Tree Sablon

The Benelux Countries

Benelux is an economic union of three neighbouring monarchies – Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Despite long-standing ties, each country’s capital exudes its own unique charms.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a freewheeling open city with splendid architecture, lovely tree-lined canals , wonderful shopping, and friendly people.

Transport:getting there and getting away:

Schiphol airport is one of the world’s biggest and offers extensive connections. Buses are economical and the train is very pleasant with direct connections to the UK. There are also ferries the UK and Norway.

Cycling is the best way to get around Amsterdam. Walking is fine too as the city is compact. However Amsterdam offers an efficient public transport system covering most of the city. Trams are good for the inner city. Central Station is the city’s transport hub where tram, bus, train and metro lines converge.

Climate:

Amsterdam’s delightful summers transforms it into a city of outdoor living. Winters, in contrast, are utterly miserable with cascading rain. Spring is wet but a time when the city’s flora spring into colourful life.

Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Amsterdam hotels

Events:what’s on and what’s hot

Events Overview

* The Silent Procession in March is a festival in which Catholics walk along the Holy Way in commemoration of the Miracle of Amsterdam.

*Queen’s Day on 30 April sees a free market, street parties, live music.

*National Windmill Day is in May.

*The the country’s biggest arts festival is the Holland Festival which runs throughout June.

*September is the time of the Flower Parade

*Traditional Dutch Christmas is held on 6 December.

Brussels

Brussels is best known for its status as main headquarters of the European Union and NATO. But there’s much more to the city than meeting halls and bureaucrats. Brussels radiates a vibrant sophisticated feel reflected in its museums and art galleries. It’s a hedonistic city too with a propensity for seafood, waffles, chocolate, truffles and foaming steins of good beer.

Transport:getting there and getting away

Brussels’ main airport is Zaventem. A train makes the 25-minute run into the city every 15 minutes. Buses and taxis and also available.

Brussels has two main train stations: Bruxelles Midi-Brussel Zuid, to the south of the city core, and Bruxelles Central-Brussel Centraal, which is right next to the city centre. High speed Thalys trains connect Brussels with Cologne, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Eurolines offers bus travel to Brussels from London Victoria.

Getting around Brussels is easy. The city has 3 metro lines, many buses and several tram lines. Brussels also introduced short-term “CycloCity” rentals in 2006. But bear in mind that Brussels has many hills.

Climate:

Brussels is prone to grey, rainy weather. The warmest months are July and August then the temperature averages 22°C. Summer can be the wettest season though. Winter from November to March is a miserable time with the temperature around freezing and lashings of slush and sleet.

Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Brussels hotels

Events:what’s on and what’s hot

* Ommegang in July is a medieval-style procession within the illuminated Grand Place.

* August (even-numbered years) sees the flower carpet.

* The city swings at the annual Brussels Jazz Marathon (last weekend in May).

* The Grand Place, together with the Sablon and Place Ste Catherine, feature free al fresco concerts throughout the summer.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg seems a fairy tale kingdom with its quaint hamlets, green countryside and silver rivers. A landlocked country between Belgium, France and Germany, Luxembourg is the world’s only Grand Duchy and one of the world’s smallest countries.

Transport:getting there and getting away

Luxembourg International Airport is about four miles outside the city. Flights connect with London, Paris, Amsterdam, Zürich, and Frankfurt.

You can reach Luxembourg by train from Paris, Metz, Brussels and Trier.

Motorways from Metz, Brussels and Trier connect to the ring-road around Luxembourg City.

The city has a bus service most of which include the central bus station Hamilius and the Station in their routes. Bus tickets are bought from the driver.

Luxembourg is well suited for biking.

Climate:

Winters are relatively mild in Luxembourg though January and February can get very cold. The summer tends to get very hot with the mercury in July and August reaching around 35 C. Spring and autumn are delightful though rain is frequent.

Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Luxembourg hotels.

Events:what’s on and what’s hot

*The birthday of the Grand Duchess on 23 January 23 is celebrated with parades and fireworks.

*Burgsonndeg on 28 February celebrates the end of winter.

*National Day on 23 June celebrates the grand duke’s birthday.

*Liberation Day on 9 September commemorates liberation by the Allies in 1945.

About the Author

Alistair White has been in the travel industry for over 20 years and is the founder and CEO of Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Cheap Amsterdam hotels

Eurostars Sablon Hotel

$85.64

Eurostars Sablon Hotel > BRU > Rue De La Paille 2 To 8 > Brussel > > 1000>Location. This boutique property is located in Brussels, close to Mont des Arts, Place du Grand Sablon, and Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. Also nearby are Museum of Musical Instruments Old England Building and Manneken Pis. Features. Eurostars Sablon Hotel has a health club and a sauna. Business amenities at this 4.0 star property include a business center, complimentary wireless Internet access, and meeting rooms for small groups. Eurostars Sablon Hotel has a restaurant and a bar/lounge. The staff can arrange dry cleaning/laundry services. Guestrooms. Business friendly amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access. Bathrooms provide bathrobes and hair dryers. Amenities featured in guestrooms include air conditioning, minibars, and phones. In addition, amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards. Notifications:Additional fees and deposits may be charged by the property at time of service, check in, or check out. >The preferred airport for Eurostars Sablon Hotel is Brussels (BRU Brussels Airport) 10.8 km / 6.7 mi. Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property’s location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance. Distances are displayed to the nearest 0. 1 mile and kilometre.

NH HOTEL DU GRAND SABLON

$105.88

NH HOTEL DU GRAND SABLON > BRU > PLACE DU GRAND SABLON > Brussels > > 1000> HOTELYEAR BUILT 1990 YEAR REMODELED 2006ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION WITH ITS WARM AND CHARMING ARCHITECTURE THE NH HOTEL DU GRAND SABLON BEST INTERPRETS THE REFINED ATMOSPHERE OF THE SQUARE WHERE IT IS LOCATED THE ARISTOCRATIC AND ELEGANT HEART OF BRUSSELS.NBR OF SUITES 6NBR OF NON SMOKING ROOMS 158NBR OF ROOMS FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED GUESTS 1THE HOTEL FEATURES 193 STANDARD, SUPERIOR, AND DELUXEROOMS TOGETHER WITH A SELECTION OF SUITES AND 6 FULLYEQUIPPED MEETING ROOMS.ROOM AMENITIES FOR ALL ROOMS ROOM AMENITIES 220 AC / AIR CONDITIONING / BATHROOM AMENITIES / BIDET / CABLE/SATELLITE TV / CLOTHES PRESS / COFFEE/TEA MAKER / COLOR TV / CONNECTING ROOM / DESK / FREE NEWSPAPER / HAIRDRYER / HANDICAPPED ROOM/FACILITIES / MINI BAR / NO SMOKING ROOM / PHONE IN BATHROOM / REMOTE CONTROL TV / SAFE / SHOWER / SMOKE DETECTOR / TELEPHONE / TELEVISIONROOM AMENITIES FOR HANDICAP ROOMS KNOCK LIGHTSA1K CITY VIEW MAX OCCUPANCY 2 MAX NBR OF ROLLAWAYS 0 ROOM DESCRIPTION DELUXE ROOM WITH ONE KING SIZE BEDA1Q CITY VIEW MAX OCCUPANCY 2 MAX NBR OF ROLLAWAYS 0 ROOM DESCRIPTION DELUXE ROOM WITH ONE QUEEN BED.A2T CITY VIEW MAX OCCUPANCY 2 MAX NBR OF ROLLAWAYS 0 ROOM DESCRIPTION DELUXE ROOM WITH 2 TWIN BEDS.B1Q CITY VIEW MAX OCCUPANCY 2 MAX NBR OF ROLLAWAYS 0 ROOM DESCRIPTION SUPERIOR ROOM WITH ONE QUEEN SIZE BED.C1Q CITY VIEW MAX OCCUPANCY 2 MAX NBR OF ROLLAWAYS 0 ROOM DESCRIPTION STANDARD ROOM WITH ONE QUEEN SIZE BED.C1S CITY VIEW MAX OCCUPANCY 1 MAX NBR OF ROLLAWAYS 0 ROOM DESCRIPTION STANDARD ROOM WITH ONE SINGLE BED.C2T CITY VIEW MAX OCCUPANCY 2 MAX NBR OF ROLLAWAYS 0 ROOM DESCRIPTION STANDARD ROOM WITH TWO TWIN BEDS.>DIRECTION TO THE PROPERTY FROM EAST FROM GERMANY MOTORWAY A3 COLOGNE/BRUSSELS. FOLLOW E40 BRUSSELS EXIT 18 /SCAERBREEK. FOLLOW SIGNS FOR CITY CENTRE. TURN LEFT AT RUE ROYALE. AT PLACE DU PETIT SABLON TURN RIGHT AT RUE BODENBROEK .DIRECTION TO THE PROPERTY FROM NORTH FROM NETHERLANDS MOTORWAY A1 AMSTERDAM/ANTWERP/BRUSSELS/. BYPASS BRUSSELS EXIT N22 /BRUSSELS/EVERE. FOLLOW SIGNS FOR CITY CENTRE. TURN LEFT AT RUE ROYALE. AT PLACE DU PETIT SABLON TURN RIGHT AT RUE BODENBROEK .DIRECTION TO THE PROPERTY FROM SOUTH FROM LUXEMBURG MOTORWAY A4 LUXEMBURG/BRUSSELS. FOLLOW E19 BRUSSELS EXIT 18 /SCAERBREEK. FOLLOW SIGNS FOR CITY CENTRE. TURN LEFT AT RUE ROYALE. AT PLACE DU PETIT SABLON TURN RIGHT AT RUE BODENBROEK .DIRECTION TO THE PROPERTY FROM WEST FROM FRANCE MOTORWAY A7 PARIS/BRUSSELS. BYPASS EXIT N13 VALENCIENNES/BRUSSELS TILL PORTE DE NINOVE . TURN LEFT TILL PORTE DE SCHAERBEEK . TURN LEFT AT RUE ROYALE. AT PLACE DU PETIT SABLON TURN RIGHT AT RUE BODENBROEK .