Hi,<BR>I'd love some expert advice. I am planning an anniversary trip to Belgium in September. Since, in the past, I have made my husband drive all over Italy, I am planning this trip as a train excursion, staying in Brussels for 5 days and some other city for five days, taking day trips while seeing the city itself. Does anyone have a suggestion on another location such as Bruges or Ghent that will give us a different experience and take advantage of a different geographic location? Also, I know I can encourage my husband through a long day of sightseeing if there is a Jacuzzi at the end of the day. Any suggestions of hotels in Brussels or this other city that may have Jacuzzis? Thanks in advance. Joanne

As far as the jacuzzi's are concerned, i think you better contact directly the 4 or 5 star-hotels in both towns where you will stay. <BR>http://www.hotels-belgium.com/ will help you on your way for the major cities.<BR><BR>Visiting Belgium by rail is a lot more doable than Italy.<BR>Take 1st class, first because it is not that expensive, especially if you take some kind of '14-days unlimited travelcard', and second, because on rush hours the second class is a bit crowded, belgians commute quite a lot by train.<BR>http://www.b-rail.be/rnvn/E/formul/index.html will help you through this.<BR><BR>Brussels: 5 days,... seems a bit much.<BR>Could be, but then you should really be interested in seeing all the national museums...<BR>http://www.trabel.com/brussel/brussels-museums.htm will help you through this offer.<BR>I would suggest to visit Namur and maybe even Antwerp as a daytrip from your Brussels HQ. Because when you'll come back in the evening, you'll be able to stroll around in Brussels anyhow.<BR>Second place to go... Brugge. 2 or 3 days, no problem, tour on the canals, 1 or 2 museums on flemish paintings, cathedral, beguinage, belfrytower, one or 2 good dinners. maybe you'ld like to take a bike and have a tour alogside the windmills, or a trip to Damme (bike or boat)<BR>Daytrip #1 to Ieper/Ypres, if you are interested in WW-one reconstruction of towns.<BR>Daytrip #2 to Knokke and the national park &quot;Het Zwin&quot; with a nice revigorating walk in the dunes/on the shore. You could easily start from the Zwin in Knokke, go to the beach and have some 10 km beach walk till Heist and take the train back to Brugge, with ample possibilities to have a good lunch alongside the beach. Weather in September is generally fine in Belgium.<BR>Good luck.

Sorry, but I forgot to mention that Gent, halfway between Brussels and Brugge, should be a daytrip. You could maybe not do Ieper and do Gent instead. Or if you don't like walks on sandy beaches,...<BR>

<BR>If you want a totally different geographic location, then you should go to the Ardennes, the area south/southeast of Brussels. It's a mountainous area with lots of woods and some smaller cities. <BR>The city of Spa is a nice spa-resort and I think the Radisson Sas Balmoral hotel will have everything you want. <BR><BR>Another option would be to stay at the seaside: Knokke-Heist is an upmarket resort and has some very nice hotels: La R&eacute;serve for instance. Ostend (Oostende) is also a seaside resort and has a beautiful spa hotel: the Thermae Palace.<BR><BR>Re daytrips: Antwerp (that's near to where I live) and Gent are both underestimated. Brugge, of course. <BR><BR>If you want more information, please email me at [email protected]

I looked at the Leading Hotels of the World website (lhw.com) and found the following, these might be your best bets for Jacuzzi. Go the lhw.com website or contact the hotels. I have not stayed in any of these hotels, but have stayed at several in the group, they are all wonderful, special hotels.<BR><BR>Conrad Brussels<BR>Avenue Louise 71<BR>1050 Brussels, Belgium<BR>Tel: (32-2) 542-42-42 Fax: (32-2) 542-42-00<BR>The website says they have a steam room and &quot;spa bath&quot; which is usually a Jacuzzi.<BR><BR>Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo<BR>Rue de l’Amigo 1-3<BR>B-1000 Brussels, Belgium<BR>Tel: (32-2) 547-47-47 Fax: (32-2) 513-52-77<BR><BR>I have stayed at a the Hotel del Russie in Rome, another Rocco Forte hotel. It was fabulous. They had a spa with a Turkish bath and a Jacuzzi. Can't tell from the website whether this one in Belgium has one, but the rooms look wonderful. Perhaps a big marble tub would do instead…..<BR><BR>Montgomery Hotel<BR>Avenue de Tervueren 134<BR>B1150 Brussels, Belgium<BR>Tel: (32-2) 741-8511 Fax: (32-2) 741-8500<BR><BR>They have a sauna and &quot;world class&quot; fitness center, according to the website. <BR><BR>Royal Windsor Hotel – Grand Palace<BR>Rue Duquesnoy 5 – 7<BR>1000 Brussels, Belgium<BR>Tel: (32-2) 505-5555 Fax: (32-2) 505-5500<BR><BR><BR>

Thank you all. Joanne