This would be our first trip with RS in 2025. What are your favorite sights? How would you rate the hotels? We’re active adults but “What to expect” mentions no elevator and possible weak AC. Any tips would be appreciated.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14815 posts
What month will you be doing the tour?
I did it in an April and was blown away by the visit to Keukenhof.
Other favorites:
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece at the cathedral in Ghent by Van Eyck. The augmented reality program in the crypt was awesome.
The transit day from Ghent to Bruges thru the WWI cemeteries and battlefields was really interesting.
Bruges…always!
I surprisingly enjoyed the transit day to Delft with the tour of the Maeslant barrier. I’m not much on industrial type sights but this was quite good.
I love the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Both amazing. Get tickets to the Van Gogh Museum ahead of time if it’s of interest to you.
Do plan to get to Ghent at least a day ahead. My tour stayed at Hotel Harmony which I love. I’ve stayed there since on my own. Fabulous breakfast buffet and I am not a breakfast eater!
I think all my hotels had elevators but I pack light so can get my bag up a few flights.
Posted by
977 posts
We just took the same tour; it was our third RS tour. We loved it! Are you going in the spring? Because the flowers at Keukenhof are amazing; but of course this is seasonal. Our accommodations in Ghent, Brugges and Amsterdam were marvelous. Very, very nice. Delft's hotel was totally quirky and the only hotel I was ever disappointed in; out of all 3 tours combined. It was a great location, but just not great. It did not have working elevator, but the hotel had someone from the hotel to carry it up for us. (That's not the norm on the tours; as you normally are on your own for your luggage) It's a nonstarter for you, as the 2025 Itinerary accommodations are in Rotterdam instead of Delft. On your free afternoon in Rotterdam, plan to take the watertaxi to Kinderdijk. We thoroughly enjoyed it on our free afternoon!
No elevator and weak AC is standard commentary for all RS tours. I don't think any of us were seeking AC in Belgium and the Netherlands; plenty cool; so I don't recall if the hotels had AC, but all were well appointed and modern rooms in great locations.
I think it's a nice tour to get your feet wet on! You'll have a wonderful time.