The more I read about bag snatching, aggressive robbery etc. at Bruxelles-Midi, the more worried I am. I know I am going off the deep end when I started googling about Eurolines. We are travelling with our 6 yr old. Is the crime bad enough that we should forget Belgium altogether?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32821 posts
No.
Posted by
Antwerp
34 posts
No.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7327 posts
No. To give you a more detailed reply, I've been there once in each of the last three years because I use Thalys/Eurostar trains. It's actually an attractive station-my objection is that the TI desks never seem to be staffed. If you are posting here, you must be a Rick Steves reader. He has intelligent, level-headed things to say about crime in various countries, including the United States. Only because you mentioned your 6-year old, I want to point out the Americans who ask Dear Abby whether they should put the child into the SUV before the groceries and risk a car-jacking of the baby. The chance that the shopping cart will be hit in the parking lot is millions of times greater than the chance that your car will be taken with the baby strapped into the child seat. You need to worry about the right things, like whether your pocket will be imperceptibly picked on a jammed tram car, or that you will lose your passport with no criminal involved. Rick covers those issues.
Posted by
OP
Virginia
4 posts
Tim, you crack me up! Okay, will forget about the bus and Eurostar that is. Thanks!
Posted by
Marin, CA
527 posts
We just went through Bruxelles-Midi last month and other than trying to orientate ourselves and there not being much help we saw nothing disconcerting. Boarding the train was a bit chaotic. We are experienced travellers and do stay conscience of our surroundings. A man in the hotel did say that he'd lost his wallet the night before and didn't even know until he went to pay a taxi. Having been there twice in the last few years we've had a fine day but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit. We pass through on our way to Brugge which we really enjoy. We did take Eurolines a few years back I believe from Prague to Vienna and it was fine.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32214 posts
WY, I've also heard the stories about Brussels Midi and Central, and posted a Thread here on that topic recently. Have a look at www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/68441/has-anyone-noticed-more-theft-problems-in-brussels-lately.html for the details. I'll be there in late August, but not anticipating any problems. I refuse to let the scammers dictate my travel plans! I figure if I follow my usual "security" methods, I should be fine. Happy travels!