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Please suggest trip route from Ghent-Venice

1) stay at Ghent ( 2 nights) as my base city, spend a day trip to Bruges, another day in Ghent. Then, train from Ghent to Brussels ( 1 N), then next day fly to Venice.

2) Ghent (3 nights) includes a day trip to Bruges, another day trip to Brussels. On day 4, Ghent-Brussel ( train), then Brussel-Venice by plane. Transfer twice on same day is it douable to catch plane on time.

Which option is more reasonable and I don’t travel back and forth and spend too much time on road. please specify the detail if possible.

Here is a link of how schedule looks, correct ?

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Ghent/Venice

Thanks

Posted by
21009 posts

What time is the flight from Brussels to Venice? I think we established that there are direct trains from Ghent to the airport. Anyway the flight departure time is the key. You should plan on arriving at the airport 2 hours before scheduled flight time to be safe.
I would only use Rome2Rio for a first estimation. Belgian rail has the schedule and something like sky scanner will tell you about flights.

Now that I look at it, there are 2 nonstop flights a day to Venice on Brussels Airlines for 81 to 93 EUR pp midweek in September. Book one of those, one is at 2:30 pm, so you just need to figure out how to get to the airport by 12:30. That "1 or 2 past the hour" train will get you there by noon, plenty of time.

Posted by
107 posts

BRU-VCE departs at 14:30 pm direct flight, arrival at 16:05 pm

Which option is more reasonable from your experience 1) vs 2)

Posted by
21009 posts

Go with option 1. I sense you will be more comfortable with that.

Posted by
1900 posts

I think option 2 is much more sensible. There's no need to relocate, and you can get a train from Ghent directly to the airport in Brussels. No risk of missing your flight.

Posted by
33613 posts

Gent and Brussel are too close to relocate for a single night, and getting to the airport is easy from Gent.

Number Two.

Next problem?

Posted by
107 posts

I agree, option 2 is better.

Now, I will stay in Utrecht 4 N. Then train to Ghent (4N). I will visit Bruges and Brussel on a day trip (one day a city), Does 4 nights sound reasonable and not rushing? Budget $ 200-250 cad/night. Sam mentioned that when visit Bruges and Brussels, I would catch Gent “ Sint Pieters main station), and when going to centre of Gent, catch “ Damport”.

In this case, which train station I should catch and get off for my accomdation ? what area (i.e. Ghent city centre ?) or perhaps name few hotels you could recommend for my 4N staying in Ghent, or anyone who has idea?

Then, the next morning, train from Ghent-Brussels airport (1h30 min appx) , Venice by plane. My flight departs at 14:30pm, arrive at airport around noon. Probably leaving hotel around 0830-0900 am.

3) buying train fare, you suggest to buy at courter upon arrival. Would we be benefit/ saving to buy train pass (discount, if any) or not much difference, just purchase ticket as we go.

4) Attached google link of train route (choose the 57 min travel time option, correct, as train departs 1 min after 9 am per schedule. From Gent-Sint-Pieters ,Kon. To Bruxelles-Midi, then to airport.

Which station/platform I would be waiting at Gent-Sint-Pieters physically, is there vision sign at the front of the train so I could keep eyes on, and any staffs to assist at the train station.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Station+Gent-Sint-Pieters,+Koningin+Maria+Hendrikaplein,+Ghent,+Belgium/Brussels+Airport+(BRU),+Leopoldlaan,+Zaventem,+Belgium/@51.0294931,3.8080797,10.04z/data=!4m18!4m17!1m5!1m1!1s0x47c373df9337351f:0x4ceda1a1bb234aed!2m2!1d3.7109366!2d51.0361237!1m5!1m1!1s0x47c3ddbec45275ed:0x24514e3e0e7f25e4!2m2!1d4.4855744!2d50.900999!2m2!7e2!8j1524645000!3e3!5i1

Nigel, we are going to Venice ( 3N), Florence (4N), Milan( 3-4N, not decided yet). Then fly from Milan to Vancouver. Do you feel the timeframe is plenty ? I visited Italy 15 years ago, it's more like revisit with my mom (her visit time). I will post separate posting under Italy forum. Any of your favour spots you can share with us.

Thanks

Posted by
2487 posts

You are worrying way too much! Most things will work out perfectly in practice.
1. It doesn't make much difference which station you take when arriving in Gent. Sint Pieters is the main station with all the facilities (including a tram to the city centre), but I understand that Dampoort also has a taxi stand to get you to your hotel.
2. I had once the very nice Hotel Erasmus. It's situated in a historical building, has a garden, sweet management, good breakfast and a 5-minute walk to the very city centre.
3. There is no pass or such a thing for the Belgian railways. But they do have cheap tickets for the weekends (return ticket for the price of a single) and cheap tickets for the over-65s (EUR 7 for the whole day after 9.00 AM). Ask the staff at the ticket window and they'll be most happy to give you the cheapest on offer. (That was the way I got aware of the weekend arrangement.)
4. You'll see how the station works when going for your day-trips to Brugge and Brussel (to use the Flemish spelling). The departing trains with their platforms numbers will be indicated on a display in the station hall and on yellow posters, and again on the platforms for the next train to arrive. It is all very fool-proof.
5 Please use the official site of the Belgian railways for departure times. (Being Belgium it is - besides English - in three languages.)

Posted by
21009 posts

I think the OP already has an apartment rented in Ghent.

Posted by
21009 posts

I guess you got to keep up the OP's 17 other threads.