Trip to Belgium in Sept. 06
 

Hi, I may be going to Belgium for a few days in early Sept. with my husband. I have a few questions:
1. I can fly to Charlois Airport or the International airport in Brussels. Which is best for travelling onward by train/bus to either Ghent or Bruges.
2. I will be staying for either 4/5 nights depending on which airline i fly with. Should i divide the time between the two places or base myself in one and do day trips to other places. If so, which one should I stay in and any suggestions for accomodation. I would like someplace nice, central, comfortable, perhaps 3 - 4 star hotel, but a nice friendly place.
3. We would like to do a bit of sight seeing, enjoy nice meals, a few drinks, a bit of shopping.

Your help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks, Martina

Martina,

Charleroi is in the south of Belgium (Wallonia), while Ghent and Bruges are in the north (Flanders) and Brussels is in between. Above that, Brussels has its own train station in the airport, so getting to/from is a lot easier. So if the price isn't much higher, definitely choose Brussels airport !!!

Bruges and Ghent are only half an hour by train from each other. Ghent is more central, so especially if you'd like to make more daytrips to say Antwerp or Brussels or Ieper, it would be more comfortable for you to stay in Ghent.

People often say that Bruges is much nicer at night, because then the hords of day tourists are gone, but if you want to enjoy Bruges by night, you could easily take one of the last trains back to Gent around 23h. But the choice is yours, really. Ghent is also more alive and doesn't live from tourism alone, so more restaurants and night life that isn't ment for tourists.

Both in Bruges and Ghent there are nice hotels, but especially also nice B&B's, the ones at the higher end could definitely compete with 3 to 4 star hotels.

http://www.bedandbreakfast-gent.be/
http://www.brugge-bedandbreakfast.com/

Search this forum for personal recommendations of certain B&B's.

To me the most beautiful hotel in Gent is this one:
http://www.hotel-harmony.be/
Also, it's just a short walk from the tram stop at the Castle of the Counts, where the tram takes you straight to the train station.

Enjoy your stay!

We have been to Brugge on four occasions and we highly recommend the following apartment: www.kanthuisje.com/d3kon. It is just several blocks from the City Centre yet quiet and reasonable. You can rent 3 nights at weekend rate - Friday/Monday, mid week rate - 4 nights, Monday thru Friday, or a seven day package. It is a beautiful place. Diane

We were in Brugge in late June, and while there were plenty of tourists, they concentrated around the main market square. We never encountered any lines at museums, churches, etc.

We had a pleasant 3-day stay at the B&B Marieke--about 10 minutes stroll from that main market square. The only other tourists we saw in the neighborhood were the two that had the other room in the B&B.

Anniemoll --

I am another fan of Drie Koningen: www.kanthuisje.com/d3kon. We're staying in Carmers (again) in Feb 2007.

Martina -- you can't beat flat rentals (especially like Drie Koningen) for location, quality, and price in Brugge. Added bonus -- order pastries on the lobby computer in the evening for fresh delivery from the bakery in the a.m. (at under 1Euro per piece). Sheer heaven!

Dream itinerary:
- Brussels airport;one day >Brussels
-train to Antwerp(half hour) day in Antwerp
-train to ghent;one day in Ghent
-train to Bruges 2 days in Bruges
-back to Brussels and plane
Greetings from Belgium Paul