Christmastime in Belgium - A European Pub Crawl
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De Halve Maan brewery in historic Bruges
One of the many lovely canals in Bruges city center
Bike ride anyone?
The much coveted Westvleteren. Take home a six pack!
Reserve your space. No money due now.
Vlissinghe bar - open since 1515
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December 9-17, 2023
$2299 includes air, hotels and more! Sold out Join us for for a fabulous week in Belgium!!! This has consistently been one of our most popular trips, and this year we'll be there in time for the Christmas Markets!!!
Belgium is a beer lovers paradise. We'll be staying three nights in the historic district of Ghent right across the street from the impressive Ghent Cathedral and four nights in the heart of historic Bruges, a UNESCO world heritage site stuck in the middle ages. I often tell people it's like Disneyland for adults, with winding cobblestone alleyways, medieval architecture and no shortage of fabulous restaurants and quaint pubs. How about a side trip trip to historic Brussels? Or a visit to some of the many breweries like Rodenbach, DeStruise, Bosteels and more!! Too much fun. $2299 includes round trip direct air fare from New York to Brussels and ALL fuel surcharges and departure taxes*, three nights in the pedestrian friendly center of historic Ghent, four nights in the highly rated 4 star Hotel Portinari in Brugge's historic city center, private motorcoach transfers throughout Belgium, full breakfast each morning, a guided introductory walking tour of Brugge and Ghent, and a pre-departure orientation before we go!
We stay in the Portinari every year because the hotel is fantastic... very clean, great breakfast, great location and staff, and super value. Now it will be even nicer! *(small print) Prices are base on double occupancy. A single supplement charge of $459 applies to solo travelers. All fuel charges and taxes are included but are subject to change until time of ticketing. Transportation will be available from Easton to the airport for an additional charge. Reserve your space. No money due now.
We’ll also be offering a couple optional day trips…One to tour the breweries of Flanders with a lunch stop across the street from St Sixtus Abbey where the famous Westvleteren Trappist Ales are brewed (and where we'll have a chance to purchase some to take home!). Another to tour to the Grand Place in Brussels with the option to visit the famous Cantillon brewery.
Taste the Food… Belgium is known for its’ mussels and frites, but everything else is amazing too. Think fine French cuisine without the heavy sauces. Lots of wild game too! Taste the Culture… We’ll meet the Flemish people of Flanders and the French speaking people of Brussels and Wallonia. Admire works by Peter Paul Rubens in the Groeningemuseum inBruges, or check out the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels. So much to see and do. Taste the History…Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, A quaint medieval city largely unchanged for centuries. It's like walking through a movie set... except it's real! Taste the Beer… Belgium is a beer lovers paradise...abbey ales, lambics, sours, belgian triples and Trappists to name a few. We’ll have the opportunity to visit De Halve Maan and Bourgogne de Flandres in Bruges, a side trip to Ghent, De Struise in West Flanders, and more. This is a trip not to be missed! Reserve your space. No money due now.
Porterra Travel presents
Christmastime in Belgium December 9 - 17, 2023. Itinerary December 9, Saturday Day 1 Our direct non-stop overnight United Airlines flight UA999 departs Newark Liberty International Airport at 7:00 pm and arrives in Brussels Sunday morning. December 10, Sunday Day 2 Arrive to the airport in Brussels at 8:05 AM and meet our coach and Peter, our local guide for the ride over to our Hotel in Ghent. We’ll have some free time to relax and grab a bite before joining our guide for an introductory walking tour of Ghent and the famous Van Eyck painting of the Mystic Lamb inside the cathedral. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free at your leisure. Overnight at the Ibis Centrum Hotel, Ghent. December 11, Monday Day 3 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure to explore this beautiful city. Our hotel is across the street from the cathedral and the CHristmas Market, right in the heart of the medieval city. And don't miss the fabulous Gravensteen Castle! Overnight at the Ibis Centrum Hotel, Ghent. December 12, Tuesday Day 4 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure. Maybe an optional day trip to Brussels... A guided walking tour of the the St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral Cathedral, the Grand Place, and historic Brussels. Then we'll have LOTS of free time to visit Cantillon, Delirium Tremens and more! Don't miss the Christmas Market and the amazing light and sound show in the Grand Place! Overnight at the Ibis Centrum Hotel, Ghent. December 13, Wednesday Day 5 Breakfast served at hotel. After breakfast we'll board our private coach for the short ride over to Bruges. We'll go for a 2 hour guided walking tour of the city upon arrival, and have the rest of the day free to explore this amazing Disneyland of a city. Overnight at the Portinari Hotel, Bruges. December 14, Thursday Day 6 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure. Optional tour to Flanders – West Flanders is home to some very unique beer styles and some of the best breweries in the world. It is also the site of the infamous WWI trench warfare. Our first stop will be a visit to Tyne Cot, one of the the many WWI cemeteries and monuments. Our next stop is at In De Vrede – right across the street from the famous WestVleteren Trappist Monastery where we'll have some lunch (not included) Don’t forget to grab a six-pack or two on the way out! En route to our next stop we'll pass by Ypres and, a city levelled in WWI and completely rebuilt as if it had been there for hundreds of years. In the afternoon we’ll head back to Brugges, stopping at Rodenbach Brewery for a tour and tasting. Rodenbach beer has been called the most well balanced beer in existence by famed beer critic Michael Jackson, and their facility with it's enormous wooden casks and their gorgeous tasting room is not to be missed. We will be back in Brugges for dinner. Overnight at the Portinari Hotel, Bruges. December 15, Friday Day 7 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure. So much to do and see… and eat and drink! Overnight at the Portinari Hotel, Bruges. December 16, Saturday Day 8 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure. Suggest checking out the Saturday morning market right in front of our hotel, and maybe a check out the ice sculpture tent complete with a carved ice bar. Overnight at the Portinari Hotel, Bruges. December 17, Sunday Day 9 After breakfast we board our coach to transfer to the airport for flight home. United Airlines flight UA998 departs Brussels at 10:10 am and arrives in Newark at 12:25 in the afternoon. We should be back in Easton before dinner. Reserve your space. No money due now.
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