Belgium

European exoticism

Although at first glance, Belgium doesn’t appear to be an exotic destination, especially for a European, it nevertheless, more than deserves to be on the list and for a number of reasons. Its culinary diversity (although mussels and French fries and Belgian waffles are inevitable musts, Belgian cuisine is full of surprises.) In addition however, there’s the romanticism of the its medieval cities, the lively atmosphere of Brussels, the capital city, its rich artistic and cultural life, its Christmas markets and its legendary good humor. Traditional charm hotels and design palaces paying tribute to Art Nouveau, or ultra comfortable spa hotels welcome guests warmly in the tradition of Belgian hospitality, simply to encourage you to come back to the land of Tintin.

All roads lead to Brussels

Whether you’re coming from Paris via the fast Thalys train or the Eurostar from London or Amsterdam, Brussels Gare du Midi is the last stop. So as not to waste any time, drop your baggage at the Be Manos boutique hotel, unequalled in Brussels’ design hotel category. From there, it’s a stone’s throw from the legendary Manneken Pis and the Grand Place, famous for its Gothic architecture and lively atmosphere. On the adjacent streets, there’s the Brüsel, a bookstore/gallery ane a veritable cave of Ali Baba dedicated to one of the city’s specialties: comic books. A detour to the Place Royal is highly recommended to admire the internationally renowned painting “This Is Not a Pipe” at the Magritte Museum. To discover the trendy side of Brussels, try one of the twelve rooms of the Pacific Hotel with their unique ambiance and the interior décor of Mia Zia. Making a reservation is strongly recommended. It’s located in the animated Antoine Dansaert quarter, filled with fashion creators and not far from the Place Sainte Catherine, the city’s former port, which has preserved the past flavor of the sea with its market and its numerous sea food restaurants accompanied by one of the enormous numbers of Belgian beers proposed by the Délirium Café. The Hotel Bloom, near the rue Neuve, the street of the big department stores, is an ideal place to stay for those interested in shopping. For music lovers, it’s important to note that the hotel is associated with the Botanique concert hall and offers hotel guests important ticket reductions.

Best regards from Bruges

Bruges, on the list of the top ten romantic destinations in the world, is on a par with Venice. With its canals and its medieval center, Bruges is an ideal setting for an idyllic honeymoon. Visitors can explore the city by boat, horse drawn carriage or bicycle depending on their mood at the moment. Other activities include climbing the 336 steps to the Bruges Belfry (Belfort van Brugge) for a tour of its legendary 47 bells. Lunch at the Gouden Karpel for the best eel dishes in the city is an ideal lunch break followed by a visit to Choco-Story, a museum dedicated to chocolate for a scrumptious dessert. Finally, the Hotel De Tuilerieën is representative of the city’s traditional elegance and a veritable love nest for couples at nightfall.

Nature and history in the east of Belgium

For other vacation experiences away from the big cities, there are luxury hotels well worth the detour to the north of Liége. Eburon, a pure, light design hotel assures guests of total immersion into Tongeren, a historic Belgian city. Visits include the Gallo-Roman museum, the Sunday antique market, where the most important collectors and antique dealers come together and the magnificent Our Lady of Tongeren basilica, one of the country’s most beautiful religious buildings. Highly recommended as well is the Carbon, a hotel-spa dedicated to well-being in the center of the charming center of Genk. Guests can enjoy the surrounding nature of the Haute Campine National Park with its vast pine forests, stretches of purple heather, and magnificent panoramas from the high summits.

Nautical sports like water skiing and wakeboard are offered at the Ter Hills Cable. Not far away, the Maasmechelen Village, a temple devoted to fashion enables guests to enjoy a day of shopping accompanied by a personal stylist!

Nautical sports like water skiing and wakeboard are offered at the Ter Hills abe. Not far away, the Maasmechelen Village, a temple of high fashion, invites guests to spend a day shopping in the company of a personal stylist!