Although the surge of professionals can make hotel rates skyrocket (especially during the work week), don’t let that scare you from stopping in Brussels to stay for a while.

More tips for Brussels
• 10 Tips for exploring Brussels on a budget
• 5 Free things to do in Brussels

Five top budget hotels in Brussels

Whether you like someplace modern or simple, near the hustle and bustle of the city or tucked away on a quiet street, we’ve found a budget hotel to fit your needs. Read on to check out our picks for the best budget hotels in Brussels for this year.

A simple yet chic and affordable room at Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills

Neighborhood: Ixelles
Doubles from $79

No, this hotel isn’t in the star-studded streets of Los Angeles; instead, you’ll find unpretentious, spotless, and comfortable accommodations. You may even score a small balcony. Rooms have a simple, modern design with all the basic amenities, including Wi-Fi. Read the full review

A trippy room at Vintage Hotel.

Vintage Hotel

Neighborhood: St. Gilles
Doubles from $90

For something a little more groovy, don’t miss Vintage Hotel, located near fashion boutiques and restaurants. You’ll find quirky guestrooms that feel very 1960s, but you’ll have all of today’s amenities to make you feel right at home. Read the full review

La Vieille Lanterne sits above a souvenir shop near Mannekin Pis.

La Vieille Lanterne

Neighborhood: Grand Place
Doubles from $99

La Vieille Lanterne isn’t flashy, but it does offer a peaceful place to rest your head. It’s located just above a souvenir shop and has been run by the same family since 1958. Most rooms look out to a charming cobblestone street, and the location, just steps from the famous Mannekin Pis, can’t be beat, especially at these rates. Read the full review

Meet fellow travelers and grab some fresh air on the deck of Sleep Well.

Sleep Well

Neighborhood: Near Gare du Nord
Doubles from $91

If you’re looking for a fun time, book a room at Sleep Well. From the cheerful and welcoming lobby to the hotel’s popular outdoor terrace, you are bound to make a friend or two here. They win points for the environment too, using only green energy. With an excellent location and free breakfast, the Sleep Well is also an amazing value. Read the full review

Sleep in the middle of the city at A La Grande Cloche.

A La Grande Cloche

Neighborhood: Grand Place
Doubles from $121

A La Grande Cloche is perfect if you like to be in the center of the action. With a top location in the heart of Brussels just steps from public transportation and major attractions, this hotel is a great value for sightseers. Inside, you’ll find clean rooms and a very generous buffet breakfast. This is a classic EuroCheapo pick. Read the full review

The post Our favorite budget hotels in Brussels for 2024 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

(Don’t forget to check out our Brussels city guide for more budget tips.)

Free things to do in Brussels

Here are five free attractions to enjoy in the Belgian capital:

1. The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula

Sinter-Goedelevoorplein
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday), 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Saturday), 8:30 to 2 p.m. (Sunday)
Website

Dating back to the 11th century, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is a prominent fixture in the Brussels cityscape. Inside you’ll find stained-glass windows and beautiful arched ceilings. The cathedral is home to a Romanesque crypt, though visitors must pay €2.50 to view it.

In addition to holding daily services, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula hosts classical music concerts, may of which are free. Check the cathedral’s calendar of events to see who’s playing when you’re in town.

2. Visit European Parliament

Wiertzstraat 60
Tel: +32 (0)2 284 21 11
Website

Lest you forget, Brussels is the administrative center of the European Union. This special distinction affords visitors the opportunity to tour the European Parliament—without spending a euro.

To get your international relations fix, catch a guided tour of European Parliament’s debating chamber. Tours are conducted at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday and at 10 a.m. only on Friday. If you want an extra special glimpse into the workings of the EU, check out the plenary sitting schedule to see when events are open to the public.

3. The Royal Museum of Armed Forces and of Military History

Jubelpark 3
Tel: +32 (0)2 737 78 33
Hours: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. (Tuesday to Sunday)
Website

A visit to Brussels’ Royal Museum of Armed Forces and of Military History is completely free. The exhibitions document Belgian and European history chronologically, with no shortage of tanks thrown in for good measure. After winding your way through the galleries, head up to the museum’s roof. You’re in for a real treat: Look out and enjoy a panoramic view of Brussels.

4. Free museums on the first Wednesday of the month

While some Brussels museums are always free, others open their doors gratis monthly, on the first Wednesday of the month. Among the participating museums are the Museum of Old Masters and the Museum of Modern Art. Free admission begins at 1 p.m. Visit the Brussels Museums Website for more information.

5. Free concerts

L’Archiduic, a popular bar in the Ste. Catherine hood, hosts live jazz throughout the week. Check the site to see what’s on—but don’t blame us if you end up shelling out for a few drinks.

What else?

Have other suggestions for free activities in Brussels? Share your wisdom by leaving a comment!

The post 5 free things to do in Brussels appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Definitely a melting pot of people, cultures and styles, Brussels offers a lot to see and do, including the tradition of imbibing Belgian beer.

But as the de facto capital of the European Union, this city can get expensive very fast, as rooms fill up on the weeknights and prices soar as administrators from around the continent come to do business.

Brussels budget travel guide

From finding affordable hotels to knowing where to get a good deal on a plate of mussels and frites, here are a few tips to keep your trip on the cheap.

1.  Free and cheap museums

While some of the fun ones like the museum of comics and the museum of musical instruments aren’t free, others like the museum of military history and touring the European Parliament are open to the public at no cost. And remember: all museums in Brussels are free on the first Sunday of every month.

Related: 5 free things to do in Brussels

2. Sipping beer at local brasseries

One bar might claim it houses the largest selection, the other says they have the strongest, or the darkest, etc. Don’t be sucked into a tourist trap just because you see that pink elephant on the beer bottle — all cafes in Brussels hold a rich and impressive Belgian beer selection. Take your time and look for something that has a local feel.

3. Know the mussels season

Brussels offers several local delicacies, but none are as famous as their steamed mussels. In Brussels, mussels season is typically in the fall (September to December), and sometimes in January and February. Ordering up a steamed pot in summer is available, but possibly not fresh and not from the North Sea. Other yummy alternatives for a taste of Belgium include carbonnades flamandes (Flemish beef stew) or rabbit in a gueuze beer sauce.

4. Seeking out fresh-cut frites

You will find enough frites (French fries) stands to make your head spin, but look for the ones with freshly-cut potatoes. Some stands use pre-packaged, frozen potatoes in their fryer, along with processed mayo in industrial-sized cans. The best frites shops have raw potatoes in burlap sacks ready to be cut and fried on the spot, with a giant assortment of sauces. Yum!

Little boy pis. Photo: fredrte

5. Don’t “pis” your time away

Word of mouth has somehow deemed Manneken Pis the landmark of Brussels. That mindset leads to continuous letdowns: the fountain is small, the statue is tiny and black iron poles block any chance of a good photo op. Locals find the hooplah hilarious, so listen, it’s no biggie. Go see it, and even grab a souvenir to take home, but just don’t revolve your whole day around it.

6. Laces out

Belgian lace is intricate, delicate, detailed and finely spun craftwork that’s quite special to some people. But textile work specific to a region isn’t unusual, so don’t feel like you have to pay an exorbitant amount for it. Lace shops might look fancy, but it doesn’t mean they should overcharge. Beware of paying too much for lace around the center.

7. Walk but maybe don’t eat: Rue des Bouchers

This quaint little alleyway is covered top to bottom in Belgian cafes and restaurants, with waiters beckoning patrons from the sides. The whole street seems to be working together, as prices, deals and dishes are strikingly similar. Rue des Bouchers is a strange, independent organism that seems to live by sucking euros from tourists that don’t know the difference between paella and mussels.

8. Dine local away from the action

In general, Brussels best finds are down small streets and away from the tourist spirals of Grand Place. Being a safe, small city to wander in, locals know their favorite eating spots lie within neighborhoods around the center square. There’s a huge café culture here, do as the Belgians do and wander until something looks appealing.

Related: Exploring the neighborhoods of Brussels

9. Strolling around here is easy (and free!)

The “must-see” of Brussels is the city itself, and downtown is very walkable. From the Botanique cultural center to the Brussels Charleroi canal and the dozens of impressive churches around town — everything is a stone’s throw away. However, if you don’t feel like walking too much, public transit is also a breeze, with underground metro stops at all of the above-mentioned areas. A one-day pass is €7.50

Cheapos love Residence les Ecrins for its good location and fun Tin Tin motif in the dining room. Photo: EuroCheapo

10. Finding affordable accommodations

Again, the center is a great place to wander but not necessarily to sleep in. Prices are usually high, and most Belgians live luxuriously on the fringe of the center. Since the city is small and easy to move in, don’t be afraid to find something further from the train stations and Grand Place. Some of the more clean and modern spots are away from those areas. Check out our favorite budget hotels in Brussels.

Furthermore, as a hub of the European Union, during the week, hotel prices soar. For a better deal, come on the weekend when most bureaucrats have headed home.

Ready to search? Check out our full list of cheap hotels in Brussels

The post Brussels Budget Travel Guide: 10 ways to save on your trip appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, there are still plenty of budget-friendly hotels to be found. We’ve made the hunt even easier by compiling a list of our favorite super cheap hotels in Brussels.

Also in our Brussels guide: Once you’ve booked your hotel, be sure brush up on these 10 budget tips in Brussels and check out these 5 free attractions to help you save even more money on your trip.

5 Super cheap hotels in Brussels

Along with price, these affordable hotels in Brussels also score high in other categories. We love these hotels for their cleanliness, comfort, hospitality, and character.

The same family has operated A La Grande Cloche since 1966!

A La Grande Cloche

Place Rouppe 10
Neighborhood: Grand Place
User rating: 8.0
Doubles starting at $56

The A La Grande Cloche is a family-run hotel with a location in the heart of Brussels. It’s just minutes from public transportation and attractions. The rooms aren’t terribly exciting, but they are clean, comfortable — and most importantly — often very cheap! Free Wi-Fi and a huge breakfast spread make this hotel an even better deal. Read the full review here.

Max Hotel blends cool and modern style with super cheap rates.

Max Hotel

Bd. Adolphe Max 107
Neighborhood: Near Gare du Nord
User rating: 8.1
Doubles starting at $57

The Max Hotel is a clean, minimalist, no-frills hotel with a central Brussels location. The list of amenities is not very long, but it does include flat-screen televisions, air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. But costs are low, and Cheapos will love these prices.

Want to go super Cheapo? Waiving the maid service can save you an extra €15! Read more about the Max Hotel here.

You’ll love the outdoor patio and the prices at the Vintage Hotel.

Vintage Hotel

Dejoncker 45
Neighborhood: St. Gilles
User rating: 8.6
Doubles starting at $62

Retro furnishings and an overall groovy vibe define the Vintage Hotel. The décor may be all old-school, but the amenities are very modern. Rooms boast flat-screen televisions and free Wi-Fi. Guests will also love the hotel’s shared spaces, including a patio and a 24-hour lounge with a wine bar. Learn more about the hotel and book a room here.

Hotel Pantone is a modern, 3-star budget gem just outside the city center.

The Pantone Hotel Brussels

1 Place Loix
Neighborhood: St. Gilles
User rating: 8.3
Doubles starting at $63

The colorful Pantone Hotel is designed according to — you guessed it — the Pantone color system. Along with clean, fun design, the hotel also offers air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, toiletries, and LCD televisions in every room. The hotel isn’t in the city center, but it is very close to public transportation and is located on a block lined with handsome Art Nouveau buildings. Read our review of the Pantone Hotel.

The reception area is a cozy place to kick back at Hotel Noga.

Hotel Noga

Du Béguinage 38
Neighborhood: Ste. Catherine
User rating: 8.8
Doubles starting at $82

With a quiet location and eclectic décor, the Hotel Noga makes a great home base for Cheapos. A mixture of vintage and modern furnishings create lots of character in the rooms, and amenities include everything from air conditioning and minibars to free newspapers and Wi-Fi. Outside the hotel, there are plenty of sights and attractions to see. Read the full review of Hotel Noga.

More budget hotels in Brussels

While these hotels are certainly great deals, our guide has dozens of other cheapo stays in the city. Check out our full list of budget hotels in Brussels.

Have you been to Brussels? Share your tips in the comments below and let us know if you have any favorite hotels in Brussels!

The post Brussels Cheap Hotels: 5 Super cheap options from our guide appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We combed through the budget hotel recommendations in eight of our popular cities looking for unique places to sleep. Some are more unusual than others. Let’s face it, some cities have a bit more “edge” than others.

Still, all of these picks struck us as interesting. After all, why have a normal night’s sleep?

How many hemp products can you spot in this room? Photo: EuroCheapo

Amsterdam: Hemp Hotel

Doubles €70-80

Perhaps the name already gave it away. But yes, from the linens and furnishings in the guestrooms to the refreshments served in the hipster bar downstairs, everything that can be made out of hemp at the Hemp Hotel is. This appreciation for all things hemp allures hemp aficionados the world over, as does the (obviously) smoke-friendly bar downstairs. Rooms are otherwise pretty basic, but you won’t remember, anyway.

(Read review | See all recommended hotels in Amsterdam)

Breakfast in the Belle Époque dining room of a silent movie star? Welcome to the Funk. Photo: EuroCheapo

Berlin: Pension Funk

Doubles €52-109

Film buffs traveling to the German capital should certainly consider a night spent in silent film legend Asta Nielsen’s 1930’s apartment. Located on one of Charlottenburg’s most beautiful streets, the Funk (meaning “radio”) is a Belle Époque dream, and rooms are as pristine as a museum’s. A great deal.

(Read full review | See all recommended hotels in Berlin)

Even the bikes are flawlessly color coordinated at Brussels’ Pantone Hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

Brussels: The Pantone Hotel

Doubles €69-189

Those literally looking for a “colorful” night’s rest should look no further than Brussel’s Pantone Hotel, which holds the distinction as being the only hotel in the world built according to the Pantone color categorization system. Rooms sport rather swanky modern furnishings and the hotel attracts a fashionable (and color-coordinated) clientele, but hey, it’s still pretty affordable… for Brussels.

(Read full review | See all recommended hotels in Brussels)

Sleep “al fresco” at Florence’s lovely Bavaria. Photo: EuroCheapo

Florence: Hotel Bavaria

Doubles €39-98

Okay, things don’t get too funky in Florence. However, those looking for something special should consider the sweet, family-run Bavaria. This one-star hotel is located in a 16th-century building and offers 17 large and simple rooms, some of which have restored frescoes on the ceilings and walls. Given the artistry, location and ultra-low rates, we’d consider the Bavaria quite unusual.

(Read full review | See all recommended hotels in Florence)

Even the hallways at the Goldman 25hours in Frankfurt are an art installation. Photo: EuroCheapo

Frankfurt: Goldman 25hours

Doubles €69-150

In a city known more for its conference rooms than hotel rooms, the Goldman 25hours delivers some welcome artistic flair. Each of the hotel’s 49 rooms was designed with gusto by a local artist, and the result is a hotel with a wide range of styles: funky, eclectic, shaggy, bright, conceptual, etc.

(Read full review | See all recommended hotels in Frankfurt)

The view from Lisbon’s enchanting Ninho das Aguias. Photo: EuroCheapo

Lisbon: Pensao Ninho das Aguias

Doubles €35-50

Travelers in search of a view who are willing to climb (and climb… and climb…) to reach their bed will feel right at home at the Ninho das Aguias, the “Eagles Nest.” Perched high over Lisbon next to the castle, this old-fashioned spot may not be modern or luxurious, but from the moment you fling your windows open to “that view” over Lisbon, you’ll be enchanted. Built in the late 19th century as a private house, the Ninho has only been lightly converted into a guest house. You’ll appreciate that when hanging out in the garden, reading on the patio, or chatting with Filomena, the friendly proprietor.

(Read full review | See all recommended hotels in Lisbon)

The bedrooms at the Hotel de Nesle are really something for the history books. Photo: EuroCheapo

Paris: Hotel de Nesle

Doubles 7euro;75-12

The charming little Hotel de Nesle seems plucked from a storybook, with most of its 18 guest rooms boasting a history-themed wall mural. David, who runs the St-Germain hotel with his mother and is an artist in his own right, painted these fantastic depictions of French history, including scenes with Moliere, Hugo, and famous residents of the neighborhood.

(Read full review | See all recommended hotels in Paris)

There’s definitely something convent-ional about sleeping at the Suore di S. Elisabetta. Photo: EuroCheapo

Rome: Suore di S. Elisabetta

Doubles from €64

For those who don’t mind a curfew or sleeping under a crucifix, the friendly nuns of Santa Elisabetta present a fine (and spotless) budget option. Things are obviously kept quite simple in the rooms, and some share facilities while more expensive rooms have their own. Breakfast is included and served in an ornate dining room.

(Read full review | See all recommended hotels in Rome)

For more budget hotel recommendations (including many that are sadly quite a bit more conventional) visit our hotel guides for dozens of cities throughout Europe.

The post 8 cheap and unusual hotels in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Thalys is one of those quintessential European brands — very grounded and yet very cosmopolitan at the same time. We raised a smile when Thalys burbled in a press release that the cafés on Thalys trains are more than merely spots to grab a cuppa. In Thalys-talk those bistro cars are “symboles de convivialité et d’échanges interculturels.” Now you know! With Thalys you get culture and conviviality with your cappuccino.

Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam

Thalys trains run non-stop from Paris to Brussels (and vice versa) up to two dozen times each day. They dash between the two capitals in just 82 minutes — not bad for a run of some 200 miles that takes in a great sweep of Picardy and Flanders along the way.

Thalys has a monopoly in direct train services between Paris and Brussels, as indeed they do on a number of other routes (such as from Amsterdam to both Brussels and Paris). About half of the Paris to Brussels services continue north beyond Brussels to Amsterdam — along the way stopping at Antwerp, Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport.

Daily direct services from Paris to 18 destinations

Other Paris-originating Thalys services fan out from Brussels to serve other destinations across Belgium and neighboring Germany. Here is a summary of direct Thalys links from Paris (all are direct trains via Brussels):

Bruges: 1 per day
Brussels Zaventem Airport: 1 per day
Cologne: 5 per day
Duisburg: 2 per day
Düsseldorf: 3 per day
Düsseldorf Airport: 1 per day
Essen: 3 per day
Ghent: 1 per day
Liège: 5 per day
Oostende: 1 per day

In addition, Thalys has a once-daily service from Paris to Liège via Mons, Charleroi and Namur (so not serving Brussels).

Seasonal services

Thalys also runs a limited number of additional seasonal services geared to the holiday market. These include summer Saturday services from Amsterdam (via Brussels) to the south of France and winter direct trains to French ski resorts.

Passengers board a Thalys train in Liege. Photo: HiddenEurope.

On board

Thalys trains offer two classes of service, referred to as Comfort 1 and Comfort 2. All seats in both classes are fully reservable. This is not, on the whole, a turn-up-and-ride rail service. You need to book in advance.

Travelers in Comfort 1 accommodation making any journey of 50 minutes or more receive a complimentary meal service appropriate to the time of day. Expect a decent three-course spread on midday and evening journeys and lighter snacks at other times. Good French wines and classic Belgian beers are also served without charge in Comfort 1.

Comfort 2 passengers can make their way to the bar for a snack, sandwiches and beverages — but you do have to pay.

Fair fares

Thalys services open for booking three months prior to the date of travel and — as so often across Europe — it pays to book early for the best deals. Fares are keenly priced, with a one-way ticket from Paris to Cologne starting at €35. There are some especially good deals in Comfort 1 at off-peak times.

Thalys also offers great value through fares from London, using Eurostar to Brussels and connecting there with onward Thalys connections to the Netherlands and Germany. One-way fares start at €59 in Comfort 2 (with Standard Class on Eurostar) and €109 in Comfort 1 (with Standard Premier on Eurostar).

Pass holders

We are great fans of the Thalys product. This is a rail operator with a great network served by premium high-speed trains. If we have just one negative comment, it is that holders of Eurail and InterRail passes should think twice before opting for Thalys.

Rail passes are not accepted at all on the seasonal Thalys services to the Alps and Provence. They are accepted on other Thalys trains, but only for international journeys, and the rail pass supplements are hefty — sometimes even more than an advance-booking ticket for the same journey. Here are some examples of the supplements payable by holders of global InterRail and Eurail passes:

Paris to Amsterdam €39 (2nd), €62 (1st)
Cologne to Paris €36 (2nd), €51 (1st)

If you have a pass with more restricted geographical validity, one that covers only part of your intended Thalys route, then even higher supplements kick in.

Alternatives to Thalys

Thalys offers comfort and speed. But if you have a rail pass, you have the flexibility to take detours. Even in markets where Thalys has a monopoly in direct train services, there are always other options. You will need to change trains along the way, but you can then avoid those hefty Thalys supplements.

From Brussels to Amsterdam, for example, just take the regular cross-border service to Den Haag. The latter route runs every two hours. At Den Haag, you can hop onto the next Dutch local train for the short onward journey to Amsterdam.

The post Paris to Brussels and Beyond: Essential Thalys appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

In Belgium, it is Brussels that pulls the crowds, and we certainly find the city a great spot to while away a day or two. It can be pricey, so it’s good to remember that rates for the more business-orientated hotels in Brussels plummet on weekend nights.

Beyond the capitals

But there’s more to the Low Countries than merely Brussels and Amsterdam, and we find that the smaller cities in this region better capture the flavor of their respective countries.

Here’s a handful of smaller cities in the Netherlands, any or all of which make a great overnight stay:

+ Middelburg
+ Delft
+ Gouda
+ Utrecht
+ Maastricht

Hop over the border into Belgium, and the following trio really deserves a day or two:

+ Bruges
+ Ostend
+ Spa

Creative travelers can devise smart itineraries, hopping from one small town to the next through the Low Countries. Flanders, Zeeland and Holland are much too good to just speed through on the fast train. These regions boast gentle landscapes of delicate beauty which powerfully influenced local artists from Pieter Bruegel the Elder to James Ensor.

An Amsterdam-bound alternative

European Rail News this week published our preferred route for Amsterdam-bound travelers coming from Paris and London. With a few days to spare, travelers with a zest for adventure can ride from Lille to Amsterdam by local train, bus and ferry, stopping off along the way at three of the small towns mentioned in our list above: Bruges, Middelburg and Delft. Indeed, with only modest detours off that route, one can also take in Ostend (a real heaven for fish lovers) and Gouda (good for more than merely cheese).

Taking time for smaller communities always makes sense. Accommodation is often cheaper than in the bigger cities favored by most tourists, and the chances are that in a smaller place you’ll get a warmer welcome from the locals.

And just now there is very good reason to by-pass the main tourist trail from Brussels to Amsterdam. The posh new train service called FYRA, launched last month to bring high-speed style to that route, has ground unceremoniously to a halt. Apart from the premium Thalys service (which carries hefty supplements for rail pass holders) there are at present simply no direct trains from Brussels to the Netherlands. Good reason, therefore, to think about inventive alternatives.

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Fair fares and high speed

With adult return fares from London to Brussels and Paris currently available from £59 return, budget-conscious British travelers are well aware that in terms of price and city center to city center journey times Eurostar knocks spots off the competition from airlines. And this train service has subtly reshaped England’s relationship with Europe — most particularly since late 2007 when the stylish terminal at St. Pancras replaced dowdy Waterloo as the London launch-pad for trains to the continent.

Reshaping Europe

Londoners have suddenly realised that the journey from St. Pancras to Brussels takes no longer than the ride from St. Pancras to Sheffield. You can hop on Eurostar in London and alight at Calais (the first stop in France) less than an hour later.

But Eurostar is more than merely the canny way to reach Brussels and Paris. It is a good choice for a wonderful range of other journeys. For example, Eurostar offers winter-season direct trains from London to the French Alps. The current season is well underway with most services already heavily booked. The last return trains from Bourg-St-Maurice and Moûtiers-Salins are this year on April 13.

From London to Aix-en-Provence

Eurostar has long run a summer service from London to Avignon and that popular route to Provence is set to return for 2013, but with an interesting twist. Direct trains to Avignon will this year run for a longer summer season (with the first departure from London on May 4 and the last on August 31). During the months of May and June, these trains will be extended beyond Avignon to Aix-en-Provence.

Breaking records

Aix thus becomes the most distant point from London to which it has ever been possible to travel on a direct train from London. Way back in pre-Eurostar days, there were direct overnight sleeper services from London to the continent. The trains cars were ferried over the English Channel in a boat. For a time there were even through carriages to Switzerland, but never has there been anything to match this new direct train to Aix.

Eurostar will purr from St. Pancras to Aix-en-Provence, a journey of 1,215 km (about 755 miles), in just over six hours. Return fares to Aix can still be booked from just £109.

How to book tickets

To grab the best fares on Eurostar, bear in mind the forward booking horizons that apply to your intended route. For the capital city services from London to Paris and Brussels, tickets go on sale four months before departure. That same forward booking horizon applies for tickets to Calais and Lille.

But tickets for other Eurostar destinations go on sale very much longer in advance. For example, the company runs a direct service from London to Marne la Vallée – Chessy (a route that is hugely popular with British families bound for Disneyland, but also useful for the excellent connections at Marne la Vallée into the French TGV network). And tickets on those trains can already be booked right through to October 2013.

Tickets for all direct trains to Avignon and Aix in 2013 can already be booked on the Eurostar website — right through to August 31, 2013. But if you are looking to book a trip to the ski slopes on one of Eurostar’s direct trains to the Alps for next winter, you’ll have to wait a while yet. We expect tickets for those services to be released for sale in July 2013.

The post Eurostar Expands its Network: London to Aix-en-Provence from £109 return appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a trio of tips for budget travelers who don’t want to book their rail journeys months in advance.

1. Check for local and regional travel passes.

Global pass options (such as those marketed under both InterRail and Eurail schemes) can be a wonderful value if you are really making long hops by rail across Europe. If your geographical horizons are more limited, it is always worth checking for local passes that cover your intended travel area. The target markets for such passes are often budget-conscious locals rather than well-heeled visitors.

Many areas of Europe have such passes. Here are just three examples from among the hundreds of offers available.

Italy: The Mobilcard Alto Adige allows unlimited travel on selected mainline and mountain railways, buses and cable cars in the Südtirol area of northern Italy. There are various options, but the top-of-the-range seven-day pass is just €28.

Britain: The Derbyshire Wayfarer is a rover ticket allowing unlimited travel on trains and buses in much of the scenic Peak District. Its validity extends beyond merely Derbyshire, for it can be used on journeys from Derbyshire to selected points in five adjacent counties. It costs £11.10 for a day.

Germany: The Bayern Ticket is valid on most trains and buses in the German State of Bavaria (as well as on selected cross-border journeys to neighboring German states and into Austria). It costs €22 for one person for a day (with each accompanying traveler paying just €4 extra).

2. Think about return tickets.

If you are buying tickets as you go, rather than using a rail pass or pre-booking discount rail fares, bear in mind that a return may not cost much more than a single. Here are two examples:

Belgium: The regular one-way fare from Brussels to Bruges is €13.50. But a weekend return (valid from 7 p.m. Friday and anytime Saturday and Sunday) costs just a fraction more at €14.40.

Britain: Roll up at Kings Cross station in London at mid-morning on a busy weekday, expecting to travel at once to Scotland, and you will pay mightily for the privilege of traveling so spontaneously. The single fare to Edinburgh will set you back a hefty £125.70. But for just one pound more you can bag a return ticket from London to Edinburgh.

3. Consider stopovers.

On many journeys across Europe by train, it pays to buy a ticket through to the most distant point and then make use of any break-of-journey privileges that might apply to that ticket.

Take the case above, where we showed how on many long-distance journeys in Britain you can often pay just one pound extra for a return rather than a single ticket. The return half of such tickets is generally valid for a month and it is perfectly possible to stop off along the way. So there is no reason why you cannot break your journey from Edinburgh back to London with a night or two in Durham and then again in York. Indeed you can even vary your route: for example speeding north from London direct to Edinburgh via the East Coast route, but returning back to London via the West Coast – breaking your journey, for example, in the Lake District.

Think creatively about how you can map stopovers into your journey. A Berlin to Vienna ticket, for example, will usually allow you to break your journey at no extra cost in both Dresden and Prague. Do get specialist advice, though, when you buy the ticket. The rules on breaks of journey are famously complicated. With some tickets you may need to specify the place and duration of any break of journey at the time of purchase.

Happy traveling in 2013.

The post 3 Rail Tips for 2013: Consider regional passes, return tickets and stopovers appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Too often we hear folk complain that buying international train tickets from the UK is difficult, and too often that supposed difficulty is adduced as an argument in favor of flying. Our experience in buying train tickets has however generally been positive. Buying train tickets from Britain to the near-Continent (and even to spots further afield in Europe) is pretty easy.

Fast and easy with Rail Europe UK

For straightforward journeys to France originating in London a very good choice is Rail Europe UK. A simple easy-to-understand user interface allows for painless online bookings from London (or Eurostar’s two other points of call in south-east England: Ebbsfleet and Ashford) to many stations in France.

Journeys from London booked with Rail Europe always start with a journey on Eurostar. Rail Europe UK gives the convenience of being able to purchase, with just one transaction, tickets from London right through to your final destination (which will often involve a change of train in Paris, Lille or — though only occasionally — Calais).

If you move off the main routes, or search for itineraries with multiple changes of train, you may find that the online booking system will advise you to call the Rail Europe UK booking center (0044 844 848 4064) to finalize your booking. A booking fee of £8 (that is per booking, not per ticket) applies to bookings made by phone. You do need a credit card registered at a UK billing address. Our experience is that the quality of telephone service offered by Rail Europe UK is first class (although at busy times you may have to just be a little patient).

Beyond France

Rail Europe UK is a top choice for journeys not merely to France. Depending on your itinerary, it is a good option for journeys through France and beyond. For example, it makes perfect sense to try Rail Europe first if you are planning journeys to:

1. Central and southern Germany where you particularly wish to travel via Paris rather than Brussels and Cologne;

2. Western and central Switzerland routed via Paris rather than Brussels and Cologne;

3. Spain via Paris, then continuing onward by daytime TGV trains or with the comfortable overnight services from Paris to Barcelona or Madrid run by Elipsos;

4. Belgian Flanders where you wish to connect at Lille (rather than Brussels) onto SNCB local services;

5. Luxembourg via either Brussels or Paris;

6. Aachen or Cologne in Germany if you wish to travel via Paris and then continue with a Thalys train (rather than taking the more obvious and faster route with Eurostar to Brussels and then on to Germany);

7. Northern Italy via Paris.

London to Paris, Brussels, or Lille

For simple point-to-point journeys from London to Eurostar’s direct destinations (eg. Paris, Brussels, Lille, etc), Rail Europe UK is a good choice, though for these straightforward bookings we would also recommend booking your tickets on Eurostar’s own website.

Leeds to Lille, Peterborough to Paris

Where the Eurostar website is superb is in allowing through bookings from over 450 stations in Britain via London and the Channel Tunnel to the continent. You can thus book from many provincial stations in England, Wales and Scotland right thru to any Eurostar destination on the Continent — and even to stations beyond the tentacles of the Eurostar network. You can book online thru tickets to any station in Belgium or the Netherlands, to hundreds of stations across France and to five Swiss cities.

Deutsche Bahn UK

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is our clear first choice for online bookings from London on all journeys to Germany routed via Brussels and Cologne. Online bookings are only possible if you use one of DB’s four daily ICE trains on the cross-border hop from Brussels to Cologne (rather than the more frequent Thalys services). Stick to one of those DB trains, book three months in advance, and you’ll find some mighty bargains for journeys from London to the remotest corners of Germany. If you have any problems booking online, just call the DB UK booking center at 0044 8718 80 80 66.

The Brussels-Cologne route makes perfect sense for journeys from London to northern Germany. If you are heading for Munich or elsewhere in the south, you may secure a faster journey time via Paris (in which case Rail Europe UK is the obvious booking portal).

Through Tickets to Holland

We have from time to time used other sites for booking journeys from London to the near-Continent. For journeys from London to the Netherlands, the NS Hi-Speed site has served us well.

And we are great fans of journeys that combine rail and sea and thus like the Stena Line site which allows us to book thru rail-sea journeys from any one of over 150 stations in eastern England to any railway station in the Netherlands from as little as £39 one-way. Look for the dutchflyer Rail and Sail fares.

Spoiled for Choice

Well are we aware that there are many other vendors who offer tickets in the UK to the Continent, and some will perhaps cry foul that we have not mentioned them here. We have heard folk speak well of new start-up Loco2 (for online bookings) and we have received many good reports of the first-class customer service provided by four long-established agents: Ffestiniog Travel, TrainsEurope, International Rail and Rail Canterbury. We have no reason to doubt those reports — in this article we have merely foregrounded those vendors with whom we have ourselves had positive experiences.

Just in case you wondered, none of the companies mentioned in this article offered any incentive to secure a mention. We review these issues of ticketing in more depth in our book Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide for independent Travellers (published by Thomas Cook).

Finally, we must put in a good word for Mark Smith, the marvelous Man in Seat 61, whose website gives wise counsel on all matters relating to the high theology of European rail ticketing.

The post Train Tickets: Britain to Continental Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.