We're off to Brugge and Lille
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
Kath
Guest
Can't help with Lille, but would like to offer this advice. The aire at Bruges is NOT value for money. At this time of year it costs 15 euros for 24 hrs. The vans are packed in like sardines. (The guy in the van next door to us kept dipping his bread in our gravy, we were that close.)
The electricity supply is poor, don't expect to run your heating at a rate/level that will keep you cosy. Definitely, don't try and boil an electric kettle, use the toaster or micro wave, you will constantly be going out to re-set the trip switch.
The noise from the ring road isn't too bad most of the time, but at peak periods, i.e. early morning and evening rush hour, it is annoying. However, the traffic is not as annoying as the coaches that park up in the coach park right next door. They just love warming up their engines at all hours (day and night) and they are noisy!
We moved after the first night to Camping Memling, only 5 Euros more for full facilities and a convenient bus service into the centre of town or a 30 minute easy walk.
By the way Ypers was great as well and not too far away, fantastic town.
regards
Kath
The electricity supply is poor, don't expect to run your heating at a rate/level that will keep you cosy. Definitely, don't try and boil an electric kettle, use the toaster or micro wave, you will constantly be going out to re-set the trip switch.
The noise from the ring road isn't too bad most of the time, but at peak periods, i.e. early morning and evening rush hour, it is annoying. However, the traffic is not as annoying as the coaches that park up in the coach park right next door. They just love warming up their engines at all hours (day and night) and they are noisy!
We moved after the first night to Camping Memling, only 5 Euros more for full facilities and a convenient bus service into the centre of town or a 30 minute easy walk.
By the way Ypers was great as well and not too far away, fantastic town.
regards
Kath
Last edited by a moderator:
David & Ann
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,561
- Likes
- 629
I have been to Brugge a lot. I always park between the 2 camp sites on the road. Being self sufficent it is no big deal. Yes, you are right. Very expensive. Normally it is around 22€ + dumping and water. Brugge is definitely worth a visit.
lebesset
Guest
we just wild camped on the edge of the market in lille , with all the french motorhomes
vastly over rated , mostly junk , won't go again
Deleted member 11999
Guest
Went to Lille for the Christmas Market last year and were very disappointed. Certainly wouldn't go again.
DRoader
Guest
Hi Kath you are obviously campsite people and good on you. For anyone looking to spend a night in Brugge after a day in the old town the payable aire will make sense for two, three or more people in a motorhome. I certainly wouldn't use it for a longer stay. Saying that I wouldn't be looking to spend more than a couple of days in Brugge anyway.
On the road noise maybe it's just me who likes to fall asleep to some road noise?
Kath
Guest
Hi DRoader,
Funnily enough, we are not at all 'campsite people'. We have just returned from a seven week tour of Europe and in all that time we only stayed on a campsite once, in Bruges at camping Memling.
At other times we used aires/stelplatz/sostas and even wild camped several times, including a wild camp night in Switzerland, but that's another story. Hubby is a Yorkshireman and he has deep pockets. It was him that got so aggitated with the Bruges aire, saying it was a 'rip off' that he insisted we moved to some where better.
Agree with you about Bruges, two days is plenty to see and enjoy. But it is a fantastic place, especially at this time of year with the Christmas market, ice rink and the atmospere, not forgetting of course, arguably the best beer and chocolates in the world.
regards
Kath
zildjian
Guest
Go to lille in the summer for their 'bradderie'
2 days of city centre closure to traffic as the streets are given over to stands instead
2 days of city centre closure to traffic as the streets are given over to stands instead
kingfisher1
Free Member
- Posts
- 61
- Likes
- 18
Hi where did you park for the braderie I expect it was busy everywhere ?
zildjian
Guest
Boulevard Victor Hugo.
(We lived there for awhile a few years back)
Locals move out if they have another place to go !
(We lived there for awhile a few years back)
Locals move out if they have another place to go !
Lee
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,473
- Likes
- 1,796
Just back
We got back late last night, we had a great trip using my christmas present from Linda (a Tomtom truck) invaluable to find the aires.
We stayed two nights in Brugge, the aire wasn't very full and perfect for our needs but do understand in summer could be very busy. Brugge was as beautiful as usual but very expensive, as you would expect in a tourist town. The Ice sculpture exhibition was very wellt done, better than the last time we visited.
We then move on to Ypres where we stayed on the local aire which is 10mins walk to the centre next to the moat around the outside of the town, quiet at this time of year, no facilities at all just parking at the side of the road but as it is a dead end no problem. The centre was very pretty but not a lot there.
We moved on to Lille parked at the Citidel and walked into town and as everyone has said disappointing as far as the christmas market. The town is OK and the cathedral was good with a life size nativity scene and an unusual wall made out of marble see through panels and a modern stain glass window.
We decided to move on and go to Arras , where we found the whole town had made the effort for Christmas, the square was filled with quality Christmas stalls and lights. The aire in the town was a short walk from the centre with parking for about 7 vans free waste diposal and 2 euros for 100 litres of water and 2 euros for 1 hr of electric.
We got back late last night, we had a great trip using my christmas present from Linda (a Tomtom truck) invaluable to find the aires.
We stayed two nights in Brugge, the aire wasn't very full and perfect for our needs but do understand in summer could be very busy. Brugge was as beautiful as usual but very expensive, as you would expect in a tourist town. The Ice sculpture exhibition was very wellt done, better than the last time we visited.
We then move on to Ypres where we stayed on the local aire which is 10mins walk to the centre next to the moat around the outside of the town, quiet at this time of year, no facilities at all just parking at the side of the road but as it is a dead end no problem. The centre was very pretty but not a lot there.
We moved on to Lille parked at the Citidel and walked into town and as everyone has said disappointing as far as the christmas market. The town is OK and the cathedral was good with a life size nativity scene and an unusual wall made out of marble see through panels and a modern stain glass window.
We decided to move on and go to Arras , where we found the whole town had made the effort for Christmas, the square was filled with quality Christmas stalls and lights. The aire in the town was a short walk from the centre with parking for about 7 vans free waste diposal and 2 euros for 100 litres of water and 2 euros for 1 hr of electric.