Greetings...
I am flying into London in a week, then training to Bruges for 2 nights with my 20 yr old daughter. Any suggestions where to stay? I'd like to be on a canal, near town square or fairly close. Is the Eurostar the best way to get from London to Brussels/Bruges, then to Paris? Thanks fellow travelers!!
Katie
Try this. Small rooms but comfortable. Not on a canal but somewhat off the beaten path but still close to Markt and Berg.
Hans Memling Hotel
Kuipersstraat 18
8000 Brugge, België
hansmemling.be?
Hotel Adornes. Right on a canal, they have free bicycles to use, and they're just a few blocks from town center. http://www.adornes.be/
Thanks Mike & Sam! I'll check em' out! I can't wait to get back to Bruges! I spent part of my honeymoon there exactly 10 years ago. Beautiful town!
Best lodging experience in Bruges is a B&B. Rick lists several good ones in his guidebook, but don't recall if any are on a canal (mine weren't). For a fantastic yet reasonably priced dinner, try Tom's Diner. It's about a 10 minute walk from the town square, but well worth finding. Reservations are essential as it's small and fills up with locals.
Best train route from London may be Eurostar to Lille and then local train through Flanders to Bruges. Sometimes you have to change stations, but Lille's 2 stations are only a flat 5 minute walk apart. From Bruges to Paris, going through Brussels is usually quickest and easiest, although going through Lille may be less expensive as you avoid the high priced Thalys train. I saved about 60% on my last Thalys ticket by purchasing online in advance. I picked my ticket up at an SNCF office in Paris, but am uncertain about pick up spots in Belgium (maybe any train station).
Katie:
Bruges is one of my favorite places in all the world. You'll have a great time.
We stayed at a little B&B called Absoluut Verhulst. It's not on a canal, but it's a very short walk to town square.
The owners were wonderful. They made telephone calls to secure us a rental car after a public transit strike made our train trip out of town impossible and even delivered us to the rental agency. The breakfast was super and our room was clean and comfortable.
You can find it online at www.b-bverhulst.com.
Have a great trip.
Charlie
We stayed at Het Consulaat, which was fantastic.
Another vote for Hotel Adornes -- stayed there in 2000. Right on a canal and was an easy walk to the main squares and to the lace making center. The hotel has a lift & our room was up under the rafters and nicely decorated with a view right down on the canal.
We loved the 't Gerwin B&B - in Rick's book.
However, with short notice in what is rapidly becoming the busy summer season, you may have to settle for a second (or third...) choice.
If you want that "special" place to stay (one that's recommended and in great demand) you need to secure those rooms many months in advance.
Still, you'll be in Bruges. Even if your hotel doesn't quite match your fantasies, you can drown your sorrows in chocolate and beer.
I LOVE all your posts! Thank you everyone. We have our room set! Now just hoping the weather cooperates & ready to board the plane! Happy travels!
Another vote for Hotel Adornes. We were there 4 years ago & had a room under the eaves overlooking the canal. We also followed Rick's recommendations for food & chocolate & had a great 2 days in Bruges.
Hotel Fevery is a small, family run hotel in a nice quiet area about a 10 minute walk from the Market Square. Really nice people, very clean. Not really expensive either.