Weekend in Bruges

Amanda65

Hi all

OK bumping this up and editing as the planned trip in 2009 didn;t take place but we have now, at last, booked to go the Bruges - yippppppppeeeee.

We travel Eurostar (4 adults, no kids :j))on 8th April and home again on 10th April, are staying here http://www.hotel-acacia.com/index.asp?taal=uk and I just wondered if there were any updated tips from anyone who has been recently ?

We're going to celebrate OH's 50th birthday so recommendations of restaurants etc. would be very welcome !

McKneff

You'll need lots to spend it Brugges.
My OH and i went earlier in the year, stopped for a drink at a place nothing special, sat outside in the spring sun. Asked for 2 fresh orange juices. It was lovely, in a nice glass, proper fresh orange - bill came 12 Euros equating to just less than £12 at the time.:eek:
Eating out wasnt much different - we came home a lot skinter and a bit shell shocked but gotta admit, fabulous place.

Have you been to Amsterdam, a little cheaper but more to see.

Youve been warned.

Amanda65

McKneff wrote: »

Have you been to Amsterdam, a little cheaper but more to see.

Youve been warned.

Yes did Amsterdam 3 years ago. Thanks for the head up on the prices - will do a bit more research

crowlands

We have been to Bruge twice with groups of adult friends and it is a fabulous place to stay. We didn't find it too pricey but we have not been since the slump in the pound Both times we travelled from Hull with P&O North Sea Ferries. We had one night on the ferry, one night in Bruges and the return night on the ferry. I would advise you book a hotel closer to the centre because the firs time we went our hotel was a bit of a trek into the centre. The beer will certainly please your friends and I loved the fruit beers - yummy!! A visit to one of the breweries is a must and of course a trip on the canal - do this early in the day as the queues later on are very long. I am sure that you will enjoy your trip and by November the pound might be faring better against the euro. And I nearlyy forgot to mention, the chocolate is DIVINE!!!!

Hollyberry

I would definitely recommend the Eurostar. Not sure where you are starting out from, but it's a quick journey from either St Pancras or Ebbsfleet. The road signage to Ebbsfleet used to be dire (we went the week after it opened, and the AA sent us to Swanscombe station :rolleyes:), but they have added a few more signs now; if all else fails, aim for Bluewater and follow the big overhead line gantrys!

The Eurostar website (4% back via Quidco) has an option to see the cheap £59 returns. I've done the Leisure First once and wouldn't recommend it as being worth the extra. The ticket covers you to anywhere in Belgium, but not via the fastest trains. We normally head to Ghent, and go to Bruges at some point during the stay. (Ghent, btw, is beautiful, and well worth a visit if you have the time.)

The Eurostar website also has some offers for hotels, so you might find something directly through them or Last Minute. I've not stayed overnight in Bruges before, but we have had a drink in the Novotel, and it looked ok (funky decor, although not exactly atmospheric).

Recommendations: canal trip, buy lots of chocolate (probably cheaper on side streets), try a fruit beer (Kriek - cherry - is gorgeous) or jenever (many flavours - hold onto your hat), wander around at night looking at the beautiful buildings, call into a bar or two and have some fritjes or roasted chestnuts from a street stall when it's chilly, check out Cassis for some pretty and reasonably priced clothes, be prepared for any kind of weather (have been in a t shirt or several layers in November), take flattish shoes/boots that are good on cobbles, and have a fabulous time.

You may gather that I think Belgium is vastly under-rated.

Amanda65

Thanks Hollyberry - I will scuttle off and look at the Eurostar website now :j

stephb34

Try flexibletrips.com either through the internet direct or at a thomas cook shop usually the same prices but the travel agent does all the work and you will get the v.i.p rate on the euro not just the crap download rate and someone to complain at if you have any problems. Bruge is very reasonable via eurostar, i priced 3 nights in november 3* BB in central location £135pp, but i cant remember the exact date but thats what price it was yesterday couldnt believe what a bargain it was, but i dont know anything about prices when your there.

monkee_2

This is a great city, we took the ferry from Hull. It was awfully pricey though for food and drink, so much so we ended up eating most of our meals at Pizza Hut.
Have a great time. We stayed at Hotel Navarra http://www.hotelnavarra.com/en/photo_gallery?foto=2#overview. Paid about £70 per night, the hotel was fantastic. Enjoy your stay.

joho

I would recommend a ride around town in the pony and trap so that you get your bearings and they point out sights and places for you.

There is a pub off the main square (somewhere down an alley - we never found it) that sells 400 different types of beer. I wish we had found it!

The chocolate museum would be ok for an hour or two if it's raining, but otherwise it's nowt special. We did one of the brewery tours and tasting which was interesting.

As for actual restaurants to recommend, can't help you but the further away from the main square you go, the cheaper things will be. It is nice to sit in one of the bars on the square for one or two drinks though, just to watch the world go by.

Enjoy - it is a beautiful city!

dbs

http://www.brugsbierfestival.be/en/beer_festival_bruges-1.html

this beer festival takes place in November

charge27_2

In the winter they have an ice sculpture festival outside the station which is amazing, I'm not sdure when it opens though.