of the things your daughter is well-placed to find out since she is on the spot. I imagine they don't advertise in the big search engines as they would be swamped. But I will recommend to you a Novotel (Off Grand' Place) and the Ibis just next door (Brussels off Grand' Place) as they are both just at Grasmarkt, which is very close. The prices are good there considering how centrally they are located. There is also a hotel in the Galeries Royal de St.-Hubert, which is also just a short walk away, Hotel des Galeries (atmosphere but simple). The Dominican is a really nice hotel but a little further from Grand' Place although a little more expensive, and the Hotel Amigo is also nearby but a big splurge. It is up there with the most expensive hotels in Brussels. Finally Apartments Adagio Grand' Place is also nearby, with a kitchenette and numerous supermarkets in the neighbourhood.

So hopefully this is somewhere to start. I have to say though that my pick would be middle of the road Novotel, and if you get Accor membership (free), you also get an extra 10% off if you book directly with the hotel or with Accor, likewise with Ibis and Adagio. Not an ad, just good value. Sometimes an upgrade instead of the 10%, in any case they treat you well.

Lavandula

Luxembourg takes about 3 hours by train from Brussels although by car it is a lot closer. If you are interested in that corner of the world (Luxembourg + Ardennes) a car is a good idea as the rail system is not as good there and the scenery is super. I am not American but there are also Battle of the Bulge sites and an American Cemetery there (Bastogne area). A few people here know that area for that reason.

Lavandula

The wine region of Luxembourg city along the Mosel to Trier is slightly off the beaten track but is pretty enough if you want to get out and about with reasonable train links

I've found it! It's called Hôtel Le Quinze:

https://hotel-le-quinze-grand-place....-gallery/#next

That is right on the Grand' Place, the review I read of it raved over the views and of course the location, but there was just that issue of the carpet, which the reviewer said she could live with.

Good luck with finding a hotel!

Lavandula

You can easily do a day trip or longer to Antwerp as the Cathedral is one of the great cathedrals of Europe. You can easily travel to Bruges, which will likely be crowded with tourists at that time of year but it is still very charming and very compact in terms of walking to see the sites.

Having just returned from that area of the world, I am remembering the miles of walking I did each day and am nervous about your sister being able to manage.

As mentioned above, Bruges is compact. But, the train station is about a mile from the center so you would want to take a taxi to the center where your sister could instead expend her energy seeing the sights.

In both Ghent and Bruges you could do the canal boat tour to see parts of the city and to rest at the same time.

Could you perhaps think about a day or two with a splurge for a driver so you could see the scenic countryside from a car and be dropped off close to where you would want to walk around?