Thanks to all who have recently posted on this site as the info was very helpful in planning our recent trip. We spent the first three days in Brussels at the Hotel Amigo, which was in an outstanding location just a short block from the Grand Place, and had wonderful service and atmosphere. The rooms are discounted on the weekends which was very helpful as this hotel and Belgium in general are on the expensive side. We spent one and a half days walking around the Grand Place, visiting the two art museums, buying chocolate (Marcolini at Place du Grand Sablon wins by a nose), and having several very good but not outstanding dinners. Would recommend Aux Armes de Bruxelles, 13 Rue des Bouchers, and La Roue d'Or and Armand and Ko, both on Rue des Chapeliers, all near the Grand Place.
The third day (a Sunday) we traveled to Antwerp for the day. If you travel on the railway system on a weekend and return the same day, the first ticket is discounted 40% and those of anyone traveling with you are discounted a further 60%. The train stations are very easy to negotiate and really everyone speaks English. We enjoyed the various museums and the central square area of Antwerp, but I would have preferred to go another day as all the stores were closed on Sunday.
After Brussels we traveled by train to Bruges for a four-day stay at the Romantik Pand Hotel, a small family run hotel in a great central location. Throughout our trip the Belgian people were extremely friendly and welcoming and this was particularly true at the Pand. As Bruges is a weekend getaway, the rooms were discounted mid week and we were able to get one with a Jacuzzi for just a bit more. We spent most of the time just strolling through the picturesque medieval streets, looking into shops, churches and the occasional museum. One day we traveled into the countryside with Quasimodo Tours. This was a great way to get out of the city without a car. The tour guide, and owner Lode was funny, informative and very knowledgeable. It was a pleasure to be his guest.
We had two outstanding and two so so meals in Bruges. The very best were at Den Amand (4 Sint Amandsraat off the central plaza), a welcoming, tiny family run restaurant with wonderfully elegant food at very reasonable prices. If we had found it sooner, we would have returned. The second, also off the central plaza, was Le Bistro Jean Jan. This experience was much likely dining in an elegant private home with friends. The décor was lovely, the staff friendly and the food superb. I cannot say enough about either of these places.
Bruges was a relaxing, romantic and picturesque city ideal for vacationing. I was reluctant to stay there as everyone talked about how ?touristy? it is. We, yes, there are many tour groups during the day, but my feeling that places are always ?touristy? for a good reason, and this is the case with Bruges. It was wonderful to stay there overnight when things did quiet down. I would recommend this town to anyone.
Our last night we returned to Brussels to be closer to the airport for a morning flight. We stayed at the Hyatt Brussels-Barsey on Avenue Louise because we got an excellent rate of $95 for the night. Well, the hotel had been completely redone recently, but in the style of a bordello, all black trim and red velour. In addition, it was very, very far away from anything and was located in a reasonably distressed neighborhood. The only thing within walking distance was the Horta Museum which we did enjoy. For our final night and anniversary dinner we had reserved a table weeks ago at the Michelin 4 star Comme Chez Soi. Although we had confirmed our reservations earlier in the week from the Hotel Amigo, when we arrived we were told that the Amigo concierge had canceled our table when we had left the hotel for Bruges. After some consternation they agreed to seat us; not the most relaxing way to begin! We had the tasting menu which was not accompanied by wine selections. The dinner was very, very nice, but really not as good as our two experiences in Bruges and three times as expensive. The place was packed, the service efficient but harried and the neighborhood where the restaurant is located is a bit scary. I felt less welcomed at Comme Chez Soi than anywhere else we traveled in Belgium despite the fact that they had a little ?Happy Birthday? presentation with sparklers and an instant photo (however, it was our anniversary!). Just not worth all the planning and expense.
One small caution: At some time during our trip a fair amount of cash and my ATM card were stolen from the in room safe at one of the three hotels. We did not discover this until returning home as this money was back up to be used only if our ATM cards failed. I?ll never trust one of those safes again.
If I can be helpful to anyone, please email me. Thanks again. Joanne

I am amazed that you did not discover your money and card had been stolen until you returned home -

Thanks for a good trip report on an area that could use a bit more info on this board. Seems like Italy and Paris get all the attention. Thanks for bringing us news of Belgium even if it isn't Tuesday.

Hi Joanne

Thanks for sharing.

Sorry about your loss. It's a good warning to others.

We didn't notice the loss until returning home because the momey was in a back pocket of the money belt, and once we established that my husband's ATM card did in fact work without difficulty, we never looked at it again as it was always on me or in the safe.
By the way, I forgot to mention another lovely restaurant in Bruges called De Snippe which reserved in advance on the internet. We had a wonderful meal there with a tasting menu paired with various wines. The chef came out and greated us personally and allowed us to substitute one thing for another on his menu because he was enthusiastic about the duck he had purchased that day. It was a lovely evening.