Remember your Brussels Eurostar ticket covers same day onward travel to all stations in Belgium. This includes Brussels Central Station, so you can use it instead of the Metro to get across town from Midi station to your hotel or meeting near Brussels Central.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Directions to one of Paris’s best-kept secrets: Take the Metro's Line 5 and get off at Laumière. Climb up Rue Laumière until you reach the main entrance of the most beautiful Parisian garden: Les Buttes de Chaumont.

Climb up the hill around the lake, up to the view point. Now the real secret: if you happen to be there on August 30th at about 8.20pm, you'll see the sun setting right behind the Sacre Coeur and the Montmartre hill, now that's a view that will stay with you for a while.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Take Metro 11 (brown) to Porte des Lilas, walk down Rue Belleville using the Metro stations as your guide. Pass through neighbourhoods such as Jourdain, Pyrenees, Belleville and, passing canal St Martin, finish in Republique, the venue of many a Parisian Riot.

Alternatively, at Pyrenees, turn right on to Avenue Simon Bolivar and head for the surreal, landscaped Parc des Buttes Chaumont (19th Arr), complete with its own mountain, waterfall, temple and an incredible view of the Sacre Couer.

To finish the day, head to restaurant Au Pied du Sacre Couer, for fine yet inexpensive French cooking (metro Lamarck-calaincourt, 18th Arr.)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Slightly off the beaten track, the Grand Mosque at the 5th Arr. has a large, sunken garden, fountains and a 33-metre high minaret.

The internal courtyards, lined with Andalusian mosaics, are offset by dark eucalyptus and cedar trim. The mosque's adjoining cafe and restaurant, serves excellent north African cuisine such as couscous, tajine and sweet mint tea to all.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

After many stays in mediocre and cramped hotels we've finally found the one for us - Clos de Medicis in the 5th, just five minutes' walk from the Luxembourg RER station - itself 4 stops from Gare du Nord.

From Eurostar to hotel in half an hour. It's a great area too, many good restaurants and walking distance to the Ile de Paris, Louvre, Marais - well everywhere really. Very friendly and well designed hotel - just a gem.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Take a leisurely stroll along the left bank of the Seine, past Notre Dame and go into the Shakespeare and Company bookshop. Climb the narrow wooden stairs, pick out a dusty old tome, take a seat on a worn but comfy sofa in the corner next to the contented sleepy black cat and peruse it at your leisure.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A culinary gem serving ONLY a simple salad start with two rounds of stesk and chips to follow but with oodles of Parisian style. Right in the heart of St Germain, a great place to begin an evening.

20 bis rue St. Benoit, nearest metro St. Germain des Pres

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Hotel Therese in the 1st arrondissement - cute, inexpensive, personal hotel with an unbeatable central location.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

For a glimpse of the Paris of Toulouse Lautrec visit Chartier, a restaurant which looks as if it hasn't changed in a hundred years. It's cheap, cheerful and full of Parisians. Find it in the Rue du Faubourg de Montmartre

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If planning on multiple journeys or using the Metro over several days, purchase a Paris Visite pass (valid 1, 2, 3 or 5 days) which gives unlimited travel in either 1-3 or 1-6 zones, discounts to attractions and can be purchased in advance.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The absolute must eat in Strasbourg, or anywhere in the Alcace region, is Tarte Flambe.

It's a kind of thin pizza like thing, but minus tomato and tadtionally made with a topping of cream, bacon and onions.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

For the cheese lovers: La Cloche a Fromage, a restaurante specialised in chesses.

It has an entry in the Guiness Book of Records for the largest cheese board.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

My tip is to visit the annual 'Braderie de Lille' - the biggest flea market in Europe, with stalls on over 100kms of pavements.

It is held over the first weekend in September in the centre of Lille. From Antiques to Junk, from Books to Pictures it is all there. The walk from Lille Europe to the market is short, some 500 yards so access is easy.

I discovered it by accident. Leaving the old station (Lille Flandres), after an ovenight trip from Italy, I headed for a café and stumbled across a small part of the market. I was hooked!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

My tip is to visit the bar La Mort Subite on rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères 7.

This bar has a superb selection of beers, which are reasonably priced, and is frequented by locals rather than being a typical tourist trap.

The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed and it's an ideal place to meet up with friends for a good natter.

If that isn't enough, last time I went there an opera singer started to sing, with the whole bar joining in. Beer, opera and conversation - perfect!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

After relaxing on your short, swift ride to Brussels, stay close to the sweeping Avenue Louisa, just a tram or metro ride from the Eurostar Terminus and a short walk from the busy heart of Brussels.

The area has many attractive shops and boutiques - they really know how to dress and window dress! Tucked off the side streets of the Elsene quarter are lively markets, galleries and tree lined squares for coffee and finding unique gifts.

At the far end of Avenue Louisa are grand villas and gardens, lush parks and gardens of Terkamerenbos.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

PONT DU GARD (Roman aquaduct/bridge) to the west of Avignon is a must see. Saturday AM market at Uzes near Pont du Gard is totally charming and shouldn't be missed.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

La Tarte de Ma Tante on Ferdinand Bolstraat - a tea shop with the kitschiest decor ever seen, and magnificent multi-coloured fake three tier cakes adorning every table.

The real cakes that they serve are pretty magnificent too. This is the Barbara Cartland of tea-shops.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Laws still apply in Amsterdam - remember roken means smoking and niet roken means no-smoking. Liberal but laws apply!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Head to Amsterdam on April 30 - the Dutch Queen's birthday.

With sound stages and dancing in the street wherever you turn, it’s like an urban Glastonbury, or the Notting Hill Carnival with a friendlier vibe.

It’s impossible not to have a brilliant time, even if you take a dim view of some of the ‘Dam’s more liberal trademarks - don't turn up without sorting accommodation though, or you may find yourself kipping in the same hotel (complete with rat trap under the bed) that I ended up at...

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Take a break from the busy bars and coffee shops by visiting Hortus Botanicus in the Plantage district of the city.

There you will find the most amazing plants in giant greenhouses.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends