Brussels in Dec
 

Is there rain or snow in Brussels in Dec. Need help please. Thanks

In December, there will be rain. Although with all the weather changes we've had over the past couple of years, there might be some snow. But it usually doesn't snow until the very end of the month or in January.

Patricia

I'll be in Brussels in early Dec. What kind of coat would you suggest? Wool? Raincoat? Or can I get by with a leather jacket?

The worst Brussels weather seems to come in November, at least that's been our experience over the last few years. You could have a little snow, more likely a cold rain mixed with sleet. Many women in Brussels wear three quarter length parka style coats with fur trimmed hoods--that seems to be the "default" winter coat around here. If you have a raincoat with a good lining and you dress in warm layers, you should be ok. A wool coat is fine, too.
If your leather jacket is on the short side, I wouldn't bring it. The problem is that when it rains here in the winter, it also is usually windy (meaning your umbrella can quickly become useless) and a leather jacket might not be enough protection. Don't forget the gloves and hat!

My winter coat is a duvet-filled one. I love it! Adapts to lots of weather.
Anyway, for a Belgian december I'd go for the wool winter coat.

Thanks so much. Your comments do help. Think I will go for the long rain coat, lined, with layers.

Ronda, where are you staying this time? At the Hyatt Barsey again?

So glad to hear from you! Thought perhaps you wouldn't remember. My husband is attending a conference at the Marriott.

I do need some itinerary ideas. We are thinking of flying out on Thanksgiving to CDG, spending the weekend in Paris, and then over to Brussels by train on Tuesday, back to the US on Sunday Dec. 5.

However, I was just browsing through an eyewitness guidebook on Belgium and I see a picture of a celebration in Brussels on the last weekend in November at the Place des Grand Sablon. Also a picture of a Christmas tree in the Grand Place and it is also filled with market stalls. Can you tell me what is going on at that time and what I might want to see or be aware of? Thanks so much.

The event at the Sablon sounds nice, but I don't care for the Brussels Christmas market anymore...it used to be clustered around the Grand'Place but now it's much more spread out. Pretty irritating because if you stop at one stall and then decide to look some more, it's a lonnng walk back to that first stall (especially in the sleet). Brugge has a nicer market (and a Kathe Wohlfart store). There is a popular Christmas concert around that week-end--the "living" Christmas tree with carolers.I'll try and get you the exact dates.
I'm usually in Chicago for a week starting the day after Thanksgiving, so I generally miss the early December events.
Paris sounds like fun! We are going to Paris in two weeks for a long week-end.

WOW! Was that ever a speedy response! So, I hear you saying that you prefer Brugge over Brussels for the Christmas markets but I don't plan to travel there this trip. Will they be set up on the weekday as well, do you know, or just the weekend?

Where do you like to stay in Paris? We generally like the smaller hotels. Have stayed twice at Hotel Champ de Mars but last time it seemed as if it needed a thorough spring cleaning but still cute. Our first stay was at Hotel St. Germain des Pres (http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h7...aindespres.htm) but I think it is now about 180 E per night.

Incidentally, my sister wants to go to Paris for the big 50 in July so several of us girls are going with her. Just got our plane reservations. Hotel is next.

I just read a Paris post and see where you like to stay! That hotel is beautiful! How did you get a 210 rate? The rack rate is 420.

Hi Ronda, that is an Accor Favorite Guest rate. We have Accor Favorite Guest cards--costs us about 110 euros per year, but definitely worth it. We've saved far more than that on discounts, free room upgrades, welcome drinks, late checkouts (with the FG card you can check out as late as 4 pm) and this year alone, we've racked up enough points for 200 euros in vouchers.

That sounds like a great deal. I did look on hotels.com and they had a similar rate as well. I have never book a room in Europe through hotels.com though. The courtyard is lovely and the rooms look large.