Will be traveling to Brussels for 8 days in mid-May. Any suggestions on where to stay, eat, things to do, etc. would be appreciated. Also, would a few day trips, such as driving into Paris, be unreasonable. Should I plan on wearing dresses all day as well as evening? (I am 42 yrs old and heard jeans are sure signs of being a tourist.)

If you want to spend time in Paris, your best bet would be to take the express train early in the morning and returning late that evening. City center to city center by train leaves your nerves intact, you avoid all that traffic, and you save big bucks. Plus not having to find a parking place! Because I am a history buff (especially about World War I), I took a train from Brussels to Ypres one day, changing trains, I believe at Kortrijk. You can easily rent a bike at the Ypres train station and tour the great battlefield on country roads. Be sure to see the reconstructed great Cloth Hall, the Menin Gate, and the enormous British cemetery at Tine Cot on the way out to Passchendaele. Fine Flemish food served in lots of little restaurants in the center of Ypres.

Don't miss Brugges -an hour by train from Brussels, and worth spending the night (or 2!) in - it'a a charming medieval city with lots to see and do. We visited in Feb. and are making a stop there between going to England and France this summer since we liked it so much.

I spent a week in Belgium in June 1996. The weather was warm and sunny. My friend and I rented a car and toured the countryside. Bruges is a must. Plan on at least two nights -- three would be better. We stayed at the Hotel Jacobs and liked it a lot. Dress comfortably. Jeans are okay. Comfortable shoes are necessary. Don't worry too much about fashion. Another friend of mine recommends a visit to Antwerp. The food in Belgium was outstanding, especially the French-speaking side. If you do drive, I highly recommend you not drive in Brussels. A bit of trivia: did you know the Smurfs originated in Belgium?

I would recommend you to take a TGV (high
speed train) from Brussels to Paris. Since a couple of months it takes only
one hour and a half (train leaves at the
Midi station in Brussels in the south of the city)
at arrives at the gard du nord (northstation) in
Paris.Make reservation for this some days in advance because this TGV trains (called
Thalys) tend to be rather full. I would suggest not to spend too much time in our rather hectic
capital. Feel free to ask any addiional question you might have ...
Jef
[email protected]
Belgium

Jef, how unpatriotic of you... I have travelled to Brussels many times and always loved this city. Nancy: it's possible to have an enjoyable stay in Brussels & surroundings. I'm not sure what your personal taste is, but you might like the antique market at Place Grand Sablon on Saturday or Sunday morning. Have a look at Place St. Catherine for some great sea food restaurants. Like others already told you, Brugges is a MUST.

Brugge gives you the impression of an old (but 100 %25 restaurated) small medieval town, picturesque with romantic atmosphere (certainly at night) and easy to walk. Many houses are however from last century
Cars are banned from the inner city. Lot of parking lots around town. The one at the train station is free. From this station you can catch regular buses to the centre for the price of only
one US dollar.
Famous Flemish dialect.
Plenty accomodations, restaurants and café's.
Some of my favorite adressess :
Youth hostel : 'De passage' Dweersstraat 26 with
a cosy, cheap restaurant.
Pension Imperial : Dweersstraat 28
De Versteende Nacht (Jazz-café) Langestraat 11
Cactus : Langestraat 21 (Music-café)
Brugs Beertje : (café with 300 kind of beers)
Kemelstraat 5
Bodega Lorena's : (Spanish restaurant) Loppemstraat 13
Estaminet : Park 5 (café)
Things not to be missed : Begijnhof, Burg ,
Groeningemuseum, O.L.V.-church, Salvatorchurch; Van Eyckplein; Jeruzalemchurch;
Belfort; reien; walks, Gruuthusemuseum ...

Gent is another town that can easily be visited
from Brussels by train. The centre of Gent has
recently be banned for cars as well (makes it easy
to explore the inner city by foot). Gent has 3 times the size of Brugge and doesn't have this 100 %25
restaurated look (some would say it looks more
authentic).
Lots of accomodations, restaurants and café's;
A good price/quality accomodation you'll find
in hotel Eden, Zuidstationsstaat 24.
Some nice café's in the Pietersnieuwstraat :
Pole Pole : African café. The boss dwells most
of his time somewhere in Africa. 'Black' café,
definetely the place to go for a tropical cocktail
and to meet other africa-aficionados.
Vooruit : 'theatre and eventplace' with a popular
bar at the groundfloor.
Interesting places : the whole centre, Patershol
(another medieval look, although not everyting is restaurated yet), Oud Begijnhof; Gravensteen
(castle); Bijloke ....

Other Belgian city's like Antwerpen, Leuven
have interesting centres as well.
The south of Belgium has a lot of nature to
offer. Villages and city's along the Semois, Ourthe and Meuse-rivers are famous holidayspots for
hikers/bikers and gastronomers.
Bastogne has his memorial as a salute to all those Americans that died there during the famous Ardennes-offensive ( last world war).

First world war memoralia can be found around Ieper near the coast.

This is only a very short and very incomplete glimpse of what Belgium could offer.
Of course, Brussels has many highlights too.
But touritst generally tend to spend too much time
in the capital while visiting a country. I wouldn't
call Brussels the most representative town for us.

Any additional question on these subjects, please feel free to ask.