Advantages: A good small and friendly hotel with excellent service. Great location too!
Disadvantages: Steep (very) stairs to bedrooms.

...During our recent trip to Belgium we stayed in Bruges. We had never stayed there before and, when planning the trip, didn’t know any hotels to base our decision on which to pick on. Our group was quite large (there were to be 17 of us in total) so we needed a decent sized place, but not in a huge and impersonal hotel. We also wanted to be well located in the centre of Bruges, but not too far away from the railway station (or at least easy to get to by public transport). So the criteria was small(ish), friendly, clean, good location, decent breakfast, good transport links and not too expensive. Were we asking too much? Our trip organiser (who was also in charge of transport) had a scout around and came up with the Hotel Nicolas. ~~~WHERE IS IT? The Hotel Nicolas can be found at 9 Niklaas Desparsstraat in the centre of Bruges... Read review

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Advantages: Clean,beautiful,romantic. Beers are nice!
Disadvantages: busy on weekends,not too much to do

...I visited the "venice of the north" in September 2006 with my girlfriend by Eurostar, and i had a very nice time! We left london on a thursday night, catching the 6.10pm eurostar train from waterloo, and arriving in Brussels midi station. We then had to take a connecting train to Bruges, which took about 50 minutes,and considering that there are 2 trains every hour to bruges, the journey isnt taxing at all, and I much preferred taking the Eurostar to Bruges rather than taking the plane. The city of Bruges itself is very compact, and if you put your mind to it, you could probably walk and see most of the city in a day. On the first night that we were there, we arrived at our hotel, one of the Small luxury hotels of the world called the Romantik Pandhotel, which is situated brilliantly in the centre of Bruges. However, we found... Read review

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Advantages: Scenery, Great hotels, food and shopping
Disadvantages: Can be crowded in Summer

...I have visited Brugge or Bruges to the French, in the Flanders region of Belgium many times. I have to say it is probably my favourite European city. There are two parts to Brugge, the new and the main residential exterior area, and the old walled medieval town and haunt for the many tourists that are drawn to it. Brugge dates back hundreds of years but detailed history of it starts around the 13th century, hence there is some marvellous architecture to observe, including the 272 foot high Belfry, located in the central Markt and main square. If you fancy the exercise, scale the 370 odd steps to gain a superb view of the town. There are great and inexpensive places to eat and drink in Brugge. If you like Belgian beer, try the local golden ales, that in some cases will literally blow your head off. The beers are served to you... Read review

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Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...I took a day trip to Bruges a couple of weeks ago when France and Spain were playing the Euro 2000 quarter-final there. Bruges is a really beautiful city with picturesque canals and rivers (they call Bruges, or Brugge in Flemish, the Venice of the North). It has a wonderful town square where one can sample a few Belgian beers (or ten!) and the people are very friendly. It is perhaps a bit touristy though and there are too many gift shops. It is a shame that it has been changed but I suppose it has become a victim of its own success. I would definitely recommend anyone to visit Bruges and if you live in or around the London area it is possible to see Bruges in a day, although it will be a long day!... Read review

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Advantages: Very Central, Attractive Listed Building, Good Facilities
Disadvantages: Part of a Chain and Past its Prime...

...In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte was invited to stay at the 'Hotel du Commerce', Bruges, during an official visit to the city. He accepted the invitation. A superb triumphal staircase and a sequence of beautiful, 'Bonaparte halls' were especially commissioned within the then 200 year-old Hotel to mark the occasion. However, in what must surely have been a heartbreaking and insulting blow to all concerned, Napoleon cut short his official visit, and in the end he didn't even stay in Bruges at all. Today, nestled behind the winding and cobbled St.Jakobstraat, a quiet side street in Bruges' town centre, stands the old 'Hotel du Commerce', or to draw upon it its new and rather clumsy, official title, the Best Western Premier Hotel Navarra Brugge. It is a charming position for a hotel, just a brief stroll from Bruges' beautiful Market... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: An interesting and informative tour.
Disadvantages: Steep steps and uneven floors.

...When we go to Belgium we do indulge in a fair amount of beer sampling, but we do try to do a bit of sight seeing too. So when the beer sampling and the sight seeing can seamlessly coincide then life is good! Once such example of this wondrous occurrence can be found during a day out in the Flanders city of Bruges. A trip to the Brewery de Halve Maan (previously known as the Straffe Hendrik brewery) combines history, beer drinking and a good day out! ~~~WHERE IS THE BREWERY? The brewery, bar, restaurant, museum and visitor centre that make up this tourist attraction is located at 26 Walplein. It isn't far from the cathedral, the main tourist sites in Bruges (the diamond museum is not far away) and is about ten minutes walk from the train station. To be honest, we went with some people who knew the way from the station... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful Acting, Good Story and Great Scene Variation, Nice Town also
Disadvantages: The ending was predictable based on characterisation

...Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie''s plot. Director Martin Mcdonagh Ken - Brendan Gleeson Ray - Colin Farrell Chloe - (Clemence Poesy) Jimmy - Jordan Prentice Harry - Ralph Fiennes This film was Martin Mcdonagh's first film though he had previously made a short film called 'Six Shooter' a few years earlier. I remember seeing Six Shooters on Film Four, and it would not surprise me to see this film one day on the same channel. The structures of these two films are similar, the plots are known fairly quickly and the acting is really good. Using trains and train platform scenes also took place in both films, along with the guns and killings. The one thing I question is the originality of In Bruges as crime and shooting films are nothing new. Set In Bruges, a picturesque medieval town... Read review

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Advantages: Centrally located, inexpensive
Disadvantages: None, for a budget hotel

...I recently took advantage of a special offer from Superfast Ferries and sailed to Belgium, the intention being to do a bit of shopping and spend some time in Bruges. As we were staying overnight, we needed a hotel, and the hotel we chose was the IBIS BRUGGE CENTRUM. Booking this hotel is simplicity itself. The website is very easy to use and once you complete the search for your chosen property, just fill in your details and three clicks later your room is booked. It's also easy to cancel - we had to change our booking due to a fff...fowl-up with the ferry company. Within a few minutes, I typed in my confirmation number, cancelled, and booked a room for the following night. IBIS hotels are part of the ACCOR group which includes the hotels chains of Sofitel, Mercure, Novotel and Etap, among others. According to Ibis, all... Read review

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Advantages: It's beautiful, everyone speaks English
Disadvantages: The beer and chocolate are too nice (weightwatchers beware !!!)

...I spent a weekend in Bruges and I'm counting the days to my return. The city is absolutely stunning. I visted for the Christmas market in December 2000 and all I can say is visit Bruges. The city is absolutely beautiful. The view from the top of the tower in the main town sqaure is absolutely breathtaking giving a great view of the city (providing you don't mind heights!). For Christmas, a skating rink is put up in the town square and there are all sorts of market shops around as well. The square is the place to pick up a horse and trap excursion around the city and also the place to eat as well with plenty of restaurants around the edge. The food is excellent and fairly priced too. Canal trips are also available to see Bruges and both the canal trip and the horse and trap trips are well worth the money. If you have time, just walk... Read review

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Advantages: Pretty and unspoilt
Disadvantages: Can get crowded in the summer

...Bruges is one of the most picturesque towns in Europe. With improved road links, it is now just over an hour’s drive from Calais. Parking is free and you can easily explore the town on foot. The current strength of the pound means there are some bargains to be had, or you could just soak up the wonderful atmosphere. WHAT’S BRUGES LIKE? It is a quaint old town with cobbled streets and canals running through it. You can take a guided boat ride (which is touristy, but interesting), or a horse-drawn carriage ride (more expensive!). The town is still unspoilt, and there is some lovely architecture in the main square. There is a wide variety of restaurants, many of which offer excellent value for money. THINGS TO DO (besides shopping, eating and drinking) There are a number of good museums, including a lace... Read review

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