Back on the subject of Bruges accomodation, we too are visiting in September and think that of all places we should spend some extra money to find the best location on a canal with the largest bed possible (European double beds can be so small).
Has anyone considered those listed in Small Hotels of the World - The Pand, Hotel de Orangerie, Die Swaene and Hotel de Tuilerieen ? If not what do you think are the very top picks ? Thank you.

i stayed a few years ago at the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce (before it became a Relais). had a large canal vew room. the location is the best you can have.

I noticed that the Relais Bourgondisch has a website under construction that has limited detail. The Pand Romantik Hotel website is extensive and appears well thought out with good package deals. Does anyone know what the best rooms are at either hotel ? i.e. location, floor, type etc.

Judy or anyone else, have you heard from Balto Traveler or anyone else on their recent stay at Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce? I'm planning a trip to Brugge in April 2205 and really like the idea of having a canal view room...

Let me know.

Thanks,

Ray

After extensive research on my own and many suggestions from this board, I booked the Romantik Pandhotel, for my trip to Brugges next month

We have booked the Cruyce for September. The Pand Hotel sounds great though in a Ralph Lauren Suite and if the canal view room is not important, I would go with the Pand and probably take one of their many package deals.

Ray,
I am going the in Sept. and will report back on the Bourgondisch.

We stayed at the Gheeraert B&B in Bruges and found it to be clean, spacious and well located.

The king size bed was the comfortable one we had during our trip to Europe. Having a small refrigerator in the room was nice, too!

Oud Huis, Heritage, De Orangerie are some of the better ones.. Yes, most of the top hotels are, in fact, on the canals, but that is WHY you are going to Bruges and people tend to spend top Euro to be on one for the ambiance and the "authenticity".

Besides, summers in Belgium rarely get so hot that the stagnant water starts to create a problem..This is more of a Venice issue.. Especially if one goes to Bruges in early or late summer (June/September), they should be very comfortable and odor-free..

Sempronia

Hey RayWaySki and everyone else - as posted above, I stayed @ the Relais Bougondishe Cruyce April, '04 and we were extremely pleased with the size and cleanliness of our rooms (which were lovely canal-views), the breakfasts and the wonderful location of our hotel.

We are looking forward to our visit to a canal view room there in September. All I need to do now is find out where to hire the best bicycles and where the breweries are ?

Don't know about the bikes, but we did go to the Henrick Streiff (sp?) Brewery while in Brugges. It's pretty popular, so you'll have no problem finding out how to walk there once you're in the city. Belgium has 400 varieties of beer, so I didn't have nearly enough time to try them all!

Much progress has been made with our travel planning sice the last post. There are a number of bicycle hirers and a bicycle tour company called Quasimodo. Yes Straffe Hendrick Brewery will definately be worth a visit. We are informed that many beers can be tasted at t'Brugs Beertje. Here in Australia I have my favourite Belgian beers and have a long list to visit. Unfortunately there are not many breweries in that part of Flanders so there will be subsequent visits of course. Together with the moules frites I suspect this will be a high calorie segment of our two month escapade. Maybe thats why we will need the bikes.

We stayed at hotel Die Swaene and enjoyed it. Very good service and excellent restaurant. There is a swan in the canal "living" in front of hotel. Great location in the heart of the city near fish market.

Other favorite is Duc Burgugnone. We booked quite a few clients there . I checked it myself last summer as well and liked it also.

Budman, I think the B and B you were referring to is Paul and Roos Gheeraert-Vandevelde at 9 Riddersstraat. The website is http://users.skynet.be/brugge-gheeraert/. I read that report too and then we just stayed there in June. Very nice, spacious, lovely room and surroundings and good breakfast too.