Belgium Sight seeing /Accomadations

[rodneyc8063]

Im hoping to take a trip for about 1-1.5 weeks over to Belgium and wanted to visit a friend.

Anyways, i was looking for some cheap places to stay and whats there to see/do over there?

As my friend is going to be at work im not expecting her to show me around too much except for after work, and shes living with her family there and rather not impose too much.

Any insight appreciated!

[jjj3663]

You can consider staying at a hostel.
A good website would be http://www.hostelworld.com/

I have only been to Bruxelles, so I can only speak for that,
but try out lots of beer, seafood, chocolate, and waffles. Have a gastronomic feast.

May be do a short side trip to Luxembourg as well. Both are small enough to get in and out.

And probably brush up on some French or German.

[Ben Jr]

Brugge, Ghent, Brussels, Dinant are some of the cities I'd suggest, pretty much in that order...course depends on method of transport. Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne are available via train within a 3 hr ride.

I'd skip Luxembourg, been twice and haven't found anything to do on either occasion.

Try a seafood dish called bouillabaise, some waterzoi chicken, belgian beer stew, moules...and by no means limit your intake of some of the finest beer in the world.
Some chocolatiers: Pierre Marcolini, Mary's, Neuhaus...+ many other private ones

Brussels public transit planner (http://www.stib.be/index.htm?guest_user=guest_en)
Belgian/International rail system (http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/)
Thalys highspeed trains (http://www.thalys.com/be/en/)
Eurostar highspeed trains (http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/_SvBoExpressBookingTerm?_TMS=1212650080268&_DLG=SvBoExpressBookingTerm&_LANG=UK&_AGENCY=ESTAR&lang=UK&country=BE&VT=EB)

[GangStarr]

I stayed at the 2 go 4 hostel. Not sure if they list on Hostelworld.com but its pretty central and VERY modern. Had a really nice design and I was overall happy with the place.

Brussels itself isn't that interesting, the waffles are good but the car museum sucks (with the best exhibits not translated in English).

Don't go to godiva for chocolates, thats the mcdonalds of the chocolate industry down there.

[jjj3663]

Don't go to godiva for chocolates, thats the mcdonalds of the chocolate industry down there.

Sooo true!!! There are so many fabulous chocolatier there. Yet Godiva chocolates are WAY over priced everywhere else.

[kama]

I'd definitely go to Brussels. Hello! Chocolate, belgian beer, waffles, french fries!!! I must've gained 10lbs in my 3 day stay! I spent a ridiculous amount of money bringing back fine chocolate and beer too!

I also loved Brugges - rustic and quaint. You dont need to spend more than a day here though. Ghent would be a day trip as well. If you have time, you could also do Antwerp - but there's not much to do there. You could have a look at the diamond district. It's really not all the jazz and the mark-ups are crazy. I wouldn't go back, but if you're around there you might as well.

Also, you dont have to stay in Belgium. Antwerp to Amsterdam is a 3 hr or so train ride, and it's very reasonably priced.

Also, we stayed at B&B's throughout. Paid 100euros or less per night and had great experiences with each and every one.