Finally, have our dates for our trip to Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris and will be spending 2 nights in Sept. in Bruges. Have it down to 5 hotels and would appreciate any comments or suggestions on these (or any others you might suggest)
Hotel Ter Reien
Duc De Bourgogne
Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
Walburg Hotel
Bourgonesch Hof

Thanks, Judy

I haven't heard of any of the hotels on your list.But I can give you my personal favourite for Bruges!!

We stayed at the Montanus Hotel - not quite in the very centre of the city, but still easy walking distance to all the sights!! Lovely boutique hotel, excellent service!! Check out www.montanus.be .

We'll be staying at Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce. It gets raves from Frommer's, but doesn't even get mentioned in other guides. Perfect location on a canal in the town center. Very old building with a highly-regarded restaurant connected.

Balto Traveler,

When are you going? If before me (Sept. 9) could you let me know how it was.

Thanks, Judy

Going toward the end of April. I'll let you know

I don't recognize any of the hotels that you listed. However, last April we stayed at the Hotel Cavalier, Kuipersstraat 25, right in the middle of town. Conveniently located near a bus stop (you'll need to take the bus or a taxi from the train station), and a laudromat is nearby. Room rate last year was 52.00 euro/single and 62.00 euro/double. Rooms were real nice - we had Room 2-A, in the front, with a big window overlooking the street (but still amazingly quiet), a little sofa, and table and chairs. Nicely decorated. Our friend had a room on the third floor, overlooking the garden. Breakfast room was quaint and breakfast was decent (included in price). We would definately stay there again when we return to Brugge, someday. http:/users.skynet.be/hotel.cavalier

Thanks. artstuff for the info on the Calveiler - I just booked an overnight stay there and are going in just a week. Its nice to know for sure that its a nice B&B.

Someone several months ago posted a trip report from Brugge and a website of a great B&B they stayed in. I should have bookmarked it, but if I were going to Brugge anytime soon, that is certainly where I would want to stay.

A general caveat about hotels in Brugge. It sounds so romantic to have a room overlooking a canal...BUT...in summer, be careful that the water in the canal is moving and not stagnant or you will be sorry!! We were wandering about Brugge one afternoon last summer, during the horrible heatwave, and passed a little hotel overlooking the end of a small canal. It was very cute, the view was terrific, but there was an almighty STENCH coming up from the canal. A real, god-awful PONG. We couldn't get away from there fast enough.
Judymol, none of the hotels you listed fall into that category, fortunately, but if someone searching for accommodations (on the web, for example) finds a cute little hotel overlooking a quiet canal with surprisingly good rates for the summer high season, this is the reason why!
BTilke (Brussels)

Thanks BTilke, I never thought about that. The Relais Bourgondisch Cryce, Duc De Bourgogne and Hotel Ter Reine are all on a canal. There were some others not on a canal I like - Jan Brito being one. Would beginnning of Sept. be a problem? We will be staying on a canal in Amsterdam so maybe I should opt for one not on a canal in Bruges. Any opinions?

Thanks again, Judy

Judy, none of the hotels you mention are on a stagnant canal, so you will have no problem with those. The little hotel we passed was on the outskirts of Brugge, not central. A canal view in central Brugge will be fine.

Thanks for the info. The Hotel Ter Rein sounds pretty good for the money but is so much less then the others, I am somewhat leary. So, if anyone has stayed there or seen it, would appreciate comments.

cjvroom

Hope your stay at the Hotel Cavalier is as enjoyable for you as it was for us. We loved the beautiful city of Brugge and can't wait to return some day. Have some waterzooi and a beer at de Garre for us.

Robyn & B.J.

I have not stayed at Duc De Bourgogne, but have admired the view of it from the Erasmus beer cafe across the canal. Duc De Bourgogne is situated on one of the prettiest (IMO) canal areas...the restaurant also overlooks the canal and my parents report that the food there (and service) is fabulous (and a little pricey). The canal is so beautiful in Brugge - I wouldn't skip the canal there just because you'll be staying on a canal in Amsterdam. They're each different/beautiful in their own way. Have a fabulous trip!

I just returned 2 days ago and LOVED our stay @ the Bourgondishe Cruyce, on Woolestraat. On a scale of 1-10, the location is a 20. The rooms are lovely. The breakfast room beautiful with a fireplace and crisp linens and chandeliers, delicious breakfasts. Staff helpful. Great value for the money. I don't know the other hotels, except that the Bourgondishe Hof was right across from my hotel. Enjoy!

Hillview -
Great to hear your positive thoughts on the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce. We'll be staying there next week, and I was a bit spooked about its total absense of mention in nearly all the guidebooks I browsed through... all except Frommer's, which raved about it.

Balto Traveler - You mentioned you were going to stay at the Relais Bourgondisch in April. Did you and if you did, what did you think about it?
I have a reservation at the Jan Brito but considering canceling and changing to the Bourgondisch....

Thanks, Judy

We stayed at the Bourgoensche Cruyce last July and were very pleased with our room and the service. The best feature is the location which is on a side street closed to traffic but just a short walk to the main square. We would definitely stay there again. Our room wasn't on the canal but it was very large for a European hotel and had windows on both ends which was great for ventilation.

Hi Judy,

Please post a trip report when you return, because I am planning the same itinerary for late May 2005. What hotels are you looking at in Paris and Amsterdam? I am thinking about the Hotel Muguet(Paris) because of cost and location. Still looking at Amsterdam and Bruges.

I definitely will give a report. Still haven't decided whether to stay at the Jan Brito or Relais Bourgondisch.

I am staying at the Millesime in Paris. They are having a promotion which includes breakfast, airport pickup and delivery, champagne upon arrival, a bottle of wine, and a boat ride on the Seine for 220E per night. I thought that was a pretty good deal. I wanted to stay in the 6th and most of the hotels were on the high side....

We are staying at the Pulitzer in Amsterdam which is 5* and using our Starwood points so we actually pay nothing... I doubt that I would have picked this hotel if not for the that. It seems nice but I usually don't like staying at a chain hotel but hey, can't beat the price.