Hi All: I am a woman traveling solo, flying in and out
of Brussels (to/from the States). I will be traveling by train(with
Eurail multi-country pass) & prefer to station myself in a smaller picturesque town on a main RR line. I would like to visit Slovenia, Split, Dubrovnik, and Paris (and surroundings.)
I don't like to change hotels too often. I thought I would use
Hilton points and stay In Brussels when I arrive, near the city center for a few days, getting over jet lag and
taking day trips. Then, take the Eurostar to Paris and
stay for about a week.Next, Leuven, in Belgium, sounds like
a nice town to stay for a week or two and take day trips.
Would anyone recommend Leuven. Would there be
any apts there with lifts and a/c?Next, I would like
to train to the other areas mentioned. I am open to
any suggestions. I am wondering if I should go south
to Slovenia, Split and Dubrovnik first (beginning of May)
and visit surrounding areas of Belgium at the end of the trip.
I have read that there aren't any trains beyond Split, and not
sure about taking buses with luggage.Thanks for all of
your help and suggestions. Johanna

Perhaps my questions are too broad. Is there a town
outside of Brussels someone would recommend for a
few weeks to take day trips. Can I use a global eurail
pass to travel through Belgium, Germany, to
Slovenia, and Dubrovnik? I can't change my
flights, but I can change my itinerary and forego
Slovenia and Dubrovnik on this trip. Any help would
be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Johanna

I've never used a rail pass, so don't know exactly how they work. I have been to Belgium twice though... the first time just as an overnight trip from Paris to Bruges, we loved it so much that we went back 2 years after. Flew in and out of Brussels but we spent more time in Ghent (which I absolutely LOVED) and Bruges again.

To me, Brussels has been one of my least favorite large, European cities visited. It's still worth 3-4 days, but I wouldn't want to go again (yet I'd go back to Ghent and Bruges in a heartbeat).

Hello Johanna, I can make a few suggestions for the northern part of your trip. Wondering how long you have for your whole trip, so it makes it hard to suggest how much time to allot.

I would probably suggest that you complete seeing Belgium either at the very beginning or the very end of your trip since you are making a loop, and don't move back and forth between Belgium and France. Move in one direction. Pick a single base - you could use Brussels as a base, or even Leuven as a base as an alternative to Brussels and use those to see other points in Belgium on day trips, but I would not bother returning to Leuven after Paris. Leuven would make a good base particularly for points east of Brussels, or to see Antwerp. It is only about half an hour by train from Brussels, so you could reasonably see Ghent too. It is pretty as a destination (and buzzy - it's a university city) on its own but it is small. Accommodation would be cheaper in Leuven than Brussels. However, it's not so easy to find a/c in European hotels unless they are the chain variety, and as I said, Leuven is on the smaller side. I would not think there would be many choices with lifts. Train connections are mostly quite good - for instance if you want to see Dinant, you don't have to go back to Brussels to change trains, you would change in Ottignies. For points west of Brussels you would have to change at Midi.

Secondly, the train to Paris is not the Eurostar but the Thalys. A week in Paris is a good amount of time - you can see quite a lot. Stop in Lille on the way as it's quite pretty.

I have to leave the Slovenia / Split / Dubrovnik thing for another Fodorite, but it is a long way from Paris - wondering if you wouldn't be better off flying than with a rail pass? Or even just a flight on a return to Brussels? There are pros and cons for rail passes and you may find it cheaper to book point-to-point, or just get a rail pass for certain countries that you want to see intensively. I am not sure where Germany fits into the mix - after France and before Slovenia? It's a big country - if you have some ideas about what you wanted to see that would help focus answers.

Lavandula

I just did a search on www.booking.com for apartments in Leuven (make sure to click on 'additional search options' to select 'apartments') and found 114 apartments out of 657 types of accommodation - lots of choices for you to filter through. Also the search gives some accommodation in Tervuren - this is the end of the tram line in Brussels and it's only about 15 km from Leuven, so that gives you an idea of distances. BTW, the tram ride from the middle of Brussels out to Tervuren is very pretty.

Lavandula

Thank you so much, Ruby99 and lavandula for your
very good advice. I have stayed in Brussels, before, on the
way to another city and I agree that it is too big to make as
a home base. I have never visited GHENT, which sounds very nice, and I will add it to my list. I have stayed in Bruges twice, and enjoyed it. My trip is 6 weeks long. The
only reason that I am flying in and out of Brussels, is that
I got a fantastic deal with miles going 1st class.
Lavandula, I like your suggestion of making a loop. The only reason I mentioned Germany, is that each rail site
states I have to go from Brussels through Frankfort to get
to Slovenia. The reason for going to Paris for a week is that
I love Paris. I have been many times. I just like to wander
the neighborhoods and perhaps take in a tennis match,
at the French Open but that doesn't begin until the end
of May. I really like your idea of checking out Tervuren and apts on booking.com. I wanted to visit Dubrovnik and Slovenia because I have never been there. Perhaps your idea of flying to Slovenia, visiting it and visiting Split and Dubrovnik at the beginning of my trip before doing the
loop back to Brussels for the trip back home. I am thinking it might still be cool in Brussels in the beginning of May rather than the beginning of June. Thanks for all of the very good advice. I am going to look at the booking.com site and revamp my route. thanks so much. Johanna

Check out Boardhousing in Leuven (you can find it on booking.com). They have rooms as well as studio's. With A/C.
Leuven is a pretty town, and from there you can easily visit other towns like Brussel, Gent, and the smaller towns Mechelen or Lier. And (my) Antwerpen, of course!

Thank you, MyriamC. I will check out board housing in
Leuven. I am sure that you have wonderful advice.