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Travel

CTyankee

(65,499 posts)

10. I did that in Brussels. Found a great airfare+5 star hotel right near Grand Place and

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Wed Feb 5, 2014, 09:35 AM

Feb 2014

took trains to Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp. Fabulous food and famous museum in Brussels and of course the art in Ghent (Altarpiece by Van Eyck), Bruges (Michelangelo's Madonna, Memling) and Antwerp (Rubens!), was incomparable. Trains run often and are the best way around. English spoken everywhere (don't try out your French unless you ARE French, tho, cuz it annoyed some of the Belgians we encountered and they weren't shy to tell us).

I would go to Paris anytime I had the chance. NOTHING compares to Paris...really...

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Travel question. Instead of an escorted tour, any of yall ever book at a hotel in [View all] raccoon Feb 2014 OP

We booked a Best Western 3 blocks from the Louvre liberal N proud Feb 2014 #1

I generally don't book anything in advance when I go to Paris Major Nikon Feb 2014 #2

Giverny and Versailles both wonderful mainer Feb 2014 #4

To really get the most of the museums I think it's best to do research ahead of time Major Nikon Feb 2014 #6

I couldn't agree more. I am an inveterate museum goer and have been to many of the greatest in CTyankee Feb 2014 #12

I heartily recommend that first-time visitors to any place in Europe buy Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2014 #3

Not a fan of escorted tours, so I would definitely do cbayer Feb 2014 #5

Just saying 'bon jour" to a shopkeeper is key mainer Feb 2014 #7

I have done both escorted tour and booked independently. I will say that not all escorted tours CTyankee Feb 2014 #11

Thanks for your suggestions. Checked out some French language CDs raccoon Feb 2014 #8

où est les toilettes, madame/mssr? works also, leave out the d'antan svp uppityperson Feb 2014 #9

I did that in Brussels. Found a great airfare+5 star hotel right near Grand Place and CTyankee Feb 2014 #10

Except Florence??? elleng Feb 2014 #13

Oh, yes. Florence is singular. It has been called "a museum of itself" and that is apt. CTyankee Feb 2014 #14

Will look for your review, elleng Feb 2014 #15

Check open days. We saved - think it was our last Tuesday Laura PourMeADrink May 2014 #16