Hello:
I have a question regarding the initial train travel associated with this tour.
I believe you have to take a train from the airport in Brussels to Ghent.
If anyone has taken the tour - was the train travel straight forward - easy to access from the airport - do you have to pre purchase the train tickets?
I am considering taking this trip in the near future and I will be a solo trarveller.
Many thanks!
There are direct trains from BRU to Ghent so it shouldn't be hard. I never bought any of my train tickets in Belgium ahead of time, always bought them on the day of travel. But, I only took the train from BRU to Brussels, not to Ghent. Hopefully someone will chime in on whether you have to prepurchase tickets. I don't like having to prepuchase train tickets from my landing airport because it's so hard to judge what time to get the ticket for, since you are at the mercy of the airlines and weather about when you actually arrive.
Along with Nancy's info, this might be helpful?
https://visit.gent.be/en/good-know/practical-information/how-reach-ghent/ghent-plane
But, I only took the train from BRU to Brussels, not to Ghent.
Nancy, I think that you meant that you took the train from Bruges to Brussels airport, or from Brussels airport airport to Bruges?
Yes, I meant from Brussels airport to Brussels.
I just checked to make sure but the prices on the Belgium Intercity trains are the same price if booked ahead or for today, so you do not need to do anything ahead of time.
I would download the SNCB app and just book the next train once you get thru Immigration and Customs. You can also go to a ticket window and purchase. If you are nervous, have typed out the train station which is "Gent St. Pieters".
https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
I have not done this train journey but it will be very easy and straightforward. I came in from Paris to Gent via Brussels and even changing trains in Brussels Midi station is not difficult. There are plenty of people who speak tourist English who can help you if needed.
I do all of my RS tours as a solo including this one. I had a wonderful time! It is a great tour and I highly recommend it. I might have mentioned this before but if you can, go in at least 1-2 days ahead of the tour start just to cover any travel hiccups that might happen. I love the Hotel Harmony if that is where you will stay. Awesome breakfast buffet even for a non-breakfast eater like myself. Who can resist chocolates for breakfast?
editing to add: I just looked back on your posting profile and see you enjoy France...so Paris is a wonderful pre-quel to this tour, hahaha. VERY easy to take the Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels and then the intercity out to Ghent/Gent. IF you do that, book on the Belgium train site as you will get the trip to Gent included on the itinerary. Here's a link to my TR from April 2019 - so pre-covid.
Ah. OK Nancy, I got it now! :O)
Between Kathy’s post and mine there is currently a spam post with a dumb embedded link. I’ve reported it and will try to remember to delete this post when the webmaster get to the spam.
I took this trip last March. We flew into Brussels and spent 2 and 1/2 days there before going to Bastogne. From Bastogne, we took the bus to Liege and the train to Ghent. We stayed at the Brussels Hilton Grand Place (used Hilton points). It was a great location. The Grand Place was a 5 minute walk. The main train station was across the street. There were multiple people in the station that spoke English and were very helpful. We bought tickets for the following day in Brussels and bought tickets for immediate travel in Liege. The Rick Steves people will give you directions from the train station in Ghent to your first hotel by way of local bus/tram. We were exhausted when we arrived in Ghent and just took a taxi to our hotel. It was reasonably priced and very quick. This is a wonderful trip especially if you visit in late March or anytime in April. Keukenhof gardens are spectacular!
