I am heading out to Paris in the next few weeks, and I am still trying to decide if I should make a day-trip to Brugge. I will be in Paris for a week. I am taking my mother who has never been to Europe. Is Brugge worth giving up a day in Paris? Do you know of any good day-tours? Or, are there any other constructive suggestions? Thanks.

Too much for day but you could go early one day, spend the night and then come back AM the next day and still have an afternoon and evening in Paris. Take TGV @ 7:00 AM to Brussels, the local train to Brugge. Brugge is fabulous, charming and quite a contrast to Paris. I have a lovely hotel and restaurant in Brugge that I am quite fond of if you decide to break your trip. I got a Benelux train pass but it may not work for you because I also then ended up in Amsterdam on the way home. Check with your travel agent about this. I think it is alot for a day trip and I am a sturdy traveler. Let me know if you want my recommendations. Have fun!

JLR: <BR>On my last trip to Paris with Mom, we took the Channel train to London for the Day. We took the first train out and the last one back. We enjoyed the day immensely! <BR>Do a search here on the Channel train and you'll see alot of other info. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip with Mom!

Fodors <BR> <BR>The Thomas Cook European Timetable is at the Bureau de Change of any Thomas Cook office in Paris. Also, the people at the Gare du Nord can advise you. Leave Paris Nord 0758, change at Lille Flanders 0859 to 0905, reach Bruges 1029. Leave Bruges 1931, change at Lille Flanders 2055 to 2101, Paris Nord 2202. The trains between Paris and Lille have buffet cars, so you can breakfast and sup there. It's a shame to miss dinner in Bruges, mussels then steak, perhaps, so you might think of the Sunday special: Bruges 2031, Kortrijk 2112 to 2130, Lille Flanders 2146 to 2301 (a short walk in nineteenth century grandeur), Paris Nord 0002. <BR> <BR>It's worth while. Bruges is unlike Paris, being small and beautiful all over. Also, it is more "European". For example, please pay close attention to the reliquary of St Ursula: you can buy a booklet to explain it. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR>

Fodors <BR> <BR>The Thomas Cook European Timetable is at the Bureau de Change of any Thomas Cook office in Paris. Also, the people at the Gare du Nord can advise you. Leave Paris Nord 0758, change at Lille Flanders 0859 to 0905, reach Bruges 1029. Leave Bruges 1931, change at Lille Flanders 2055 to 2101, Paris Nord 2202. The trains between Paris and Lille have buffet cars, so you can breakfast and sup there. It's a shame to miss dinner in Bruges, mussels then steak, perhaps, so you might think of the Sunday special: Bruges 2031, Kortrijk 2112 to 2130, Lille Flanders 2146 to 2301 (a short walk in nineteenth century grandeur), Paris Nord 0002. <BR> <BR>It's worth while. Bruges is unlike Paris, being small and beautiful all over. Also, it is more "European". For example, please pay close attention to the reliquary of St Ursula: you can buy a booklet to explain it. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR>

We visited brugges on the way from Paris to Amsterdam. So we effectively spent a day there on the way to Amsterdam. <BR> <BR>It was worth it. If you and your mom love lace, chocolates, beer, beautiful belgian settings ... Bruges was gorgeous. <BR> <BR>We don't regret having takena day off paris to go there.

Bruges is definitely worth a visit but I wouldn't do it as a day trip. It takes about 3 hours by train which would mean 6 hours of travel plus getting to the train early plus the time to and from the stations. I don't think it's worth leaving Paris to do that. For more information e-mail me - [email protected]

I took the Parisvision day trip to Bruges last November. I have a trip report which includes the junket to Bruges. E-mail me if you'd like to see my trip report! <BR>Kathryn

My husband and I took the Paris Vision (because they went on Sunday - Cityrama and others offer similar tours) one-day bus tour to Brugges, because he really want to go there. It was a very long day, but the commentary on the bus was excellent, there was a nice walking tour when we arrived, and we had several hours on our own to explore, shop, have a leisurely lunch, and take a boat ride on the canal (tickets included). We loved Brugges and were very glad we went.

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