Been there | Tips http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. Stay in Ghent http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16036
It has lots of restaurants, plenty of beer and far fewer tourists. Unlike Bruges, it's a real place.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16036 Take the bus http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16028
The fare is 1.5 Euros and the driver will almost certainly speak English so ask to be alerted to get off at the ‘Markt’. You will alight at the most beautiful square in the city and hotels, bars and restaurants are plentiful. Most usefully you will be only a few yards from the Tourist Information Bureau.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16028 Bruges by boat http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16022 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16022 When to walk http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15997 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15997 Train change http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14674 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14674 Platform changes http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14584 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14584 Booze cycle cruise http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14565 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14565 Cheap Eurostar tickets http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14555
So we got about to places like Ghent and Knokke at no extra cost. In Bruges we stayed in Hotel Montanus in Niuewe Gentweg, right in the centre of the town.

It was a delightful hotel that had lovely bright chalet-style rooms overlooking an inner courtyard garden.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14555 Cycling in Bruges http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14551
My top tip though, would be don't carry your shopping on the handle-bars, get your carrier bag tangled up in your front wheel and spread the contents of your bag all over the road!

Cyclists do get priority over other road users, but not that much!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14551 Train tickets http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14539
My wife and I bought train tickets that went from Lond to Dover, crossed to Zeebrugge and the by local train to Bruges. Yes, slightly longer, but we enjoyed this old-fashioned travel.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14539 Cycle Bruges http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14522 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14522