Trip To Netherlands, Belgium, and France
Sep 16th, 2015, 07:40 PM
#21
Aramis- I took the tour times/durations directly from the tour company website. So keep slamming me - but at least I give accurate input.
So he wouldn't be sitting ON the coaches that long, but he would be stuck on the coach <u>tours</u> that long or longer.
So he wouldn't be sitting ON the coaches that long, but he would be stuck on the coach <u>tours</u> that long or longer.
Sep 16th, 2015, 09:40 PM
#22
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You still have nearly eight months. You don't have to pin down your itinerary this minute. Many places are easy and cheap to do on your own. Bruges, Ghent, etc. are a breeze!
Sometimes, having a base and doing tours makes sense.
Sometimes, moving from place to place works best.
Some places are best during the day for seeing museums, etc.
Some places are special in the evening or at night, when they are lively, beautifully lighted, or hauntingly quiet.
No point slogging through as if everything is the same and not getting the most out of your trip. Don't go to tulip gardens if they are not in bloom. Right?
Arrange your itinerary to make it work for your personal interests.
Ghent in the evening is busy and lively with restaurants along the river. Bruges is lovely at night after tourists leave, so I might do an itinerary that allows a night in each. These options require moving, but distances are short. Depart early by train from the Netherlands.
Train to Ghent. 1nt.
Train to Bruges. 1nt.
Train to Brussels. Day tour. Late train to Paris.
Train to Ghent. Afternoon tour. Train to Bruges
Bruges. 2nts.
Train to Brussels. Day tour. Late train to Paris.
Train to Ghent. 1nt.
Train to Bruges. Day tour. Train to Brussels
Brussels. 1nt.
Train to Paris.
Seriously consider what you want to see and do in each place. Honestly, if you have to ask about a place being worth it, you probably need to read or research more yourself to decide. What exactly draws you to Lyon, or Annecy, or Marseille, etc.? How much time do you need there? Then pick your top choices. When your time is allotted, your trip is planned.
Sometimes, having a base and doing tours makes sense.
Sometimes, moving from place to place works best.
Some places are best during the day for seeing museums, etc.
Some places are special in the evening or at night, when they are lively, beautifully lighted, or hauntingly quiet.
No point slogging through as if everything is the same and not getting the most out of your trip. Don't go to tulip gardens if they are not in bloom. Right?
Arrange your itinerary to make it work for your personal interests.
Ghent in the evening is busy and lively with restaurants along the river. Bruges is lovely at night after tourists leave, so I might do an itinerary that allows a night in each. These options require moving, but distances are short. Depart early by train from the Netherlands.
Train to Ghent. 1nt.
Train to Bruges. 1nt.
Train to Brussels. Day tour. Late train to Paris.
Train to Ghent. Afternoon tour. Train to Bruges
Bruges. 2nts.
Train to Brussels. Day tour. Late train to Paris.
Train to Ghent. 1nt.
Train to Bruges. Day tour. Train to Brussels
Brussels. 1nt.
Train to Paris.
Seriously consider what you want to see and do in each place. Honestly, if you have to ask about a place being worth it, you probably need to read or research more yourself to decide. What exactly draws you to Lyon, or Annecy, or Marseille, etc.? How much time do you need there? Then pick your top choices. When your time is allotted, your trip is planned.
Sep 17th, 2015, 02:33 AM
#23
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"on a coach" is not equivalent to "on a coach tour" so you gave inaccurate information.
The accurate information did not serve your intention of dissuading the OP from taking the tours.
Your conclusion wasn't necessary, it had already been clarified.
The accurate information did not serve your intention of dissuading the OP from taking the tours.
Your conclusion wasn't necessary, it had already been clarified.
Sep 17th, 2015, 02:47 AM
#24
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Aramis.
In my understanding the first OP schedule was including coach tours to Luxembourg and Flanders inc Ieper.
I would then clearly expect it being 10+ hours.
I didn't do the maths, but Bxl - Luxembourg by coach would well be above 3 hours.
Then back.
Then Ieper and back.
Would definitely put that in the 12-13 hours or longer if some people on the coach wants to stop for a pitstop.
I was myself surprised that Luxembourg and Bastogne would be on the same day.
I did Bxl-Bastogne recently and it took the best part of a day. Adding Luxembourg was imho insane.
Probably not to the coach tours however.
But as you say, situation clarified inbetween with explanations of OP.
In my understanding the first OP schedule was including coach tours to Luxembourg and Flanders inc Ieper.
I would then clearly expect it being 10+ hours.
I didn't do the maths, but Bxl - Luxembourg by coach would well be above 3 hours.
Then back.
Then Ieper and back.
Would definitely put that in the 12-13 hours or longer if some people on the coach wants to stop for a pitstop.
I was myself surprised that Luxembourg and Bastogne would be on the same day.
I did Bxl-Bastogne recently and it took the best part of a day. Adding Luxembourg was imho insane.
Probably not to the coach tours however.
But as you say, situation clarified inbetween with explanations of OP.
