My son and I are planning a trip for spring of 2021. We will likely go on a GAS tour starting in Trier. My son want to see the foxholes in The Ardennes and other other sites in Bastogne.
My plan is to fly into Brussels, take train/bus to Bastogne. I am not willing to rent a car. I would like to hire a private guide (with car) to drive us about and teach us more about the history. Stay in Bastogne one or 2 nights. Then, take a bus then train to Luxemborg where we will stop for lunch and a look around, then train the rest of the way to Trier.
Do you have any advice for me?
I have a name, Robby Clam, as a good area guide.
Posted by
3459 posts
In September 2019, My husband and I went to Bastogne to see Battle of the Bulge sites. We hired Reg Jans for two days, and it was worth every single Euro it cost. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest ground battle in the history of the US Army, so there is a lot to see. I wrote a trip report about this experience for this Forum. I'm not sure why I picked Reg over Roby Clam, but I don't recall any substantive negative information about Roby. To get Reg, you need to book well in advance.
We were coming from Reims; didn't want to rent a car; and I was uneasy about transferring from the train to a bus to get to Bastogne - there is no train service to Bastogne. So we took a train to Luxembourg and hired Shuttle Direct to take us from the Luxembourg train station to the Hotel Melba in Bastogne, and the return. This was expensive, but not outrageously so. The Shuttle Direct wrangler called me as we were stepping off the train and stayed on the phone with me until we could see each other. There was construction and a demonstration by the station, so the car couldn't just pull up to the entrance. The return trip was just as seamless - the same nice driver in a new Mercedes wagon for both legs of the journey.
https://www.shuttledirect.com/en/
We spent three nights at the Hotel Melba. What it lacks in "character", it makes up for in being up date, clean, convenient, and run by very nice people.
https://hotel-melba-bastogne.booked.net/
Just around the corner from the Melba is the 101st Airborne Museum. This is an excellent small museum which I highly recommend.
Posted by
OP
Ohio
1606 posts
Thank you EP, very valuable information I can use!
Posted by
Atlanta
80 posts
We did a day tour with Roby Clam in 2017 and were very pleased with his services. In Bastogne we stayed Hotel Leo and liked it as well.
Posted by
OP
Ohio
1606 posts
Thank you Gerard!