mmyk72

I'm planning a short business trip to Brussels. Afterwards, I'd like to stay 2 nights extra for sightseeing. I'll stay either in Bruge or Ghent for both nights. Then see the city on day 1 and do a day-trip to see the other city on day 2.

Questions:
1) Is it better to stay in Bruge or Ghent?
2) Any recommendations for BB that's clean and is well-situated? (Looking for accomodations for 1 person ~40-50 euros per night. Please incl contact info if possible)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

PalQ

Bruges is much more romantic as it as a whole in the centrum is thoroughly old looking - like a museum almost whilst Gent, though also a wondrous old city is not as fairy-tale, especially at night when Bruges' canals and humped wooden drawbridges are wondrously illuminated. But if you like more a big city thing then opt for Gent though Bruges also has a part, the section between the Markt Place and the train station area that is a vibrant modern shopping drag.

mmyk72

PalQ - Thanks. I'm looking for old world type charm, so it sounds like Gent is more modern and Brugge has more atmosphere.

I looked up train fares on the Belgium train website (http://www.b-rail.be/nat/E/). It mentions a Weekend discount for travel after 7 pm on Friday and return Sat or Sun. Does this apply to all train routes?

mmyk72

One possibility for train travel is:
Fri: Brussels --> Bruge via Ghent
Sun: Burge --> Brussels direct

- Is this 'via' fare the same as a Brussels to Bruge (no stopover) fare?

- GENT SINT PIETERS: Is this the actual name of the Ghent train station?

PalQ

Sint Pieters is the main train station in Gent and about a mile from the town centre - trams link the two.
I would believe the discount certainly applies to all trains to Gent or Bruges and any in Belgium except ICE and Thalys trains but not sure. But regular fares for those trains are not all that much either.
Don't know diddly about hotels or B&Bs but i'd Google the Tourist Offices in Bruges or Gent and they'll have a comprehensive listing of places and prices to e-mail.
The Torture Chamber in the Gent castle is gruesome!
In Bruges be sure to get away from the tourist-oriented main square and seek out the nearly deserted old canals lined by old Flemish facades to the north and northwest of the city center.
A boat trip thru the canals in either city is a highlight.
Gent has one of Europe's classic Sailors Quarters - redlights in neon and gals sitting in picture windows a la Amsterdam - in the northern part of Gent, near the Turkish ghetto part of town.

mmyk72

Thanks for your reply!

lyb

I haven't been to Ghent, but Bruges is WONDERFUL! It's definitely old world charm.

If you want to see pictures of Bruges, you can go to my website: http://lynnsview.com/Gallery/

I was just there last October and fell in love with the city.

GBC

Lynn...Great gallery. I can't wait to go. We've been all around Bruge, and our kids gave rave reports of it, but we've yet to get there. Thanks for sharing

Byrd

ttt

lyb

GBC,

Thank you for the compliment.

Bruge was great but the one mistake I made is I went to Bruge and then to Brussels....poor Brussels, it had a lot to live up too.

Myer

We were in Brugge during the first part of June of this year.

Brugge has to be the most beautiful small city.

We were there most of 2 days and left by train in the evening of the second day for Amsterdam.

We saw most of the main part of the city the first day. Then on the second we rented bikes and rode towards the windmills and around the circular bike path. After a couple of hours we returned the bikes and retraced a lot. No problem it was great.

You can see my photos at:

www.travelwalks.com

select Prague
Budapest
Brugge
Amsterdam
2006

Unfortunately (or if you enjoy them 'fortunately') you'll have to go through Prague and Budapest to get to Brugge and then Amsterdam (and a few in Brussels). Enjoy.

mmyk72

Thanks Lynn and Myer...Great pics!

Another question on train travel:
- When I book a return ticket (roundtrip), do I have to specify a return time?
- If yes, can I change that ticket for another train of the same day and is there a change fee?