September trip to Belgium & Scotland

Woinparis

I love that you used the Flemish for Ghent and Bruges, and the French for Brussels. C'est trop belge!

Motorgirl

For the time on Islay between the airport and cottage, I'd say get the car for that period as well. Just had a look at my trusty road atlas and the airport is in the middle of nowhere, half way between Port Ellen and Bowmore. Even getting the car for a little look around, getting the provisions in at the supermarket, liable to be The Co operative, may be worth it. As for Glasgow to Glasgow Airport at that time - taxi. Book this in advance. If you hail on the street, in UK legal parlance a Hackney Carriage, this will cost double or more to a booked carry only.

Glasgow Taxis is the one my employers have their contract with. Others are available, and probably better, but these are ours.

Book. If you hail, a boundary charge will apply. A Glasgow City Council registered taxi cannot ply for trade in Renfrewshire which is the council area the airport is in, so if you do not book you will be paying for them to get back home. Booking saves £20 or £30.

My only thoughts are...

1. Brussels to Glasgow via train. Hmmm. As much as I enjoy train travel, that sounds like a pretty long day to me. I'd check for low-cost flights and see if the time/cost tradeoffs look better.

2. You mention that you have not bought your ticket yet for the flight to/from Europe, this is for a trip in September. Ordinarily, I'd say jump on a good fare if you see one now (I like to book well in advance so I can make solid plans). That said, with all the recent sad news out of Europe (with more probably to come) I know that tourist bookings are down a bit, and I would not be surprised if prices (especially on flights to Brussels, sadly) stay soft for a bit.

Scotland in late September (and Iceland, too)...be prepared for some weather...

I'm guessing you're planning on flying Icelandair. If you're not already on their e-mail list, sign up. They run periodic specials, so if you're not absolutely in a rush to purchase your flights, and if your stopover is going to be more than part of a day, you might be getting an e-mail promotion from them throwing in a free trip to a hot springs spa or some other perk with your flight booking.

Also, sign up for their Saga Club. You might never earn as many Saga points as you have Hilton points, but it wouldn't hurt. Happy travels.

woinparis – Thank you for linking to the Brussels photos – beautiful!

MC: I will look at booking with Glasgow taxis for the early morning trip to the airport. I’ve downloaded the app, which will make booking easy. I’m seriously considering your first-day-car advice for Islay. I am also looking at one of the half-day tours run by the island taxi companies. That would keep us occupied for a good portion of the day.

David: Brussels to Glasgow via train – yes, likely to be long BUT I really really want to take the Eurostar through the chunnel. I’m unlikely to be talked out of it short of someone handing me a free flight. Weather in Scotland & Iceland in late September – we’ve been to Islay in October and to Iceland in late December, so we are ready. :-D

Cyn – good point in signing up with the Icelandair Saga club – we did so and also input our December trip so that we got points for it.

Quick follow up on developments since March.

Everything that needs to be set in stone has been.

Sept 9 – Fly BOS-KEF-BRU
Sept 10 – arrive in BRU 1pm-ish and see some sights in a sleep-deprived fog. Staying at the Hilton Grand Place using Hilton points.
Sept 11 – Brussels - A Dutch friend will hop over to Brussels to hang out with us
Sept 12 – Ghent or Bruges
Sept 13 – Ghent or Bruges or Brussels
Sept 14 – train(s) to Glasgow (Eurostar to London, East Coast/Virgin to Glasgow) arriving 5pm-ish
Sept 15-16 – Glasgow – meeting up with a friend who lives in Bristol for these days, we have booked a flat very near George Square
Sept 17 – travel to Islay (fly GLA-ILY). We arrive at 9:30am and have booked the Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 tour where you can fill your own bottle from the cask. Then stopping at Caol Ila (Caol Ila & Bunnahabhain are the 2 distilleries we missed on our last trip to Islay), Bowmore for lunch & grocery shopping and possibly stop in at the distillery. Check in at the cottage near Lagavulin is at 4pm
Sept 18-22 – Islay - Just the 2 of us. We don't have a schedule in mind but some things we might do are: explore the ruins of Dùn Naomhaig castle near our cottage, rent bikes, visit Lagavulin, Laprhoaig & Ardbeg (all within an easy walk of our cottage), maybe a guided wildlife walk with Islay Outdoors and a bit of geocaching. Also some sitting around doing nothing.
Sept 23 – travel to Reykjavik (fly ILY-GLA-KEF) arriving 5pm-ish
Sept 24-25 – Reykjavik – meeting up with a friend, we have booked an Airbnb for our stay. We haven't decided what to do in Iceland other than eat hot dogs.
Sept 26 – Fly KEF-BOS

I suggest doing the Golden Circle Tour while in Iceland.

Did you look at flying ??
British Airways BA391
09:40 BRU Brussels International
09:55 LHR London Heathrow
British Airways BA1482
12:00 LHR London Heathrow
13:30 GLA Glasgow International

Consider your 3 days in Belgium ...
Sept 11 – Bruges all day
Sept 12 – Brussels, then to Ghent late am
Sept 13 – Brussels, then to Antwerp late am

We just got back from a conference in Glasgow. Our hotel was next to the convention center, so prices aren't the same, but a taxi to the airport was 22£. We loved Waxy O'Connors, the Kelvingrove Museum and the Hop On/Off bus ( runs about every 10 minutes). I wish we had gone to the Transport Museum, as every taxi driver raved about it.

I would also recommend Antwerp in Belgium and certainly Edinburgh and Scottish Highlands in Scotland.

Travelling through the Channel Tunnel is not that interesting - you don't even get to see the coasts. I would suggest flying as well.

If you do decide to travel by train, make sure you get a train to Glasgow from London Kings Cross, as it is literally across a street from St Pancras where the Eurostar arrives.

Sounds like a great trip.

When I flew to BRU on Icelandair, I spent about 5 hours there before heading to Ghent, where I was staying. So in spite of your sleep-deprived fog, I think you can really get a great overview of the city on that day. Then you'll be able to determine how much more time you want to spend seeing sights in Brussels versus spending your days in other places. You don't have to decide in advance what to do each day.

My only suggestion, if you're an early riser, as I am (especially when on vacation), is to start your day going to your chosen day-trip destination. That way you will have the freedom to spend as little or as much of the day as you choose in Ghent, Bruges, or Antwerp (or anywhere else you decide to go). And I second the advice to include Antwerp. If you're really enjoying yourself, you won't feel pressured to get back to Brussels before you've had time to see what you want to see. And if you aren't impressed, you can always head back to Brussels early.

Enjoy!

As always this forum is full of people willing to give good advice and share their experience. I can't thank you all enough!
When we are traveling I often recall "so-and-so liked this site" or "this site got lukewarm reviews" on the Rick Steves forums.

geovagriffith - Golden Circle is on the list, thank you!

djp_syd & Philip - I freely admit that flying is more logical than taking the train between Brussels and Glasgow, HOWEVER, as a teen in the 80s I became fascinated by the Chunnel (and all things English), and darn it all I am going to travel through it! :-D We are committed to a full day Sunday in Brussels because an old friend has that day free to meet up with us, but I am taking your Antwerp suggestion under advisement.

djp_syd & Ilja - If you had to choose 2 of Bruges, Antwerp & Ghent which would you choose?

Ilja - thank you for the Edinburgh & Highlands recs. We spent several days in Edinburgh last visit and loved it! We have yet to make it to the highlands but will on another trip. Quality peaceful time on Islay is a major focus of this trip.

Philip - We're leaving for Glasgow out of Euston, which is only a few short blocks from St Pancras. Leaving from Kings X required a train change. We will be traveling light so the short walk won't be an issue.

Lane - Like you I prefer to depart for my destinations early. Up, shower, out the door and onto a train puts me in commute mode.

Antwerp is exciting, working city with a lot to see. It's not just for tourists as Bruges is. Ghent and Bruges are gems. Bruges is more touristy. I would not like to skip any of them.

Ilja - That's what I am afraid of. I guess this will mean another future Belgium trip. Such hardships. :)

Belgium has frequent, cheap, no reservation local trains. There is zero need to change hotels for this visit to Belgium. The only annoyance is queuing for tickets because your credit card won't work in the ticket machines alomg the wall.