CarsonUSA

After our trip to Paris, me and my sister will break off from our family and explore both Belgium and Amsterdam

After consideration I wish i had 2 weeks to spend in these countries, could def see a return trip in the future, just so much to do/see

Check out my rough draft travel plans, let me know what you think=

Day 1= Leave Paris early (7:30 or 8:30 a.m.) by train for Amsterdam, spend rest of day there

Day 2= Amsterdam all day

Day 3= Amsterdam majority of day, leave for Brussels at 6/7 p.m.

Day 4= Brussels all day

Day 5= leave Brussels early morning for Brugge, spend rest of day there, including overnight

Day 6= Wake up early, experience Brugge early then leave for Ghent, spend the rest of the day there. Leave as late as i can back to Brussels

Day 7= Wake up early and experience Brussels again, the spots we missed or wanted to see again. Then catch a late train back to Paris where we leave for the States the next morning.

Plan to stay in Hostels in all those destinations, and traveling by train as well. Eurorail is what we plan to use, is there a better option for online booking?

Really wish i had more time in both countries!

Any advice welcome as this is not set in stone yet

fctexel

You could add Antwerpen to your list. This is good place to stay. Typical good Belgium hospitality

Blueberries

hello everyone ...I'am new too here, i am very happy to join this forum and i want to wish all the beginners a huge best of luck and am making sure to you all that you all will enjoy your stays here and gathered lot's of knowledge...

hetismij

You do Amsterdam and the Netherlands short with only a couple of days there. Why do you think Belgium deserves 4 days to the Netherlands 2? (which is what it comes to given your travelling times etc.)There is so much more to the Netherlands than just Amsterdam.

However if that is your choice then I would say skip Brussels on the way to Brugge, go via Antwerp.

Do not use Eurorail. Book direct with the European train companies where needed - Paris-Amsterdam, Brussels-Paris. For the rest buy a ticket in the country and use intercities.

qwovadis

eurocheapo.com

great budget city guides lodging

for best hostels

Bulldog Amsterdam Hostels not great in

expensive metro Brussels cheap hotels

shared bath usually lots better Otel.com

seat61.com for economy regional trains are best

avoid pass see discussion on seat61

you always lose money unless you train relentlessly daily.

Careful planning and stay in regional areas like Brugge

for best experience.

flygirl

I would not add anything and in fact I would subtract. I would probably consider splitting my time between Amsterdam and Bruges and then back to Paris. You can see a few things outside Amsterdam by taking short train trips. Brussels you can do another time.

What time of year are you going?

I didn't visit Ghent, I stayed in Bruges for 4 nights, so I cannot say what you are missing but Bruges is delightful and it was time well spent. If this is summer time you could rent bikes in either country and go for a bike ride from one little village to another. That is on my list when I return.

I just got back from Amsterdam and Paris. I had 5 nights in Amsterdam and ran out of time pretty quickly.

CarsonUSA

I will be going in the middle of June this summer. I have heard mixed results on Brussels and Antwerpen, but all the trains I am looking at went through Brussels. FIgured it was a great base to check out Brugge and Ghent. Seems like you either love or dislike Brussels as a tourist town.

I really did wish I had more time, but like i said I can def see myself returning, while using this trip to get a solid feel for Amsterdam, then a taste of Belgium to see what the country/culture has to offer and which cities are worth more days in.

Thanks qwovadis Eurocheap.com looks like a great site, will def compare everything I am looking at with them.

Is Antwerpen worth a day over Ghent? Have heard there was construction in Ghent that impacted some peoples stay there negatively. Does anyone know if this is still going on?

bardo1

I was in Gent a few weeks ago and saw no construction. It's a full sized city, was the construction on a particular block or street of the thousands there?

hetismij

Miss out Amsterdam and concentrate on Belgium this trip since you seem to be more attracted to it as a country than the Netherlands.
Base yourself in Brugge - from there you can visit Gent and Antwerp easily by train, and do Brussels at the end before getting your train back to Paris.

Save Amsterdam and the Netherlands for another visit. You will not get a solid feel (whatever that means) for a city such as Amsterdam, never mind an entire country, in just two days.

spaarne

I would scratch Brussels. Take a day for Brugge. Spend the rest of your time in Amsterdam and take a few day trips, e.g. Haarlem.

The rail line from Paris to Amsterdam is a monopoly (up to Brussels) controlled by Thalys. There has been a lot of discussion on the Forum regarding the foul practices of Thalys regarding pass holders. The Man_in_seat_61 contributes often on these threads and points out the bargain fares available with advance purchase. I can't find his most recent contribution but you can click http://tinyurl.com/3jgsbts to find another thread. Click his name to learn a lot more.

november_moon

When we were in Belgium a couple years ago, there was major construction in Ghent around the old town. Based on bardo's recent experience, it appears that the construction has been completed.