Traveling to Belgium...Papaver help!!!!

[indysteel]

One other question, Papaver. We're planning to depart Tuesday May 4th and return Saturday May 15th. I'm torn about how to split up the time and which city to go to first. On the assumption that we take a day trip to either Gent or Bruges (depending on which we choose for a base), how much time should be budget for Belgium? Do you think it's appreciably easier to fly or depart from either city? Flying into and out of Paris is a PITA if a recollect correctly!

[Cataboo]

A GPS will be handy. Load it up with the maps for Belgium & France before you go. I used mine driving in Scotland last year, and in Costa Rica a few months ago.

Just know that the GPS isn't quite a replacement for having a map and knowing where you're going - you can start blindly following those things down bizarre paths. And it can still be confusing which way you're supposed to go off a roundabout.

[tulip]

Indysteel, are you wanting to stay and visit cities only or get to little farms and countryside? If you are going to stay in the cities, definitely TAKE THE TRAIN!

If you decide you need a day in the country, the best thing to do is to take the train to a smaller town and rent a car from there.

But the best advice is to take the train and not drive. Trains are more convenient and a whole, whole, whole lot cheaper than renting a car. Renting a car is expensive because of the rental fees and tarifs (high), gas (like $8 gallon), tolls (very high--like $20 each time last time I was there), and parking (expensive and a total PITA).

So why would you want to drive, again??

[Grog]

I also agree that taking the train is the single best way to get around. You can always rent bikes and go for easy rides (it's pretty flat) on the country side without even having to go more than 20 km. Especially in Belgium.

Driving in Brussels or Paris would really, really ruin things for me. I've driven over about a third of France, but I have horrible memories of driving in Paris. The Velib' however is so much fun!

I'm very envious!

Some lovely Belgian images from my friend Hugues, perhaps the first photoblogger, who's still going strong after 14 years: http://www.fugitif.net/

[Grog]

p.s. I should say that for my husband the experience of taking the train in Europe was one of the most exotic things on his first trip there!

[Cataboo]

I have a picture of myself in the beguinage at about the same spot - except the daffodils were in bloom all over the yard.

[papaver]

And if you want to spend a day in the country, you can always ask me to drive you guys around. It's no biggie.

Maybe we can visit the most important places of the spring classics.

[papaver]

Oh yes and if you want to drive in Belgium.... ahum... there's one minor confusing thing. If you are in the french part of Belgium you'll have to follow the signs: Bruxelles, Anvers, Bruges, Louvain or Gand, depending if you want to go to Brussel, Antwerpen, Brugge, Leuven or Gent. The same goes for the dutch part of Belgium. If you want to visit Liège, Namur or Bastogne... you'll have to follow the signs Luik, Namen, Bastenaken.

Oh yes and we have another rather strange rule. If there is a street on your right, stop and let the other drivers coming from that street pass... Maybe Kris can explain you that one.