My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.

Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.

However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?

Thanks,

Ray

--
If you are knocked down seven times, get up eight.
--Japanese Proverb

There is always a lot of temptation to see more in Europe, but you can
spread yourself really thin. You have to decide if the extra travel time is
worth it to see what there is in the extra city, or would you rather put it
into a more extensive visit to one of the places you're already going to?
You could spend 8 days in Paris or London alone.

"Ray" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
    > we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    > Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    > days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    > However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    > in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?
    > Thanks,
    > Ray
    > --
    > If you are knocked down seven times, get up eight.
    > --Japanese Proverb

Hi Ray-

While Mark is absolutely correct, I still need to put in my 2cents for
Brugge. It is one of the most fascinating, beautiful old towns in
Europe.

If you're driving from Amsterdam to Paris, Brugge isn't really that far
out of the way. You could plan for a verrrry long day and at least spend
a few hours there. Better than missing it entirely, though I'd encourage
a much lengthier return visit on another trip.

Anyway-enjoy-

Susan



Mark Fagan wrote:
    >
    > There is always a lot of temptation to see more in Europe, but you can
    > spread yourself really thin. You have to decide if the extra travel time is
    > worth it to see what there is in the extra city, or would you rather put it
    > into a more extensive visit to one of the places you're already going to?
    > You could spend 8 days in Paris or London alone.
    >
    > "Ray" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
    > > we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    > >
    > > Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    > > days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    > >
    > > However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    > > in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > >
    > > Ray
    > >
    > > --
    > > If you are knocked down seven times, get up eight.
    > > --Japanese Proverb

"Ray" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
    > we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    > Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    > days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    > However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    > in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?

Bruges (english and french) or Brugge (flemish) is a wonderful town. I
would, and this is based on having lived in Brussels for two years, cut out
Brussels completely, and head straight for Bruges. It's a beautiful place.
There are regular and inexpensive trains from Brussels South
(Bruxelles-Midi, Brussel Zuid) station - check
http://www.b-rail.be/E/index.html for more info. The Multi-pass ticket is
good value.

How are you planning to travel (1) to Brussels (2) from Brussels to Paris
(3) Paris to London?

Bruge is definitely worth a look for a day or two. It has a real medieval
feel that you just won't get in any of the other cities you mention. The
problem is that you only have 8 days and going to Bruge and back could kill
2 of them. If you could get to Bruge on the day you arrive (don't know how
far it is from Brussels) and leave for Paris late the next day (I think it's
4 hours by train to Paris) and have a strong constitution, I'd say to go for
it.

Bill B

"Ray" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
    > we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    > Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    > days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    > However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    > in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?
    > Thanks,
    > Ray
    > --
    > If you are knocked down seven times, get up eight.
    > --Japanese Proverb

"Ray" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
    > we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    > Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    > days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    > However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    > in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?
    > Thanks,
    > Ray

Brugges is a beautiful town and well worth a visit.

BUT . . .

You already have far too little time for more than just a taste of Paris and
London (and no time at all for Brussels). Don't add any more to your
itinerary. If anything, consider dropping one city and saving it for a
return visit.


    > --
    > If you are knocked down seven times, get up eight.
    > --Japanese Proverb

"Bill Bordiuk" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Bruge is definitely worth a look for a day or two. It has a real medieval
    > feel that you just won't get in any of the other cities you mention. The
    > problem is that you only have 8 days and going to Bruge and back could
kill
    > 2 of them. If you could get to Bruge on the day you arrive (don't know how
    > far it is from Brussels)

Only an hour by train.


    >and leave for Paris late the next day (I think it's
    > 4 hours by train to Paris) and have a strong constitution, I'd say to go
for
    > it.
    > Bill B
    > "Ray" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and
then
    > > we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    > >
    > > Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    > > days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    > >
    > > However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    > > in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > >
    > > Ray
    > >
    > > --
    > > If you are knocked down seven times, get up eight.
    > > --Japanese Proverb

In article ,
Ray wrote:

    > My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
    > we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    >
    > Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    > days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    >
    > However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    > in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?
    >
    > Thanks,
    >
    > Ray



I wouldn't --- 3 days in Paris and 5 in London is less than either
deserves -- the hassle of a trip to Belgium isn't worth it.

I like Bruge -- but think it is a mistake to spread yourself too thin

If I were you, I would spend the whole 8 days in Paris with maybe a
couple of day trips at most

[or in London]

    > How are you planning to travel (1) to Brussels (2) from Brussels to Paris
    > (3) Paris to London?


We are flying into Brussels, and then taking the Thalys from Brussels to Paris,
and then the Eurostar from Paris to London.



--
If you are knocked down seven times, stand up eight.
--Japanese Proverb

On 25 Feb 2003 04:09:24 GMT, Ray wrote:

    >My family of 3 is going to Europe. We are arriving in Brussels, and then
    >we are going to Paris and then London. We have 8 days.
    >Our plan is to spend the day we arrive in Brussels, and then spend 3
    >days in Paris and the remainder of our stay in London.
    >However, I've read quite a bit about Bruge. Should we spend one day
    >in Bruge, and cut out a day in either London or Paris?
    >Thanks,
Bruges is very nice and well worth visiting (I'm going there in July
for the fourth time). However, unless dashing all over the place is
your thing, I doubt if you would have time in your itinary. I'm
not sure where you are flying from but have you taken into account
time to recover from flights and any jet-lag etc?

Are you flying to Brussels deliberately to see the city or is your
flight terminating there for another reason? Brussels is a lovely
city. I have visited Brussels many times although I wouldn't spend
nearly as much time there as I would in Paris or London.

You could spend all eight days easily in either Paris or London. You
have to remember that they are both vast cities so you also need to
budget time to travel between attractions.

You have different permutations with these cities. For example, you
could base yourself in Brussels and use one day to see Brussels, use
one day for a trip by train to Bruges and one day for trip by Thalys
to Paris (only takes about 90 minutes). If you leave early enough and
return on a late train, you will have almost a full day in Paris.

Alternatively if you were to start off in Paris, you could have a
day trip to Brussels (if you decided you had enough of Paris) or go
via Brussels to London, stopping off for a quick look at Brussels en
route.

It's impossible to say what would be right for you. Personally I
would get more from my eight days by limiting myself to two centres
and cutting myself some slack to enjoy them.

Derek

We are flying into Brussels because I didn't book the flight
early enough to fly directly into Paris.

The plan is to spend 1/2 the time in Paris and 1/2 the time
in London. However, since we will in Brussels anyway,
perhaps we could make the best of it and see something
interesting near Brussels. At first, I considered
Brussels, but I get the feeling that Brussels isn't
worth seeing.

I've never heard of Bruges before. Now, I'm interested in
it.

Of course, the other option is to simply get on the
Thalys and go directly to Paris.

Thanks again for the help.

--
If you are knocked down seven times, stand up eight.
--Japanese Proverb

After flying into both Brussels and Paris several times, I have sworn
that, if at all possible, I will fly into BRU and take the short Thalys trip
to Paris rather than deal with the hellhole that is CDG. Perhaps it's just
me, but I despise that airport...And I'll join the gang recommending Bruges,
it's one of my favorite places in Europe. There are some pretty decent
attractions, but the town itself is the main reason to visit.

KV

"Ray" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > We are flying into Brussels because I didn't book the flight
    > early enough to fly directly into Paris.
    > The plan is to spend 1/2 the time in Paris and 1/2 the time
    > in London. However, since we will in Brussels anyway,
    > perhaps we could make the best of it and see something
    > interesting near Brussels. At first, I considered
    > Brussels, but I get the feeling that Brussels isn't
    > worth seeing.
    > I've never heard of Bruges before. Now, I'm interested in
    > it.
    > Of course, the other option is to simply get on the
    > Thalys and go directly to Paris.
    > Thanks again for the help.
    > --
    > If you are knocked down seven times, stand up eight.
    > --Japanese Proverb

Cut your time short in Brussels and spend an extra day in Brugge. I
absolutely adore Brugge. It's clean, friendly, and beautiful. I would
definately include Brugge in your itinerary. I would not recommend
driving into Paris. Paris is way too congested. I would suggest
parking your car at a train station outside of Paris and use their
railway system to get around. It's cheap, easy, fast and conveinent.
(BTW there's a lot of toll roadways in France. It cant get rather
costly--especially the closer you get to Paris).

I would even cut your time even shorter in Brussels and hit Luxembourg.
I wasnt particularly fond of Brussels. Their Art Museum was fantastic
but other than that... not impressed. Paris, Brugge, and London are a
"must do" thing to do. If you want information on a nice B&B to stay
at in Brugge let me know. Feel free to email me directly. I encourage
you to stay there.

Have a wonderful trip!! Amy

Oops I noticed that you were only spending one day in Brussels.
Depending on your budget. Obviously, both Paris and London have a lot
to offer in the site seeing realm. However, London is more expensive
than Paris. You can even play it by ear. The train from Paris to
London offers tickets/reservations that are transferable at no extra
charge. I'm not sure about airfare if your going that route. But
check out Brugge most definately. It will give you a nice balance of a
small town and big cities.

Hope this is helpful. Amy

We flew into Brussels, then went immediately to Brugge where we "home based"
for 12 days. We took day trips into Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, and many other
places. I highly recommend Brugge instead of Brussels if you decide to stay a
few nights in Belgium. Have you checked the city's website, at www.brugge.be?
You'll see some of the lovely architecture, canals, etc.
I haven't checked the schedules lately, but at that time you could catch a
direct Thalys train in Brugge that would take you to Paris (no change of
trains).