Buy Eurostar tickets to Brussels from £45 at www.eurostar.com...   Buy tickets direct from www.eurostar.com with print-at-home tickets & no booking fees.   Eurostar bookings open 120 days ahead and at certain periods up to 180 days ahead.   You can buy a separate ticket to London from any British station.   You can buy tickets not just to Brussels, but to Any Belgian Station, including Bruges.   Business Premier & Standard Premier = 1st class with drinks & meals. Standard = 2nd class.  You print out your own ticket, or collect it at the station in London, Lille, Paris or Brussels.  Tips on choosing a specific Eurostar seat  Buy special connecting UK train tickets

London to Brussels 2h01, London to Bruges 3h25 ...

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi via the Channel Tunnel.  There are departures throughout the day taking just 2 hours now that the UK high speed line is fully open from London to the Channel Tunnel.  Eurostar trains travel at up to 186 mph (300 km/h) on the high speed lines, and Eurostar is now faster than flying from central London to central Brussels, as well as more comfortable, more convenient and more reliable.

Train times, fares & tickets...

  London to Brussels & Bruges by Eurostar

  London to Waterloo battlefield

  London to Ypres

  London to anywhere else in Belgium

  Other UK cities to Brussels & Belgium

  London to Belgium by ferry, an alternative to Eurostar

  Scotland & North of England to Belgium by ferry

Train travel within Belgium...

  Train travel within Belgium

International trains to or from Belgium...

  Trains to Brussels from other European cities

  Trains from Brussels to other European cities

  Trains from Bruges to other European cities

Other useful information...

  London St Pancras station guide

  Brussels Midi station guide & advice on changing trains

  Suggested hotels in Brussels, Bruges & Belgium

  Short breaks to Brussels or Bruges by train

  Luggage on trains

  Left luggage in Brussels & other stations

  Taking bikes  - Taking dogs

  General train travel to Europe information

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Useful country information

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London to Brussels & Bruges

You can check Eurostar times & fares and buy tickets at www.eurostar.com.  There are no Eurostar services on Christmas Day.  More information about Eurostar.

* On Mondays & Fridays from 31 March until mid-September 2019, the 06:47 Eurostar runs EARLIER, leaving London 06:13, Ebbsfleet 06:30, Brussels 09:22.

Eurostar's timetable is getting more complicated, random trains not running on random days of the week for random periods.  So check times at www.eurostar.com! 

Tip:  Sometimes trains that go through to Amsterdam open for booking closer to departure date than trains that only go as far as Brussels, to give London-Amsterdam passengers first bite at the cherry.  The solution is to book from London to Amsterdam and get off in Brussels.  For example, from 9 June 2019 the 10:58 from London is extended beyond Brussels to Amsterdam and is retimed to leave at 11:04.  As I write this, this 11:04 doesn't show up when you ask for London to Brussels, just 08:55 then nothing until 12:58.  But if you book from London to Amsterdam you'll see the 11:04, book tit o Amsterdam & get off in Brussels.

For connections to other destinations in Belgium, simply use www.b-rail.be to find train times.  How to visit Waterloo battlefield.

Going to central Brussels?  Eurostar arrives at Brussels Midi, also known as Brussel Zuid or Brussels South.  However, Eurostar tickets to Brussels are automatically valid on any local train to Brussels Central (5 minutes walk from the Grande Place), Brussels Nord, Brussels Congrès or Brussels Luxembourg (the station nearest the EU Parliament).

Going to Bruges?  Buy a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station.  When boarding a train for Bruges in Brussels, the departure indicators usually show 'Oostende', 'Knokke' or 'Blankenberge' as the destination of your train, 'Bruges' is just a calling point so not always shown.  Remember that 'Bruges' is 'Brugge' in Flemish, it's the same place.  Short breaks in Brussels or Bruges by train.  Tip:  You want the half-hourly Brussels-Bruges trains via Ghent taking around 1 hour.  Don't get on a stopping train to Bruges via Roesalere taking 2h16!

Ashford (Kent): Only one or two Eurostars to or from Brussels call at Ashford, check times at www.eurostar.com.

* The 06:56 Eurostar from Brussels only runs on Mondays.

How much does it cost?

London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £44 one-way or £58 return in Standard class, £112 one-way or £168 return in Standard premier (1st class for leisure)...

Like air fares, the price rises as cheaper seats are sold.  A Eurostar ticket to Brussels not only entitles you to travel on Eurostar to Brussels Midi, it's automatically valid on connecting local trains to other stations in the central Brussels area, including Brussels Central (5 minutes walk from the historic Grande Place), Brussels Nord, Brussels Congrès.  This might save you a taxi ride!

London to Any Belgian Station including Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Liege starts at £50 one-way or £69 return in 2nd class...

Eurostar tickets to Brussels used to be automatically valid to any station in Belgium, but this arrangement ceased in October 2010.  You must now buy a ticket to Any Belgian Station which is listed as a separate destination.  This costs £6 more one-way or £11 more return than a standard class ticket to Brussels.

In first class, it's £9 one-way, £15 return more than the price of a Standard Premier or Business Premier ticket to Brussels, this gets you first class travel on the Belgian domestic part of the journey too.

With a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station you can hop on any onward train from Brussels to anywhere in Belgium within 24 hours of your Eurostar arrival in Brussels.  On the return leg, you can use any suitable train from your Belgian starting point to Brussels within 24 hours of your Eurostar departure back to London.  No reservation is necessary for Belgian domestic trains, you just hop on any train you want.  It's not valid on high-speed Thalys trains or German high-speed ICE trains (not to be confused with Belgian or Dutch IC trains, which are fine).

How to buy tickets:  www.eurostar.com

• The best way to buy Eurostar tickets from the UK to Belgium is online at www.eurostar.com.  Booking opens up to 180 days ahead, and you simply print your own ticket.

• Book to Brussels if you're only going to Brussels.

  Eurostar tickets to Brussels include a free transfer by Belgian domestic train to Brussels Central (5 minutes walk from the Grande Place), Brussels Nord, Brussels Congrès, Brussels Luxembourg (for the EU Parliament) and several other stations within the Brussels city area.

  Important tip:  The trains that go from London to Amsterdam (see timetable here) all call at Brussels on the way and carry London-Brussels passengers too, but they are often kept closed for sale (i.e. they don't appear when searching for London to Brussels even when other London-Brussels departures are open for sale) so that London-Amsterdam passengers get priority and London-Brussels passengers end up booking an earlier or later train.  The solution is to check London-Amsterdam at www.eurostar.com and if your chosen departure shows up, book to Amsterdam and get off at Brussels.  There are no problems in doing this, and as London-Amsterdam starts at £35, London-Brussels one-way starts at £44 it can even be cheaper, at least if you're only going one way.  If you're making a round trip, it might add a few pounds.

• Book to Any Belgian Station if you're going to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp or anywhere else in Belgium.

  If you book to Any Belgian Station in Standard Premier or Business Premier on Eurostar, you get first class travel on the Belgian domestic part of the journey too. You can use any Belgian domestic train you like from Brussels to your Belgian destination in the 24 hours after your Eurostar arrives.  In the inwards direction, you can use any Belgian domestic train you like in the 24 hours before your Eurostar leaves Brussels.  There are no seat reservations on Belgian domestic trains, you hop on and sit where you like.  However, you cannot use ICE or Thalys high-speed trains.

• You can (usually) buy a through ticket from 100+ UK towns & cities...

  If you use the United Kingdom version of www.eurostar.com so that prices are in pounds, then as long as you book less than 3 months before departure (as that's when British train bookings open) you can book from over 100 UK towns & cities to Brussels or to Any Belgian station as one transaction.  This is cheaper than buying a separate connecting ticket to London.  It works in either direction, one-way or round trip, and you can use the UK version of www.eurostar.com wherever you live.  More info here including updates on whether it's currently working or you have to phone.

• You can also book by phone, calling Eurostar on 03432 186 186 (+44 1233 617575 from outside the UK) but a phone booking fee will apply.  Tips on choosing a specific Eurostar seat.

On board Eurostar:  See the Eurostar guide...

Eurostar has 3 classes, Standard class, Standard Premier (1st class for leisure), and Business Premier (1st class for business).

Business Premier has flexible tickets, a hot meal served at your seat with alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, access to business lounges in London & Brussels and a 10 minute minimum check-in.

Standard Premier offers exactly the same 1st class seating, but with more affordable non-flexible fares, a cold tray meal served at your seat with complimentary alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, a 30-minute minimum check-in and no access to business lounges. 

You'll find Eurostar trains smooth & quiet, even at 186 mph.  All passengers have access to two buffet-bar cars serving drinks & snacks.  Eurostar is all non-smoking.  For more information about Eurostar, the check-in process and the journey, with tips on how to choose the best seats, see the Eurostar guide.

Arriving at Brussels Midi.  See station guide...

Eurostar arrives at platforms 1 & 2 at Brussels Midi station (Bruxelles Midi in French, Brussel Zuid in Flemish, Brussels South in English, they're all the same place).  Brussels Midi is a fairly easy 25 minute walk from the famous Grand Place (Grote Markt) in the city centre, or there are buses, taxis & a metro.  You can get a free tourist map from the tourist information kiosk in the middle of Brussels Midi station concourse near the exit from the Eurostar terminal.  To walk to the city centre, leave the station from the main doors on the Eurostar terminal (platform 1/2) side of the station, turn right, walk along the side of the station/tracks for a few minutes and then turn left along the Rue Stalingrad to central Brussels.  Left luggage facilities are available if you need them, open 24 hours.  When returning to London, remember the 30 minute Eurostar check-in.  Click here for a map of Brussels.  Bus, tram & metro information for Brussels (English button top right).  See the Brussels Midi station guide.

Onward trains from Brussels to Bruges & Ghent...

Top tip:  For Bruges or Ghent, look on the departure boards for a train shown as going to either Oostende, Knokke or Blankenberge as these are the trains which stop at Bruges & Ghent.  And remember that Bruges is Brugge in Flemish and Ghent is Gand in French.  In Bruges, you want the main station, usually shown as plain 'Bruges', not the little local station called Bruges St Pieters.  However, just to confuse you, in Ghent the main station is called Ghent St Pieters.

Short breaks to Brussels or Bruges... 

The historic city of Bruges makes a truly excellent short break destination from the UK - better, in my opinion, than Brussels, although both cities are well worth the trip.  You can find short breaks to Bruges or Brussels combining Eurostar and hotel at www.railbookers.co.uk, 020 3327 0761 or www.eurostar.com or www.lastminute.co.uk.  This is often cheaper than buying train tickets and booking a hotel separately.

Christmas Markets in Brussels or Bruges - Railbookers also offer Christmas Market breaks by train.

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London to Waterloo...

Visiting battlefield at Waterloo, 1815...

It was 'the closest run thing you ever saw in your life', according to the Duke of Wellington.  And if he'd lost, perhaps this website would have been written in French.  You can visit the battle site, climbing the 'Butte de Lion' (the lion monument, built on a man-made mound in 1823-1826) for a superb view over the whole battlefield.  Next to the Lion is a visitors centre which explains what happened, a 'panorama' (a circular building built in 1912 which houses a 360 degree panorama painting of the battle) and across the road is a small wax museum.  Open 7 days a week, all year.  There are also tours of the battlefield starting from the visitors centre.  For visitor information, see www.waterloo1815.be.

How to reach Waterloo...

Buy a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station, as opposed to just 'Brussels', as this is valid to any Belgian station by any suitable connecting train within 24 hours of arriving in Brussels and (in the return direction) on any suitable connecting train in the 24 hours before your Eurostar departure from Brussels.  After arriving at Brussels Midi by Eurostar, take a local train to either Waterloo or the next stop, Braine l'Alleud.  Trains to Waterloo run once an hour from Brussels Midi, Brussels Central & Brussels Nord, taking around 25 minutes from Brussels Midi.  Going to the original Waterloo station will give you a photo opportunity in front of the station name sign (!) but the town and station are actually 5.3 km from the battle site.  A taxi will cost around €20 each way, although there aren't usually any taxis waiting at the station, so call Taxis Fabrimone on +32 2 354  28 41 or Taxis Waterloo on +32 2 351 26 26.  Braine l'Alleud is much closer to the battlefield and museums, it's just 2.7km away and you can walk it in 35 minutes, take the 'W' bus which leaves outside the station every 15-30 minutes, costs around €2.50 and takes about 8 minutes, or take a taxi.  Map showing walking route from Braine l'Alleud station to battlefield.  Trains to Braine l'Alleud are more frequent than those to Waterloo, they run from Brussels every half hour with the fast ones taking just 14 minutes non-stop.  The departure boards at Brussels Midi will only show the train's final destination, so it can help to know that Waterloo and Braine l'Alleud are on the line from Brussels to Nivelles & Charleroi.  Allow at least 20 minutes to change at Brussels on your outward journey, at least 50 minutes on your return to include the 30 minute Eurostar check-in.  Advice on changing trains at Brussels Midi station.  Look up train times at www.b-rail.be.

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To reach what British soldiers knew as 'Wipers', first book Eurostar to Lille at www.eurostar.com.  On arrival at Lille Europe, walk to 500m to Lille Flandres station.  An hourly regional train runs from Lille to Kortrijk (the final destination of this train is usually Antwerp/Anvers), change at Kortrijk for the branch line to Ypres (Ieper) and Poperinge.  As the fare is fixed and you don't need a reservation, you can easily buy the Lille to Ypres ticket at the station in Lille when you get there.  Total journey time from Lille to Ypres is about 1 hour 15 minutes.  You can check train times from Lille to Ypres at the Belgian railways website, www.b-rail.be.

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London to Antwerp (Anvers), Liège, Ghent, Namur, or anywhere else in Belgium...

If you buy a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station, it's valid by Eurostar to Brussels and then by any suitable connecting train service from Brussels to anywhere in Belgium as long as you complete the journey within 24 hours of the Eurostar arriving in Brussels.  You can't use high-speed Thalys or ICE trains, but Belgian InterCity (IC) trains are fine.

In the inbound direction, you can travel from anywhere in Belgium to Brussels on any suitable train except Thalys or ICE high-speed trains within the 24 hours before your Eurostar departure from Brussels to London.  Again, InterCity (IC) trains are fine.  Trains generally run hourly or half-hourly between Brussels and all main Belgian cities, no reservation is necessary, you just hop on and find any empty seat.

A ticket to Any Belgian Station costs £5 more one-way or £10 more return than a Eurostar ticket to Brussels, in other words, from £82 return in standard class, which is extremely good value.  In first class, it costs £8 one-way or £16 return more than the price of a Standard Premier or Business Premier ticket to Brussels.

Beware of out-of-date advice.  Until 11 October 2010, a Eurostar ticket to Brussels was automatically valid to any station in Belgium.  This was a fantastic deal for passengers, but less fantastic for Belgian national railways (SNCB) as they received no revenue from this arrangement.  The arrangement ceased on 11 October 2010, and there are now two separate destinations shown on the Eurostar website, 'Brussels' if you just want Brussels itself and 'Any Belgian Station' if you want to travel beyond Brussels, the latter priced higher than Brussels.  Incidentally, a ticket to 'Brussels' still allows a free train transfer from Brussels Midi to Brussels Central, Brussels Nord, and several other central Brussels stations, but no longer to anywhere in Belgium.

You can use the online timetable at www.bahn.de or www.b-rail.be to check train times.  Allow at least 20 minutes in Brussels to make a connection on the outward journey, and 45 minutes (preferably more) on the return to allow for the 30-minute Eurostar check-in.

Advice on changing trains at Brussels Midi station.  Remember that Antwerp can also be written as 'Anvers'.  Bruges can also be written 'Brugge'.

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For over a century, the direct & traditional route from London to Brussels was via Dover and Ostend. However, there have been no ferries from Dover to Oostende since the 1990s.  Until recently there was a ferry from Ramsgate to Oostende, but for vehicles only as it refused to carry foot passengers.  But there is still an alternative to Eurostar worth considering, especially if you live in East Anglia, or have a phobia about the Channel Tunnel, with easy train-ferry connections at each end, and inclusive fares covering both train and ferry.

London to Belgium by Dutch Flyer train & ferry...  A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich.  You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland.  The new superferry Stena Hollandica is the largest ferry of its kind in the world.  See the Netherlands page for more details.  Take an onward train to Antwerp or Brussels next morning.

Cosy cabins:  The overnight Harwich-Hoek ferry is a floating hotel.  All passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite shower & toilet and satellite TV.  This is the cheapest 2-berth cabin...

London or East Anglia to Brussels via the Harwich - Hoek van Holland luxury overnight superferry...

This is a slightly round-about route, but if you live in East Anglia, or you're desperate to avoid the Channel Tunnel, or there are problems affecting Eurostar, then this is a comfortable and very affordable alternative.  As it's overnight while you sleep in a private en suite cabin, it's actually quite time-effective, and fun, too.

London ► Antwerp & Brussels

• Take the daily 19:32 train from London Liverpool Street station to Harwich in Essex.  At Harwich International, the train arrives right at the ferry terminal.  You walk off the train and into the ferry terminal, check in for the ferry and walk onto the ship.  Unlike flying, it's totally painless.

• Sail on Stena Line's overnight superferry Stena Hollandica to Hoek van Holland.  You can board from around 21:00 in time for a late dinner in the restaurant, she sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 Dutch time.  All passengers get a private cabin with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  An excellent and highly recommended experience.

• Next morning take a temporary rail replacement bus (until September 2017) or the new frequent metro train (from September onwards) from Hoek van Holland Haven to Schiedam Centrum, then a train to Rotterdam Centraal and another train to Antwerp arriving 10:15 or Brussels Midi arriving 11:15.

  Important update 2017:  Buses are replacing trains between Hoek van Holland & Schiedam Centrum from 1 April 2017 while the line is converted to light rail.  New frequent metro trains will start running from early 2018.  More details here.

• See the Netherlands page for full details exact timings from London to Rotterdam.  You can check train times from Hoek or Rotterdam to Antwerp or Brussels using the journey planner at www.bahn.de.

Brussels & Antwerp ► London

• Take the 17:45 InterCity train from Brussels or 18:45 from Antwerp, arriving Rotterdam 19:50.  Change for the 20:02 local train to Schiedam Centrum for the temporary rail replacement bus (until September 2017) or the new frequent metro train (from September onwards) to Hoek van Holland Haven.  By all means take the departure an hour earlier to board the ferry earlier.

  Important update 2017:  Buses are replacing trains between Schiedam Centrum & Hoek van Holland from 1 April 2017 while the line is converted to light rail.  New frequent metro trains will run from early 2018.  More details here.

• Sail from Hoek van Holland to Harwich on the Stena Line superferry Stena Britannica sailing at 22:00 and arriving in Harwich at 06:30 UK time.  You can board from around 20:00 onwards, in time for dinner in the ship's restaurant before retiring to your private cabin.  All passengers get a private cabin with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  An excellent and highly recommended experience.

• At Harwich next morning, the station is right next to the ferry terminal.  A train from Harwich will get you to London around 08:54.

• See the Netherlands page for exact timings from Rotterdam to London. 

• You can check train times from Antwerp or Brussels to Hoek van Holland using the journey planner at www.bahn.de.

Fares and how to buy tickets

• London to Rotterdam costs from £55 with an inclusive Dutch Flyer ticket covering train, ferry and onward train.

• The same fare covers departure by train from any Greater Anglia railway station, including Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, and so on.

• You need to add the cost of a cabin, around £34 for a single cabin, £45 per cabin for a 2-bed cabin.  See the Netherlands page for full details.

• You can buy tickets from London to Any Dutch Station online at www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry-to-holland/rail-and-sail.  However, see the Netherlands page for full details of how to buy tickets.

• Then simply buy an onward ticket from Rotterdam to Antwerp or Brussels at the station in Rotterdam (no reservation necessary if you use the non-high-speed trains) or (for the same price) online at www.nsinternational.nl.

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Buy a through ticket to Brussels  or Bruges from over 100 UK cities...

At www.eurostar.com (United Kingdom version only) you can buy through tickets from over 100 British cities and larger towns to Brussels or Any Belgian Station, and if your town or city is included this is usually cheaper than buying separate tickets up to London - see more about these Eurostar through fares here.

... or buy separate UK & Eurostar tickets...

You need to buy a separate ticket for the UK part of your journey.  There are special tickets to London International CIV from most UK stations which have better terms and conditions specially designed for connecting with Eurostar:  Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras).

East Anglia to Brussels by train & ferry

If you live in East Anglia, a convenient, affordable and time-effective option is to use the overnight Harwich to Hoek van Holland luxury superferry, see the section above.

Devon & Cornwall to Brussels by sleeper & Eurostar...

You can take the overnight Night Riviera sleeper train from Cornwall, Plymouth, Newton Abbott or Exeter to London Paddington, take the Underground to St Pancras, then hop on a Eurostar to Brussels, see here for details.

North of England to Belgium by cruise ferry ...

You can travel from Hull to Belgium by overnight cruise ferry, with or without a car.  P&O have a daily ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge, departing 19:00 and arriving 08:30 - see www.poferries.com or call 0870 2424 999.  For onward train connections from Zeebrugge to Brussels, Cologne or Paris, simply use http://bahn.hafas.de.  Arriving in Zeebrugge at 08:30 you should reach Brussels by 10:50 (change at Bruges) and Paris by 14:04 (change at Bruges and Brussels).

Scotland to Brussels by sleeper & Eurostar...

You can take the overnight Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh,, Glasgow and many other Scottish town and cities to London Euston, walk to St Pancras, then hop on a Eurostar to Brussels, see here for details.

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You should take a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  I personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planet, but others prefer the Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and historical background.  You won't regret buying one!

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk...

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European Rail Timetable & maps

The European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.  You can buy it online with worldwide shipping at either www.stanfords.co.uk or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu.  More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.

A Traveller's Railway Map of Europe covers the whole of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  On the back are detailed maps of Switzerland, Benelux & Germany, plus city plans showing stations in major cities.  Scenic & high-speed routes highlighted.  Buy it online for £14.50 + postage worldwide (UK addresses £2.80) at www.stanfords.co.uk/Continents/Europe-A-Travellers-Railway-Map_9789077899090.htm or (in the Netherlands) for €13 + €5.50 postage from www.treinreiswinkel.nl.

 

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Find hotels in Belgium

Recommended hotels in Brussels...

• If you need a decent inexpensive hotel close to Brussels Midi station where Eurostar arrives, go for the dependable Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road or for something a little more upmarket the Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi is part of the station complex itself.

• For somewhere near the city centre and all the sights, treat yourself to the celebrated Hotel Metropole, a glamorous five-star art deco hotel just 10 minutes walk from the famous Grande Place and Brussels Central station.  It's one of Brussels' most famous hotels.

Recommended hotels in Bruges...

• If you can afford it and for somewhere really special, go for the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, a luxurious and romantic boutique-style hotel in a fabulous location on the canal and within easy walking distance of all the sights.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com...

• www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & health card

Take out decent travel insurance, it's essential...

Never travel without proper travel insurance from a reliable insurer with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover loss of cash & belongings (up to a limit), and trip cancellation.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year - I have an annual policy myself.  However, don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, Seat61 gets a little commission if you buy through these links, and feedback from using insurance for rail & ferry travel is always welcome.

In the UK, use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an EU health card, it's free...

If you're a UK citizen travelling in Europe, you should apply for a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the NHS.  This replaced the old E111 forms as from January 2006.  The EHIC card is available from ww.nhs.uk.  It doesn't remove the need for travel insurance, though.

Carry a spare credit card, designed for travel with no currency exchange loading & low/no ATM fees

Taking out an extra credit card costs nothing, but if you keep it in a different part of your luggage you won't be left stranded if your wallet gets stolen.  In addition, some credit cards are better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.

Get a VPN for safe browsing when you travel.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use them myself.

 

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