Bruges and Amsterdam

Daith

Hey folks, looking to book a trip to Amsterdam and Bruges (which seems easy enough to travel via rail).

Any sugesstions and where to stay (or hotels) in each city?

Cheers

schemingbohemia

Sorry OP but this does my head in, can people who are looking for advice on where to stay at least give some indication of a budget that they are willing to spend per night. It's pointless asking otherwise.

Tefral

Daith wrote: »

Hey folks, looking to book a trip to Amsterdam and Bruges (which seems easy enough to travel via rail).

Any sugesstions and where to stay (or hotels) in each city?

Cheers

Great trip by train actually.

Its 7 euro to go from brussels to Brige by train and it takes an hour.

We stayed in Maartins Bruge. Its bang smack in the centre just behind the main square.

In Amsterdam i stayed in the Park Plaza across from Centraal Station. http://www.parkplaza.com/amsterdam-hotel-nl-1012lg/netamst

and another time I was there I stayed in Citizen M (Not in Shipol) http://www.citizenm.com/amsterdam-city/

Both Lovely hotels, although the Victoria was handier as it was right in the thick of things.

Daith

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Sorry OP but this does my head in, can people who are looking for advice on where to stay at least give some indication of a budget that they are willing to spend per night. It's pointless asking otherwise.

Valid point but I don't know what type of budget would get somewhere decent in both? Like me saying oh €100 per night might end up in dump because for a decent place I'd should be looking at €200 per night. Or similar.

Which is why I was looking for suggestions where people have stayed before and work what my budget should be around if that makes sense?

mel.b

We stayed in a gorgeous B&B in Bruges called '1669' (for the year the building was built). Fantastic location, just a stone's throw from the main square.

ProudDUB

When we were there in December, we really wanted to stay in one of the hotels on or close to the main square. But we saved a ton of money by staying in a hotel about a 10 minute walk from the square. (Can't for the life of me remember the name of it. Sorry. It was in the St Walburga's church area.)

We walked to/from it along side one of the canals & some lovely old buildings. We also came across some really great restaurants and bars that locals ate at. They were far superior to the over priced, rather blah fare found in spots on the square that catered to tourists mainly.

On our first night there, we were a bit nervous walking back to it in the dark, but not so the second and third nights. In the cold light of day, the area in general seemed to be very well heeled and not at all dangerous. We felt perfectly safe from then on. So if you find something that is a bit off the beaten track, don't be afraid to go for it. You can safe your self a packet. That you can then spend in the chocolate shops.

Daith

Thanks folks!

joeysoap

getting confused by train transfers from Brussels (airport) to Bruges (Brugge)
different places suggest €20 round trip others up to €43 return, also some say you change in Brussels at Midi others Nord. Finally if you buy a return ticket do you have to say the time of the return train or is it flexible?

Julius Seizure

joeysoap wrote: »

getting confused by train transfers from Brussels (airport) to Bruges (Brugge)
different places suggest €20 round trip others up to €43 return, also some say you change in Brussels at Midi others Nord. Finally if you buy a return ticket do you have to say the time of the return train or is it flexible?

first of all it's best to know that in Belgium there are IC trains (Fasted, not many stops), IR trains (Semifast), L trains (all stops), and also some odd ones like P for peak time extras.

Trains from Bruss-Nat-Luchthaven (Airport) often run from Airport>Nord>Central>Midi>somewhere else.
Trains to Bruges often run from Elsewhere>Nord>Central>Midi>Ghent

Therefore you can change in Nord, Midi, or Central. Nord is a dump, Midi is nice but big so more platforms (22) and longer to change, Central is nice as it has 5 platforms so you can change really quickly. You also have the option of getting on a train from the Airport to De Panne, Getting off at Ghent-St.Pieters, and then getting onto a train to Bruges.

Times on tickets are all flexible.

Roughly what age bracket would you fit into? And when are you travelling? In Belgium there are often deals every summer where it's 7 single for anywhere in the country. Students who book online get that option at the price of 6 euro all year long. Also, there is a tax to use public transport at Brussels Airport (on all buses and trains) of 4 euro something to fund an access scheme so that's why it costs a bit more from the airport that from the city centre. This tax is each way.

You can use their journey planner here http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx, when it says you can change at nord/central/midi look a the details, you can often change at central. They'll give you one but it doesn't matter. You can make a personal timetable of all options including changes here http://www.belgianrail.be/p2w/sncb-nmbs-brochures/query-p2w.exe/en

would you be Going Brussels Airport > Bruges > amsterdam? ticketing would be different then as you don't go via Brussels airport to get to AMS.

Also, be weary of language. For example,

[LIST=1]
[*]Brux-Nat-Aeroport=Brussels-National=Brussel-Nationaal-Luchthaven
[*]Gare Brux-nord = Brussels North = Brussel-Noord
[*]Gare Brux-Centrale = Brussels Central = Brussel-Centraal
[*]Gare Brux-Midi = Brussels South = Brussel-Zuid
[/LIST]

Note how midi = south/zuid

This all looks quite confusing but you can always get on a train to dePanne and change at Gent, or else get on a train towards Midi and change at any Brussels Station. There's generally at least an IC train every half an hour so it doesn't matter if you miss one, I never bother with timetables I just show up

joeysoap

Thanks JS, great answer, little bit clearer now. travelling in May, for midweek break. Not travelling to Amsterdam (that was a different poster:)) age: middle of the road, too old for concessions, to young for concessions, got confused with all the changes, ages, platforms on offer.(last year I booked a flight into Lisbon, few days there and then took the train down to Faro, absolute breeze compared with Belgian railway site - and a lot cheaper for a much longer journey )

Basically: purchase a return ticket at Brussels airport (thanks for that name, would have struggled with it) and depending on time of travel get off at whatever station is mentioned on the ticket (nord/midi/central) and find the platform named on that particular journey at nord/midi/central to continue journey to Brugge. Like the idea of going direct to Ghent but would dependon time of travel by the looks of things

* even if Nord is a dump if the schedule names the platform to catch the train to brugge will probably stick to that as I won't know what the platform to go to for that particular time at the other stations (if you know what I mean)

cheers and thanks

Julius Seizure

joeysoap wrote: »

Thanks JS, great answer, little bit clearer now. travelling in May, for midweek break. Not travelling to Amsterdam (that was a different poster:)) age: middle of the road, too old for concessions, to young for concessions, got confused with all the changes, ages, platforms on offer.(last year I booked a flight into Lisbon, few days there and then took the train down to Faro, absolute breeze compared with Belgian railway site - and a lot cheaper for a much longer journey )

Basically: purchase a return ticket at Brussels airport (thanks for that name, would have struggled with it) and depending on time of travel get off at whatever station is mentioned on the ticket (nord/midi/central) and find the platform named on that particular journey at nord/midi/central to continue journey to Brugge. Like the idea of going direct to Ghent but would dependon time of travel by the looks of things

* even if Nord is a dump if the schedule names the platform to catch the train to brugge will probably stick to that as I won't know what the platform to go to for that particular time at the other stations (if you know what I mean)

cheers and thanks

Yeah, only the ticket won't tell you where to change but the train announcements are also in English in the airport so they'll say where it stops at and you can get out at any of those common points be it Nord, Central, Midi, or Ghent, from there just look for the next Brugges train

joeysoap

Julius Seizure wrote: »

Yeah, only the ticket won't tell you where to change but the train announcements are also in English in the airport so they'll say where it stops at and you can get out at any of those common points be it Nord, Central, Midi, or Ghent, from there just look for the next Brugges train

Thanks JS, yep, understand that ok. Probably the early Aer Lingus on a Tuesday morning, I was going to take a note of different platforms etc in Brussels (n/c/m) on the website before departure, however central seems best and just listen out for the train or station announcements. The through service to Ghent appears easier but 17 mins at Ghent probably outweighs Brussels change. Many thanks again for you informative replies, much appreciated.

dissed doc

Daith wrote: »

Hey folks, looking to book a trip to Amsterdam and Bruges (which seems easy enough to travel via rail).

Any sugesstions and where to stay (or hotels) in each city?

Cheers

For Amsterdam stay around the museum districht. E.g., around PC Hoofdstraat and Oud Zuid. Around Centraal Station is like staying on Talbot Street after arriving at Connolly. If you want that experience then you will get it, but otherwise, museum area or else jordaan (e.g., around Westerstraat).

Cointreau

In Bruges last feb we stayed in Hotel Oud Huis de Peelleart - great location and lovely rooms. The breakfasts were especially great. Think it was around 80e a night.

joeysoap

Cointreau wrote: »

In Bruges last feb we stayed in Hotel Oud Huis de Peelleart - great location and lovely rooms. The breakfasts were especially great. Think it was around 80e a night.

looks like you scored a bargain there Cointreau: looks fabulous, only junior suite left for our dates ( have already booked but nosey ) and they are looking for €630 for the two nights for that room.

booked this place for €230 for the two nights, looks nice, time will tell.

http://www.egmond.be/en/index.html

Cointreau

Hah! Just checked the bill and we actually paid around €115 a night - shows what a memory for money i've got. Was lovely though.

The egmond looks lovely. If it's where I think it is (near the Begijnhof?) that's a lovely spot.

If you get a chance, I'd really recommend a visit to the Cafe Rose Red (we went for the beer but they do food too). Was a bit of a b****** to find but well worth it, especially the taster set. The barmen were brilliant too. We stayed there for hours.

For some reason we never did the brewery tour, but apparently that's well worth doing too.

joeysoap

Cointreau wrote: »

Hah! Just checked the bill and we actually paid around €115 a night - shows what a memory for money i've got. Was lovely though.

The egmond looks lovely. If it's where I think it is (near the Begijnhof?) that's a lovely spot.

If you get a chance, I'd really recommend a visit to the Cafe Rose Red (we went for the beer but they do food too). Was a bit of a b****** to find but well worth it, especially the taster set. The barmen were brilliant too. We stayed there for hours.

For some reason we never did the brewery tour, but apparently that's well worth doing too.

Thinks its not to far from that place , very near something called minnewater, cross the road at the train station, go into the park, cross a little bridge and the hotel is right there. (using google earth )

will give the Cafe Rose Red a spin, can't be bad having a taster set. Hopefully will get in a tour of the brewery (only 1 hour or so)as its not far from where the hotel is and I think we more or less pass it on way into the centre.

cheers

snickerpuss

Stayed in the Bonobo Aparthotel in Bruges. 2 mins from main square, had a lovely big apartment with a kitchenette, little garden terrace etc. Was €80 a night. Loved Bruges, great for chats, beer, bike rides and meandering!

ollaetta

Have to put a shout in for the Ter Duinen Hotel in Bruges. A short walk from the main square with the friendliest and most helpful staff I've come across in a long time.

And the breakfasts are fabulous!

elperello

In Amsterdam try the Amsterdam Wiechmann, very atmospheric, lovely location.

joeysoap

Now we got the train (and hotel sorted)

next question:

anybody purchase/use this card and is it worth it at €40 per person

http://www.bruggecitycard.be/musea_en.html

Includes some of the attractions we will undoubtably use/visit ie belfry tower (€8) trip on canal (€7.50) halfe man brewery (7.50) Beguine's House (€2) Basilica of Holy Blood (€2)

and some we might visit (probably because they are included) but would probably skip under other circumstances: Chocolate Museum (€7) Historium Brugge (€11) Church of Our Lady with Michelangelo painting (€6) Dali Galllery (€10) and lastly but highly unlikely chip museum (€6) and diamond polishing (9.50) both of which I suspect are diddly eye jobbies.

card appears good value but we are not that into museums, and soon get tired of what appears to us is the same old stuff.

joeysoap

Back last week from lovely break in Brugge , Bought the Bruges card and used it quite a bit, Belltower, Historia, Choco story, boat ride, brewery tour, Beguin few museums and churches and guide book thrown to boot. Never saw so many chocolate shops or different types of beer in my life. Personally found food not fantastic,(one place on trip advisor which gets rave reviews has an internet special of €79.40 pp - with supplementary add ons!! ):eek: . We loved Bruges though. Hotel was certainly differrent - after 6pm the guests were left on their own as all staff had gone home. We loved it!!

Didn't get to cafe rose red, but did find a little gem near the hotel (One).

Transport: We arrived on the early A/L and caught the 9.51 to Gent, and connecting train to Bruges. (the hotel was 5 minutes through a park from station) This leg of the journey was so smooth I stupidly thought Belgian Rail was efficient. Wrong. In Bruges station waiting for return train, total confusion, trains running late all over the shop, announcements - if you could hear them were impossible to understand. Anyway got off in Gent again to catch the connecting train to Brussels airport direct. Now it transpired that this train was also running late and when I enquired off a railway staff which train was going to the airport he just said he didn't know. Asked another and he said the 2nd next train to pass through was going to the airport. wrong. it didn't but at least we got off in Brussels Central and sorted out the last bit ourselves. Many trains pass through Brussels central going to the airport (as JS explained) but when they start running late it causes confusion (confused me anyway) ie next train to the airport is due at platform 3 at 19:00 but different trains are running late so you are not sure what train is arriving at platform 3 at 19:00, but unlikely the one going to the airport as it's probably running late as well but by how much???

Anyway Belgian Rail didn't spoil a lovely little break. Their trains are really comfortable, didn't see anybody standing, but when their timetable goes wrong it really goes wrong. Maybe just a bad day.