My wife and I have booked a trip to Bruges. Does anyone have any info on the following hotels? <BR> <BR>Hotel Flanders <BR> <BR>Hotel Egmond <BR> <BR> <BR>Thanks <BR>Dan

No info on these, but if you have not booked yet I would strongly suggest the Hotel Prinsenhof, a wonderful hotel with a great family ownership. Great central location, great rooms, great breakfast, and a private parking lot. Right in heart of old town. Check it out. It is 4 star but worth every penny. <BR> <BR> <BR>Check out their web info at <BR>http://www.hotels-belgium.com/brugge/prinsenhof.htm <BR>

How we wish we were going with you! <BR>This is our favorite chocolate shop in Bruges: Chocolatier Verbeke, Geldmuntstraat 25,about a block or two from Market Seuqare. I think they are closed on Mondays.

Lucky you! If you like B&Bs, we stayed at a lovely apartment with Benno and Frieda Verhulst - very near the center of town on a quiet street. Check out their site at [email protected] The pics are a little dark, but the room was very clean and the hosts were so warm and helpful. They have even e-mailed me to express concerns and sorrow after the WTC attacks. Bad news - Verbecke had closed shop as of May... Our fav chocolates were Van Oost.

Sorry! That site for Benno and Frieda is b-bverhulst.com The other is their e-mail address and they are very quick about replying to any questions.

Loved Brugge last April, though it was cold and rainy. Don't know much about either hotel, but heard good things about Egmond. We stayed at de Swaene, right on a canal next to the fish market. <BR>For chocolates, try Sweertvaegher Pralines on Philipstockstr. We found the best, also neat little take home boxes for gifts and family. <BR>We had a fantastic dinner one night at Breidel - De Connic, between the two squares. Very informal,casual, great lobster in a cream sauce(picked live from a case by the front door), and we split a giant pot of the most delicious mussels in a white wine and cream sauce. Had some great conversation with other patrons. <BR>We ended up taking a bus tour of the city due to weather, which was a good way to see where everything was. Be sure to take a canal tour. <BR>We really liked Brugge

Bruges is wonderful! Sorry, I don't know about these two hotels. BTW folks, Chocolatier Verbeke has closed their doors for good. I thought that there were great chocolates at Princess though (right by the best hot chocolate/coffee shop I've ever been to!). Enjoy your trip.

Dan: Bill J took most of the words right out of my mouth. <BR> <BR>I've heard good things about the Egmond although I did not stay there. <BR> <BR>Was in Bruges in early June and it was very cold and rainy but I liked it anyway. Had a very good dinner of mussels in white wine at Breidel-de Kooning which I believe is on Breidelstrasse just off the Markt. <BR> <BR>Also highly recommend Sweertvaegher for chocolates, again, very close to the Markt (yes, tried to go to Verbeke but it has closed). <BR> <BR>Enjoyed a canal boat ride and a minibus tour of the city as well as a walk to the windmills just outside of town. <BR> <BR>If you do a search you should be able to find my trip report with more info. <BR> <BR>Enjoy.

Heartbreaking news that Verbeke has closed...what a wonderful little place it was and wonderful owners/operators. Wonder why they closed. Maybe just the retail side only? Anyone know the story?

The couple who owned Verbeke retired, according to posts on the Rick Steves site. In June we got chocolates at a place called Dumon, near the main square, that were wonderful.

Hi Dan, <BR>We had dinner in Brugge yesterday with friends who live there and took a walk past the Hotel Egmond. If the inside is anywhere as attractive as the outside, you've made a GREAT choice. First off, the location is superb. Although it's just a 2-minute walk from the Beginhof, it's in a peaceful, park-like setting. Beautiful gardens. The exterior is classic Flemish style. We saw many people coming out of the hotel and they all looked happy--didn't hear a single complaint about anything. Sorry we didn't peek inside, but I have a feeling you will be quite pleased with the Egmond. <BR>BTilke (Brussels)

I stayed at the Egmond for 3 days a couple years ago and it was very nice & in the 'moderate' price range. The location is excellent and our room was quite spacious. It's small & quiet & is about about a 10 minute walk to the train station in one direction & 10 minutes to the center of town in the other. <BR>

I stayed at Hotel Egmond in June and liked it a lot. You can read my trip report at http://www.travelswithdiane.homestea...2001page1.html

We stayed at Hotel Egmond for two nights in June 2001. It was WONDERFUL. Right near the Beguinage. Beautiful place. Lovely, quiet, nice rooms, garden terrace, great hosts with terrific advice on touring, dining, and beer-sampling. Excellent breakfast.

Thank you all for your kind replies. The Egmond sound great. Does anyone have any info on the Hotel Flanders, or any great restaurants in the area? <BR> <BR>Thanks <BR>Dan