The family and I are planning a trip for later this summer (first full week of August, to be precise). By searching for vacation packages, we've narrowed it down to either a Prague/Budapest package (3 days each) or a Brussels/Brugge package (again, 3 days each). The prices are comparable. The appeal of the Prague/Budapest package is pretty obvious--if we don't go now, we'll go sometime soon. These are cities I definately want to visit. Anybody know Belgium? Specifically, Belgium in early August? And would this be a particularly good/bad time to visit Prague and Budapest, for that matter--I assume they are the bigger tourist draw.
Prague is beautiful but definitely to be avoided in the tourist season as it's packed with tourists and boiling hot. Belgium is rather nice. Cities like Bruges and Ghent have beautiful medieval architecture and if it does get too hot you can go to the coast as they have a number of beach resorts like Knokke-Heist with lovely sandy beaches and that old-style European beach resort appeal. And Holland's only an hour's drive away. If you're interested.
Prague/Budapest v Belgium? Prague/Budapest. No contest. The only thing that would lead me in the other direction would be if your "other" trip to Budapest/Prague was for longer than 3 days each, as they are certainly worth more than that. Oh, and go to Budapest first. Budapest is a lovely city, but Prague is just better. Not that Belgium is bad. I think the Grand Place is the grandest square in Europe, especially at night, but Prague is just one of those cities you can just wander round and enjoy, without necessarily having any particular place to go (and given the maze-like layout of its streets, you'll be do a lot of wandering down charming alleys whether you want to or not).
I haven't been to Prague or Budepest but I've been to Brussels and it was by far my least favorite place in Europe. I was ready to leave after a day. I don't recommend it. The food, however, was quite good, and as someone else said, the Grand Place in Brussels is quite nice.
I agree that Brussels is among the most boring capitals in Europe but at the same time Gent and Brugge are among the most beautiful cities in Europe. Again I would avoid Prague like the plague in the European tourist season.
Thanks to everybody for the input. We're still deciding. Just for the record--we know we want to see Prague and Budapest, we're just not so sure that next month is when we should do it. In fact, we're leaning towards doing that during our son's spring break next year (having a school-age child limits our ability to avoid tourist season, obviously). The Belgium thing was sort of a lark (my wife stumbled onto a vacation package), although Brugge is certainly a city I'd like to see someday. Is there someplace in Europe that won't be crazy hot and overrun by tourists the first full week of August? We're willing to go off the beaten path (relatively speaking--our kid is eight, after all) to an extent, although I'm not taking my family to, say, Minsk.
i lived in Belgium for a year, my daughter was born in Mons. I loved it there. Some of the best food in Europe. Brugge is a must if you go there. Great chocolate! Brussels has a few spots to check out too. Never made it to Ghent but I hear it is very nice. Antwerp is a good place to shop for diamonds, about the best prices you will find anywhere in the world. Best of all....the best beer in the world and the Fries are unreal!
Never been to Prague or Budapest but I've heard great things. Brugge, Johan, mentioned is very beautiful. There are also many fun things to do there. The only caveat I'd throw in about it is that you probably would only want to spend 2 or 3 days there at the most. Brussels does have a rather bureaucratic feel to it.....although there are certainly some cool things to see and do there. In all candor, I don't think I'd make it a focal part of a trip....if given the choice.
Definitely go to Prague and Budapest - they are gorgeous at any time, regardless of crowds. If you can arrange a side trip down to Lake Balaton (in Hungary), its even better. A great side trip in Czech republic is to head for Cesky Krumlov and spend a night. I live in Belgium (outskirts of Brussels) and have taken many visitors around the various sights (Brussels, Brugges, Ghent, etc). Don't bother coming this way unless you are transiting from Paris to Amsterdam or visiting relatives - otherswise you'll be very disappointed. In August, we all leave Belgium to go elsewhere - that should tell you something.
Anywhere south of Belgium will be overrun by European tourists in August. France, Spain and Italy all have the full month of August off and typically spend it at a mediterranean beach. One part of France that is little known but beautiful and not completely overrun by tourists is the west coast, and with that I mean anywhere from Normandy in the north to the pays basque in the south, also not as hot as the mediterranean as you get the cold atlantic breeze there. I don't know if you're into old style slightly past it previously highly glamourous beach resorts but I am, and I love Deauville in Normandy for that reason. In the basque country in the south there's some gorgeous countryside as well and probably the best surf conditions in Europe in places like St jean de Luz. Also easy to make one day trips to Spain (San Sebastian). The in my view prettiest place in all of Europe is the island of Corsica. It has everything, history, art, culture, beaches, mountains, and apart from French and German tourists it's not really that busy as quite difficult to get to.
Brugge is allright, but if I had to choose, I would go for the Prague/Budapest package. Most tourists only spend one, two days tops in Brugge. I would probably avoid Brussels. As some people have said, it's easily one of the most boring capitals in Europe. If you are into history (and more specifically WW I history), you could spend 3-4 days in the Ieper area. There's several museums and WWI landmarks over there. Quite popular with the Brits this time of the year.
I was into the hot mustard myself.....grande frite, a brochette and a jupilar and I was happy,,,,,maybe throw in a lumpia too
I liked to hang out in Dinant and Namur when I was living there. Great places to just kick back and people watch. Both places have citadels that can be toured, the one in Namur is pretty cool
While there are a lot of tourists here right now, keep in mind a ton of the locals have headed out of town. My wife and I feel this is the best time of the year in Budapest. We never leave in summer, preferring holidays when it is cold. Good weather and not crowded at all, in our minds. Lot of good festivals in August as well. Concering weather, hot is a relative thing. Having grown up in Central California and lived in Texas , Virginia, Florida, S.Carolina and Brasil this place is not hot at all. Prague may be a bit different however as it is a more compact city, with the main tourist attractions clustered in one principal area of the city wherever you decide,have a great vacation
Most fast food snack places will have loempia's on the "menu" in Belgium. I'm not sure if it was imported by you Dutchies.
they are like the Egg rolls you see in chinese restaurants but usually twice the size, at least thats how I remember them. All the Frite stands usually sold them. Guess Indonesia did not corner the market on Loempias
I was just wondering as the Belgians normally have a Dutch word for everything and don't use indigenous terms. So I thought it more likely you'd have seen loempias in Holland. Which is infested with Indonesian restaurants.
Dutch word for everything? Nope. A lot of the time, the stuff sold in fast food places have "Frenchified" names.
that was more in the southern half if I recall. I lived close to the border in a small town call Hastiere, everything is french down there