Paris/Bruges/Amsterdam Travel

Hello Gladys,
Paris to Bruges (Brugge) is about 2.5-3hours with one train change. You can do a day trip to Ghent about 30 minute train ride. Antwerp is 1.5 hours away and is also possible as a day trip. Ghent will have more interesting sights than Antwerp. Antwerp is a more modern feeling port city (it was destroyed in WWII then rebuilt).

Here are some Bruges hotels from our Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels guidebook:

[$$] Hotel Patritius, family-run and centrally located, is a grand, circa-1830 Neoclassical mansion with hardwood oak floors in its 16 stately, high-ceilinged rooms. It features a plush lounge, a chandeliered breakfast room, and a courtyard garden. If you get a room at the lower end of the price range, this can be a great value (Db-€100-140, Tb-€140-165, Qb-€165-200, cheaper in off-season, rates depend on room size and demand--check site for best price, extra bed-€25, air-con, elevator, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, coin-op laundry, parking-€9/day, garage parking-€15/day, Riddersstraat 11, tel. 050-338-454, fax 050-339-634, www.hotelpatritius.be, [email protected], cordial Garrett and Elvi Spaey).

[$$] Hotel Cordoeanier, a charming family-run hotel, rents 22 simple, compact, hardwood-floor rooms on a quiet street two blocks off the Markt. It’s one of the best deals in town (Sb-€75-105, Db-€80-110, twin Db-€90-120, Tb-€110-150, Qb-€135, cheaper with cash if you show this book, breakfast buffet served in their pleasant Café Rose Red, no elevator, pay Internet access, free Wi-Fi, patio, Cordoeanierstraat 16-18, tel. 050-339-051, fax 050-346-111, www.cordoeanier.be, [email protected], Kris).

[$] Hotel Cavalier, with lots of stairs and lots of character, rents eight rooms decorated with quirky knickknacks; some units have remodeled bathrooms. The staff serves a hearty buffet breakfast in a once-royal setting (Sb-€60, Db-€73, Tb-€95, Qb-€105, 2 lofty en-suite “backpackers’ doubles” on fourth floor-€45-50, book direct and mention this book for special Rick Steves price, free Wi-Fi, Kuipersstraat 25, tel. 050-330-207, fax 050-347-199, www.hotelcavalier.be, [email protected], run by friendly Viviane De Clerck).

Happy Travels!

I prefer, along with many others, to stay in a B&B rather than a hotel in Bruges. I prefer the atmosphere, and the one-to-one service.

We stayed at the Dieltens B&B (also recommended in Rick's book) last November and loved it! Very central, wonderful hosts, and fantastic breakfasts! I would stay here again in a heartbeat. http://www.bedandbreakfastbruges.be/

I stayed at Diltiens in April 2002 and had a lovely stay. I'm glad to see from Dawn's post that it's still a great place. I'd definitely look to stay there again.

Gladys-
In July I enjoyed three nights here: is close to shops/etc., short walk to center of town from the end near the train station. Nice place, good price, good breakfast, friendly host. I recommend it:
http://www.hotelgroeninghe.be/

Consider AirBnB! We've lined up an adorable, clean whole apartmentin Ghent for 3 nights for $95 per night. Maybe it's because my husband and I were exchange students in our youth, but I consistently find my most memorable moments traveling are conversations with people who live there.

I recently talked up a student who was giving punting tours of the "college backs" here in Cambridge, England, a number of Scotts about their views on the independence vote, and got a great primer on what it's like to be a sheep farmer by the woman who owns a B&B by Highclere Castle. Very excited about our AirBnB line-up in Ghent, Amsterdam, and even our brief overnight in Northern Germany off the beaten trail. When you see hosts with many 5 star reviews, you can count on a great experience!

Chris

Consider staying in Ghent instead of Bruges. Lodging is cheaper, it's less touristy, and in the evenings thereare more options since it's a university town. It has a great medieval feeling, especially after dark when the buildings are floodlit.