Parking in Brugge and Paris

Have you checked details by type of train? I wonder if the TGVs might still be running. We were just in Italy and there was a strike one of the days and I was told that high speed trains and trains going to neighboring countries would still run. Perhaps that might be the same for France. I would definitely want a car for Normandy.

In Paris there are underground parking garages all over the city; check with your hotel on the one most convenient. Or go on line -- you can reserve space ahead. They are of course expensive. We had no trouble finding parking in Brugge, but that was many years ago -- I would check there with the hotel you intend to use for advice; they might have their own parking or a lot they can reserve spaces in. WE have encountered that in smaller cities like Strasbourg.

International train services are rarely heavily affected by strikes. I said rarely, not 'never'. So I would keep or book those train tickets to Bruges, and I would also book a refundable car. Auto Europe, a good broker, has a 48 HR cancellation policy, which gives you plenty of time to assess the situation when the strike begins on Dec 5.

The area between Brussels and Brugge is subject to considerable highway traffic delays, especially on business days. If there were to be a train strike, the traffic would be that much worse. I would make alternate plans-say for Eastern France. Just for example, Perouges is every bit as magical as Brugge (but has little art on the walls.) But if you think this is your only chance to ever visit Brugge, I'd be tempted to take a French train to somewhere near the border and try to approach Brugge along the coast by car. (I have not done this.)

This is an extended-length trip for you, but I don't think Normandy and Brugge pair well on a single trip, location wise. (I have been to both places.)

Driving in downtown Paris is a frightening nightmare, to be avoided at all costs. (I drive in New York City at least twice a week, and I have driven in Los Angeles and in Boston.) I'm sure no hotel in Paris has free parking, or even a proprietary garage.

@Tim: the train strike is in France, not in Belgium.

Parking in Bruges is always difficult. The city has (had when I was last there, haven't chaecked recently) two parking zones, the white one and the blue one. You need the online map from the TI to know which is which because it isn't on roadsigns.

Don't ignore the zones.

Many people park at the station, I sometomes park there and there are two more underground parkings I use at Astrid and at the underground lot at 't Zand.

Station is easy.

The parking lot at the station in Bruges is very cheap: €0.70 /h with a maximum of €3.50 / 24h, others way more expensive. If you have no mobility issues and prepaired to walk or take the bus, street parking (for free) is an option just outside the historical centre. I think parking overnight this way in general is safe, but first follow the advise of the hotel or B&B you are going to stay.

Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels is a Thalys train, not SNCF.

Thalys is part owned by the SNCF. Thalys operations in France use SNCF employees, those that will likely be striking on December 5th. It would be a mistake to assume that Thalys or Eurostar schedules will not be affected by striking SNCF employees.

Thanks for the correct info Tocard. I'll delete my post so others aren't misled.