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Hotel Recommendations: Belgium/North France

I am planning a solo trip for sometime between June 25 to July 25. My itinerary includes Ghent, Antwerp, and Bruges (already been to Brussels), but I also want to spend 6-9 days seeing World War I and II sites, plus others like Waterloo and Agincourt.

First and most importantly, does anyone know good hotels or B+Bs in or near Ypres, Lille, Calais, Arras, Aimiens, or Compeigne? I will be by myself, and hoping for something under 100 euro/night (but no hostels) with free parking, wifi, and breakfast if possible. In America, I am perfectly fine with a two star Sleep Inn or Hampton Inn.

Second, if anyone has done a trip like this and have any specific recommendations about museums or general travel tips in the region, please feel free to share. It doesn't seem to be covered by guidebooks very well. I'll definitely be visiting Dunkirk, the Armistice Museum, and Meaux, and likely Verdun and the museums near Perrone and Thriepval. I will not be going to Normandy or Paris.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

Posted by
307 posts

Don't know of anything accommodations in the towns you mentioned but can recommend the Carlton Hotel in Ghent - conveniently located between Antwerp and Bruges. Nice, clean, family-run establishment. Proprietors are very knowledgeable about the area. Also less than 1/4 mile from the train station - very convenient.

Posted by
862 posts

We loved Hotel Rubens-grote Markt in Antwerp and had great dinner at Nathan restaurant and lunch at Marche Couverts (first and best guinea fowl ever) less than 5 minutes from the hotel. Hotel Rubens is one street back from the town square and Cathedral. We did day trips to both Ghent and Bruges from Antwerp easily by train and tram.

Posted by
80 posts

In Ypres we stayed at Albion Hotel and were very pleased. It is an easy walk from the In Flanders Fields Museum which is very nice. While in Ypres I can also recommend attending the nightly Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate.