Help needed-Belgium trip(where/how). Thanks

baabaachi

Am hoping to organise a trip.
Other than a "slight" hiccup when I booked flight to Glasgow instead of Malaga a while ago (we couldn't alter the flights and ended up having a lovely time in Glasgow) I am usually successful in booking our flights and accommodation seperately.

This time I am thinking of booking a few days in Belgium.

We live in Leicester so I looked for flights from East Midlands but flights to Belgium only seem to go from Birmingham.

I have never been on the Eurostar and am a bit nervous about booking it.
Have never been to Belgium so have no clue on where to stay.

So any help would be very much appreciated.

Xxxxxx

richardw

You can get through tickets on the train from Leicester to Brussels via St Pancras, see east midlands trains website.

baabaachi

Do you think I should stay in Bruges?

davemorton

A different option would be to drive to Hull and get the ferry over to Brugge. You can get a 4 night trip, with hotel included for around £180 each (Mon-Fri).
As for stopping in Brugge, lovely place, totally recommend it.

baabaachi

Forgot to say no one in our family drive.
We will be travelling as 2 adults and 11 year old (older boys staying at home).
So Bruges is lovely-great, that's good to know.

c45arlo

Having stayed in many Cities in Belgium in the past I would personally go for Ghent. Good transport links to Brussels National airport and a No.1 tram from the station to the city centre in a few minutes. If travelling by ferry as a foot passenger make sure to book the connecting coach to Bruges station. Rail travel in Belgium is inexpensive and can be booked online. The old city of Antwerp and the maritime museum are well worth a visit and the restored station with Antwerp zoo next door is also worth a look.

baabaachi

Sorry to be a pest, I have looked at the eurostar website and it let's me click on London to Belgium - does that mean I have to buy my train tickets from Leicester to st pancreas separate?

Voyager2002

baabaachi wrote: »

Sorry to be a pest, I have looked at the eurostar website and it let's me click on London to Belgium - does that mean I have to buy my train tickets from Leicester to st pancreas separate?

That is one way to do it: once you have your Eurostar ticket you are entitled to buy a ticket from your local station to "London International". These tickets are supposed to be as cheap as an advance purchase ticket, but allow flexibility about travel times.

You might like to check the details on the site for The Man in Seat 61.

hartcjhart

depending when you are going De Panne on the coast is very nice,lovelly sandy beach

baabaachi

April or May 2013



Thanks for all the help so far.:beer:

astramax151

I would go Eurostar (much more civlised way to travel than flying such a short distance) + base yourself in Brussels + then use the cheap + regular local trains to whatever towns/cities take your fancy. Belgium is a lovely place + doesn't get the credit it deserves.