Belgium Travel Thread

[BusinessSloth]

Starting to look like I'll be back in Brussels/Belgium around early/mid February again in 2017. You know I always love meeting other TB'ers and sharing stuff, spit, and sechsual favors in the bathroom at Cantillon.

Hit me up.

 

[factory1]

Trip with the wife to Europe next week. She is a Harry Potter fan. We will do the Harry Potter tour in London but spend less than a day there otherwise. So it is officially her trip but guess what, Brussels is less expensive so that means loons. Lots and lots of loons.

Most of the time will be in Belgium. Brussels for obvious reasons. Other likely day trip city candidates:

- Bruges
- Lille
- Cologne

Looking for suggestions for other day trip cities or feedback on this being a solid list. Again, beer is a big part of the trip (for both of us). We don't really care for touristy stuff, which is the main part of the reason we're largely avoiding London and Paris. Day trips can be drivable or short train rides. We like food stuffs, sightseeing (maybe some art or cathedrals, castles, other less frequented sights), and just walking around to enjoy other cultures.

Dates are 7th-12th December.

 

[Dbijnagte]

Trip with the wife to Europe next week. She is a Harry Potter fan. We will do the Harry Potter tour in London but spend less than a day there otherwise. So it is officially her trip but guess what, Brussels is less expensive so that means loons. Lots and lots of loons.

Most of the time will be in Belgium. Brussels for obvious reasons. Other likely day trip city candidates:

- Bruges
- Lille
- Cologne

Looking for suggestions for other day trip cities or feedback on this being a solid list. Again, beer is a big part of the trip (for both of us). We don't really care for touristy stuff, which is the main part of the reason we're largely avoiding London and Paris. Day trips can be drivable or short train rides. We like food stuffs, sightseeing (maybe some art or cathedrals, castles, other less frequented sights), and just walking around to enjoy other cultures.

Dates are 7th-12th December.

Skip Bruges and do Ghent(Gent) instead or do Gent on the way to Bruges. Gent is a less touristy Bruges and was beautiful. Great mustard, awesome architecture, all around wonderful.

 

[Digita7693]

Skip Bruges and do Ghent(Gent) instead or do Gent on the way to Bruges. Gent is a less touristy Bruges and was beautiful. Great mustard, awesome architecture, all around wonderful.

What I tell everyone. Morning in Bruges, before the busloads of tourists arrive, then stay in Ghent.

 

[Digita7693]

Trip with the wife to Europe next week. She is a Harry Potter fan. We will do the Harry Potter tour in London but spend less than a day there otherwise. So it is officially her trip but guess what, Brussels is less expensive so that means loons. Lots and lots of loons.

Most of the time will be in Belgium. Brussels for obvious reasons. Other likely day trip city candidates:

- Bruges
- Lille
- Cologne

Looking for suggestions for other day trip cities or feedback on this being a solid list. Again, beer is a big part of the trip (for both of us). We don't really care for touristy stuff, which is the main part of the reason we're largely avoiding London and Paris. Day trips can be drivable or short train rides. We like food stuffs, sightseeing (maybe some art or cathedrals, castles, other less frequented sights), and just walking around to enjoy other cultures.

Dates are 7th-12th December.

If you need tips for Cologne feel free to send me a message, or if you want to do an ip trade

 

[BelgianChris]

Trip with the wife to Europe next week. She is a Harry Potter fan. We will do the Harry Potter tour in London but spend less than a day there otherwise. So it is officially her trip but guess what, Brussels is less expensive so that means loons. Lots and lots of loons.

Most of the time will be in Belgium. Brussels for obvious reasons. Other likely day trip city candidates:

- Bruges
- Lille
- Cologne

Looking for suggestions for other day trip cities or feedback on this being a solid list. Again, beer is a big part of the trip (for both of us). We don't really care for touristy stuff, which is the main part of the reason we're largely avoiding London and Paris. Day trips can be drivable or short train rides. We like food stuffs, sightseeing (maybe some art or cathedrals, castles, other less frequented sights), and just walking around to enjoy other cultures.

Dates are 7th-12th December.

Antwerp is worth mentioning as well I think.

This is an interesting website if you'd rent a car or so :

http://www.belgianbeerroutes.com/en/home/

 

[zieglemt]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...-belgiums-beer-culture-a-treasure-of-humanity

 

[craftbeerbastian]

Antwerp is worth mentioning as well I think.

This is an interesting website if you'd rent a car or so :

http://www.belgianbeerroutes.com/en/home/

Thanks for this! Will be great for the planning over new years.

 

[HenrikO]

Quick update on my Brussels trip (paging BelgianChris , anyone else interested).

Thu 8. Work all day. Will try to get away to Brussels Beer Project/Moeder Lambic Fontanais in the evening.
Fri 9. Work all day, work dinner in the evening.
Sat 10. Hit Cantillon when they open, stay until lunch for some day drinking. Lunch. Then Lot and the 3F Lambik-o-droom in the afternoon. Early dinner. All-nighter at Moeder Lambic St Gilles 10th anniversary Pt 2, drinking as much Tilquin Pinot Noir as I possibly can.
Sun 11. Out to Eizeringen in the morning to spend 3 precious hours at In de Verzekering. Walk it off (1 1/2 hours according to Google Maps) to De Heeren, unless the weather sucks in which case I'll take the bus/train.
Mon 12. Get up at oh-my-god thirty in the morning, go to airport hungover but happy.

Anyone care to join me for any of these steps, let me know. Particularly keen to share bottles with some fine upstanding TBers at Cantillon Sat and then at In de Verzekering Sun. Some company at Moeder St Gilles on Saturday would also be fun. PM me.

 

[BelgianChris]

Quick update on my Brussels trip (paging BelgianChris , anyone else interested).

Sun 11. Out to Eizeringen in the morning to spend 3 precious hours at In de Verzekering. Walk it off (1 1/2 hours according to Google Maps) to De Heeren, unless the weather sucks in which case I'll take the bus/train.

Check !
PM sent

 

[METSBWD]

Quick update on my Brussels trip (paging BelgianChris , anyone else interested).

Sat 10. Hit Cantillon when they open, stay until lunch for some day drinking. Lunch. Then Lot and the 3F Lambik-o-droom in the afternoon. Early dinner. All-nighter at Moeder Lambic St Gilles 10th anniversary Pt 2, drinking as much Tilquin Pinot Noir as I possibly can.
Sun 11. Out to Eizeringen in the morning to spend 3 precious hours at In de Verzekering. Walk it off (1 1/2 hours according to Google Maps) to De Heeren, unless the weather sucks in which case I'll take the bus/train.

Anyone care to join me for any of these steps, let me know. Particularly keen to share bottles with some fine upstanding TBers at Cantillon Sat and then at In de Verzekering Sun. Some company at Moeder St Gilles on Saturday would also be fun. PM me.

I might be around at Moeder Saturday night, and may stay and try for some insurance on Sunday as well... Depends on how stupid I get at the Bier & Big in Eindhoven first... Maybe just Sunday.

 

[BusinessSloth]

Just booked a flight with some friends and I'll be returning to Brussels at the end of March 2017. Yea, it's a long way off....
If any one wants to meet up and share some beers or swap just let me know. I'm sure I'll post again before I leave and one I have a bit more of an itinerary.

Damn. I just booked my tix for March 8th-15th. I'll be flying into Rome, hang there a day or two, then probably fly/take the train to Germany and Brussels.

If any locals want to trade, catch up if we've met before, or grab a beer. Hit me up. The planning in advance thing worked out much better.

 

[L3MI1]

Didn't see anything in regards to airfare to Brussels from the US so if it already has been published pleas post me there...

Any advice on timing for getting good rates on airfare? Looking to travel from Chicago to Brussels this June.

 

[shanrath]

Didn't see anything in regards to airfare to Brussels from the US so if it already has been published pleas post me there...

Any advice on timing for getting good rates on airfare? Looking to travel from Chicago to Brussels this June.

The two times I've flown to Europe in the past two years, I've only really been able to do so because of the low cost options of Norwegian Air. Also, note that they only fly out of New York on the east coast, so if you're up for that connection, they could be great.

They work under a Spirit Airlines-style model of international travel (i.e. the flights are cheap so long as you only pay for your seat on the plane, as they charge a premium for each little add on), so assuming that's alright with you, I do highly recommend it. I've now done a round trip from California to Stockholm and flown from California into Paris and out of Copenhagen for less than five hundred dollars with considerable scheduling flexibility.

Also, if you do look into them, make sure to check the "low fare calendar" box while searching, as it'll allow you to see a full month's-worth of fares at a glance.

 

[falc0n26001]

Didn't see anything in regards to airfare to Brussels from the US so if it already has been published pleas post me there...

Any advice on timing for getting good rates on airfare? Looking to travel from Chicago to Brussels this June.

I just booked a flight from Seattle to Brussels, with a 90-minute stop in Iceland and 19-hour on the way back, for just under $500 round-trip, from early May to early June. I'm not sure if I could have gotten it much cheaper than that.

 

[YvesB]

Doing the reverse trip next month. Scandinavian airlines is the cheapest (see previous post), if you want it a little smoother but still affordable, check aer lingus. Has a stop in dublin.

 

[ExPimp]

So I'll be in Brussels from the 23-29 of March. I'll be with two friends and we'll be making day trips to Antrewp, Beersel, Brugge, Ghent, and Westy. I'll probably be bringing some JK Spon beers to share with anyone we meet. So if anyone is interested in having some beers at Moeder or Cantillon, just shoot me a message.

 

[Dbijnagte]

So I'll be in Brussels from the 23-29 of March. I'll be with two friends and we'll be making day trips to Antrewp, Beersel, Brugge, Ghent, and Westy. I'll probably be bringing some JK Spon beers to share with anyone we meet. So if anyone is interested in having some beers at Moeder or Cantillon, just shoot me a message.

Don't forget to grab some mustard while in Ghent. Best mustard in the world.

 

[BelgianChris]

Don't forget to grab some mustard while in Ghent. Best mustard in the world.

This one you probably mean ? Quite good indeed !

 

[Dbijnagte]

This one you probably mean ? Quite good indeed !

 

[Saind]

I thought they sold that in stone jars? That's what's in the fridge here at least

 

[Dbijnagte]

I thought they sold that in stone jars? That's what's in the fridge here at least

Both. I have a 500mL stone jar but they also sell in glass jars as well.

 

[Tlo4sho]

Honeymoon is booked from Jun 21 - July 9! I'm gunna be scanning this thread for Brussels info the next few months. Happy to meet with TBers at any point. Will post a separate meet-up thread soon. Dates and places include:

London Jun 22 - Jun 25
Paris Jun 26 - Jul 1
Remis (Champagne) Jul 2 - Jul 4
Brussels Jul 5 - fly home morning of Jul 9

Cheers!

 

[Snarf1]

Some really good fares to Europe right now. A little over $500 from ATL to CDG with one reasonable stop both ways. Waiting to see if I can get something to Brussels for closer to that, it's $700ish for the end of May.

 

[anteater1]

Planning one day full day in Brussels as part of my honeymoon in September. Thinking I can get to 3F when they open at 10AM, then Cantillon after lunch, have a bit of time to explore the city and finish at Moeder. Is that crazy?

 

[DCLA]

Planning one day full day in Brussels as part of my honeymoon in September. Thinking I can get to 3F when they open at 10AM, then Cantillon after lunch, have a bit of time to explore the city and finish at Moeder. Is that crazy?

Not at all and totally doable. Last fall did Cantillon at opening, 3F afterwards then dinner in Brussels before hitting Moeder to end the night.

 

[lazerviking]

Planning one day full day in Brussels as part of my honeymoon in September. Thinking I can get to 3F when they open at 10AM, then Cantillon after lunch, have a bit of time to explore the city and finish at Moeder. Is that crazy?

Not at all and totally doable. Last fall did Cantillon at opening, 3F afterwards then dinner in Brussels before hitting Moeder to end the night.

I think it's logistically feasible to hit all three of the beer destinations, but it's not really going to leave you with any time at all to explore the city unless you seriously rush through 3F and Cantillon. My two cents at least.

 

[stupac2]

I think it's logistically feasible to hit all three of the beer destinations, but it's not really going to leave you with any time at all to explore the city unless you seriously rush through 3F and Cantillon. My two cents at least.

To be fair Brussels is a pretty meh city by European standards. I'd rather spend a day in Brugge, Antwerp, Ghent, or Ypres, just as a tourist.

 

[lazerviking]

To be fair Brussels is a pretty meh city by European standards. I'd rather spend a day in Brugge, Antwerp, Ghent, or Ypres, just as a tourist.

I agree. But if exploring the city a bit is something he's interested in doing, the proposed schedule is probably not going to leave him much time.

 

[anteater1]

I think it's logistically feasible to hit all three of the beer destinations, but it's not really going to leave you with any time at all to explore the city unless you seriously rush through 3F and Cantillon. My two cents at least.

To be fair Brussels is a pretty meh city by European standards. I'd rather spend a day in Brugge, Antwerp, Ghent, or Ypres, just as a tourist.

Yeah if Brussels didn't have lambic then it wouldn't be on my list. We'll be absorbing plenty of culture in Spain and Italy so I kind of just want to go nuts on beer that day (we'll still see the Grand Place I'm sure). I'm wondering if 3F, Cantillon and Moeder are the best options for one day. I'd love to have the chance to try some harder to find lambic like 50N perhaps...