Best Way To Get To Bastogne

The closest town with passenger rail service is Libramont. From there, you would need to take a bus to Bastogne. Buses to do not run all that frequently.

You have two choices: 1. A Thalys train from Gare du Nord in Paris to Brussels, an IC train to Libramont, and a bus to Bastogne. 2. A TGV from Gare de l'Est in Paris to Luxembourg, an IC train to Libramont, and a bus to Bastogne. See the detailed timetables on the German Rail site.

Many thanks, Tim and Tom. My wife, however, says the bus is a no-go. I guess we'll have to stick to the taxicab from Luxembourg to Bastogne. Even if it's over $100 each way, I think we'll still save some money over renting a car. The car would cost $233 for the rental, plus $26 for two nights parking in the hotel garage in Bastogne, and about $30 for gas. That comes out to almost $300. I wouldn't think a cab would cost that much.

Is there a reason she doesn't want to try a bus? We have found bus service great in Europe, very clean and easy to use.

Morris, I feel like I have so much to say to you. I'll presume you are a WWII buff. Not sure how much additional time you'll have but I personally think renting a car is WORTH the additional cost; there are so many little museums in and around Bastogne you'll have memories to last a lifetime. If "Band of Brothers" has helped motivate this trip, you'll want to drive around this area. Rick Steve's suggests a certain guide for Bastogne, can't remember his name without my notes. If you do rent a car be sure and get GPS, Belgium is tough to navigate in this area. Also, a visit to SPA, Belgium and one night stay at Radisson Hotel on the hill and take advantage of their facilities will invigorate your trip and marriage. Also, if you get a chance, try to locate portions of the Siegfried line that still exist, some near Aachen near the Belgium border. If you need further suggestions on this matter, send me a private message. Good Luck, you'll be in WWII heaven.

Is there any particular reason why your wife can't handle a bus ride that takes less than 40 minutes?

I agree with Jim's post above. I thought it was very convenient to have a car in the area. We spent more time than I expected in what Rick calls the best museum of the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg, tho we stayed in Bastogne. ( restaurant connected to the Collin hotel was excellent BTW). Trains are fine but I do enjoy driving cars and - for example- looking for the trenches outside town, going to the star shaped memorial, etc. We flew into Brussels, recovered from jetlag and picked up a nice sedan, saw Waterloo and Dunkirk and much of the Ardennes, went to castles,Delft,Haarlem, Brugges, the beaches, returned the car in Amsterdam and the - off fee was only $100 or $150, 2 summers ago. Yes, super CDW insurance is as much as the car rental, get it anyway. There is a huge difference in seeing eveything you read about at your own pace, and perhaps your wife would be more comfortable? Also, I think your idea of cab fare for $100 is way, way off base. Luxembourg is not huge but the road from Bastogne to Diekirche where the best Battle of the Bulge museum, for example, is gorgeously hilly with beautiful views. There is a memorial to Patton on the road worth the 5 minute look.

BTW, there is a very good tourist info office in the town square in Bastogne, the only building in the parking lot, near the tank.
We stayed at the Hotel Collin and recommend it- great breakfast spread,modern bathrooms and decent sized rooms with wifi. Their connected restaurant has well priced and well seasoned variety of entrees, in the midst of a cafe scene on the square. Request a top floor room so the weekend cafe chatter does not annoy.

I absolutely agree with encouraging you to get to Diekirch in Luxembourg for the National Museum of Military History whose (always under construction) website is at http://www.nat-military-museum.lu/museum/index.php. I have been to many military museums in many countries and the MNHM is one of the very best I have seen. Don't be put off by the website. The whole museum is staffed by volunteers and I bet the website is too. Three hours wasn't enough time to see it all. There is a huge collection of equipment of all types, large and small, from all sides in the battle, fantastic dioramas using the actual words of the participants, each diorama really puts you in the position of combatants of both sides. If you are interested in the Battle of the Ardennes, known to Americans as the Battle of the Bulge, you owe it to yourself to go to Diekirch. Easiest with a car, really.

Okay. I did some more looking, and found a deal on a rental car that is only about half the cost of the price I was quoted earlier ($115 for two days versus $233). So it looks like my best choice is renting a car. This will give us the flexibility to explore places that we would otherwise miss. Thanks all!

Morris, now I need your HELP.....explain how you rented a car for 2 days at that incredible rate.

Budget Rent-a-Car in Luxembourg, getting the cheapest thing they have. About $58 a day

Morris-- price the car rental insurance! There have been threads on this forum about credit card coverage versus that offered by the car company, do please inform yourself and decide before you get to the counter.

Thanks, Melissa! I pay for my car rentals through AmEx, which automatically adds a ton of coverage. It doesn't cost much, either. I've used it for a couple of years and have never had a problem with rental agencies adding coverage that I neither wanted nor needed.