Having spent the last two September holidays in Oostende, and the last three Christmas ones in Brugge, we are having a change for this year, and spending Christmas in Oostende. I will miss having a summer holiday in Belgium, this will be the first time I've not had a summer holiday there for years - we had our first in 2000 and have had one every year since.
Oostende is a great place to spend a summer holiday - on a summer evening it is very pleasant to walk along the sea front and the pier and watch the ferries, and the marina near the Mercator is also a nice walk.
I have very happy memories of our holidays in Belgium - the hot one we had in September 2006 when the heat hit you when you left the pub in the evening and visiting new places such as Veurne, Mons, Eupen, Lier and dearest Zeebrugge(!)
I have enjoyed each holiday I have had in Belgium - truly the most under-rated country in Europe, and certainly my favourite holiday place.
Showing posts with label Belgium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belgium. Show all posts
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Just for a change - Belgium by ferry
Sorry for the late arrival of this post, as my computer developed a boot problem and was away for eight days being fixed.
We went to Belgium for Christmas, as usual, but this time we were going by sea. We sailed from Hull overnight to Zeebrugge. It was good fun, but not as good as the plane!
The weather in Belgium was very cold, but we had some great food (including very nice chips and a Chinese Christmas dinner).
To see the pics from the trip click here.
I don't know when I'll see my beloved Belgium again.
We went to Belgium for Christmas, as usual, but this time we were going by sea. We sailed from Hull overnight to Zeebrugge. It was good fun, but not as good as the plane!
The weather in Belgium was very cold, but we had some great food (including very nice chips and a Chinese Christmas dinner).
To see the pics from the trip click here.
I don't know when I'll see my beloved Belgium again.
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Holiday Update
We had a great holiday in Belgium, though the weather could have been better, we got serious soakings in Oostende and Zeebrugge.
We had some great food and equally great beer and I will be posting more detail soon.
Friday, 8 August 2008
Holidays 2008 Part Two
We booked our Christmas hotel online the other day. We had to book online or else go and book in Filey or Pickering because Scarborough is the only town in the area which has no proper travel agent. By "proper" I mean an independent one and not one of those tacky high street chains who are only bothered about their commission and how many insurance packages, excursions, transfers etc they can get you to fork out for.
Last year Scarborough had a really good independent agent who we had booked with for years and never had a problem with. Then the owner retired and closed the shop so our main September holiday hotel was booked with a well-known high street chain. We had nothing but problems with this travel agent chain and at one point we contacted our tour operator about them because we weren't happy with the rubbish they were coming out with. We also complained to the manager of the travel agent who did not even have the manners to answer our concerns. Thankfully we booked our flights online with the airline so we didn't have to deal with a high street travel agent apart from booking the hotel.
Our Christmas hotel is the same one we stayed in last year, as it was very nice with a minibar (great for storing your beer in), nice rooms, a nice location and freshly-cooked eggs at breakfast (soft boiled as well - very rare in Belgium!) I always had the scrambled eggs with my buffet breakfast, they were gorgeous and tasted really buttery. The only downside to the hotel is the depressing classical music they insist on playing in the lounge and breakfast room.
Last year Scarborough had a really good independent agent who we had booked with for years and never had a problem with. Then the owner retired and closed the shop so our main September holiday hotel was booked with a well-known high street chain. We had nothing but problems with this travel agent chain and at one point we contacted our tour operator about them because we weren't happy with the rubbish they were coming out with. We also complained to the manager of the travel agent who did not even have the manners to answer our concerns. Thankfully we booked our flights online with the airline so we didn't have to deal with a high street travel agent apart from booking the hotel.
Our Christmas hotel is the same one we stayed in last year, as it was very nice with a minibar (great for storing your beer in), nice rooms, a nice location and freshly-cooked eggs at breakfast (soft boiled as well - very rare in Belgium!) I always had the scrambled eggs with my buffet breakfast, they were gorgeous and tasted really buttery. The only downside to the hotel is the depressing classical music they insist on playing in the lounge and breakfast room.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Travel
Travel is one of my passions. There are so many places I would love to visit, and sometimes I will just go and get a travel brochure from the travel agents just to browse through.
I would like to see Japan and go on the Bullet Train, visit Singapore, Australia and New Zealand again, Canada, South America - the list goes on.
Pity I can't afford to actually see those places, but I like to see them on TV and read about them.
Currently my favourite holiday spot is Belgium - we have had holidays in Brussels, Brugge, Mechelen and Oostende, as well as visiting many places by train while we are there. We have spent the past two Christmases in Brugge, where there is a big ice skating rink in the market square, stalls selling snacks and very welcome hot drinks (the chips are very good too!) and a fabulous atmosphere.
We are going to Oostende again this year, and hopefully the weather will be good. When we had our holiday in Brugge in 2006 it was very hot (especially when we went to Zeebrugge) but in Oostende last year it was not as good for weather and we saw more rain.
When we go on holiday we always fly.
I would like to see Japan and go on the Bullet Train, visit Singapore, Australia and New Zealand again, Canada, South America - the list goes on.
Pity I can't afford to actually see those places, but I like to see them on TV and read about them.
Currently my favourite holiday spot is Belgium - we have had holidays in Brussels, Brugge, Mechelen and Oostende, as well as visiting many places by train while we are there. We have spent the past two Christmases in Brugge, where there is a big ice skating rink in the market square, stalls selling snacks and very welcome hot drinks (the chips are very good too!) and a fabulous atmosphere.
We are going to Oostende again this year, and hopefully the weather will be good. When we had our holiday in Brugge in 2006 it was very hot (especially when we went to Zeebrugge) but in Oostende last year it was not as good for weather and we saw more rain.
When we go on holiday we always fly.
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