I'm going on the Best of Holland, Belgium, & Luxembourg TT in mid-Sept., followed by a week in Holland after the trip. Does anyone have an idea on the type of weather in that area in late Sept. & early Oct.? Going at that time of year means that we will miss all the tulips, but we're hoping we'll miss some of the crowds too! This will my hubby's first TT, although I have been on one before. Has anyone been on this Benelux tour? Any suggestions?

Hi Canadian Jan!
I did the tour in 2005 from August 25th and LOVED it.
The hotels were lovely - especially Brussels. The Belgian chocolates were far more than lovely. The Netherlands was beautiful and the people just as much. Bruges was a lovely surprise. The fact that I was newly retired may have influenced my attitude but I truly enjoyed the tour and will return to the Netherlands and Belgium.
I did all the optionals and the one to the Lion's Mount was the one that disappointed me. All the others were fine.
Our TD arranged to split the optional that included the Anne Frank House into 2 parts so that people whose arrival schedules would have made them late for the tour could still do it with the revised arrangements.
Bon voyage!

P.S. The weather at that time of year should be very much like what you would have at home.

Thanks for your reply, ZeldaSue.

Did you have much rain? My mouth is already watering for that Belgium chocolate!! What was the Optional to Lion's Mount about? Why was it a disappointment? When did you do the Anne Frank Optional? I would be very interested in doing that one. If it's offered on the day of arrival, we might not be able to do it then, as we won't get to our hotel until mid-afternoon.

Since the Benelux countries are so close to the sea, I imagine a lot of the included dinners are "fishy". I really don't care for fish, although my hubby loves it. Were there lots of other choices for meals? Was your coach full? Were they from all over the world, or mainly from a couple of countries? Who was your TD & did you like him/her?

quote:

What was the Optional to Lion's Mount about? Why was it a disappointment?

It's the Battle of Waterloo memorial site. It disappoints some people because there's really not a great deal there, but I'm not sure what they expect - some sort of "theme park", perhaps? You visit it because it's the location of one of the most sigificant events in European history, not for what's there now.

At the Battle of Waterloo Memorial site, is there anything other than a statue? Is there a presentation of some kind about the battle? My husband & I are historic reenactors, so we would definitely be interested in going to that site if there was some type of description of the battle there.

Last year, we went to Portsmouth & toured the fabulous historic dockyard. We spent several hours there (on our own, not on an organized tour), & we were both enthralled. I am currently putting together a scrapbook of our day there. The HMS Victory was amazing!

I guess that is why I asked ZeldaSue what she did not like about the Optional Tour to Lion's Mount. Everyone has different interests, so what one person might love, another might not like at all. Sounds like we might like ALL the Optional Tours on our TT!

Hi Jan,

Chris Marriott previously explained why he disagrees with me about the Waterloo memorial/Lion's mount. He's a history buff and I'm not all that keen - at least that period. For some people, it's enough to say, "I was there...) It sounds as if you and your husband will want to do that one.

The reason it was a disappointment was that it was a very long drive out to the centre and the climb up the steps was not appropriate for all (depending on health/physical condition) and once you got to the top I don't recall that there was proper signage explaining what we were looking at and what it would have been back then. I found the little museum to be quite skimpy on displays and explanations. I wasn't expecting a theme park but I was hoping for more than there was.

We did the Jewish Amsterdam optional in 2 parts. The walking tour and the synagogue portion went out during the afternoon of the day I arrived. People who arrived too late could sign up for the 2nd part, the Anne Frank House. That was visited early in the morning of the next day before the actual tour got underway. I don't know if that was just our TD being resourceful or if all the Trafalgar TD's now do that.

P.S. I've listed all the optionals that we did under NJSkiGuy's topic in the Trafalgar Tours section (Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg Optional Excursions).

Thanks for those terrific photos ZeldaSue! My mouth is already watering for those truffles!! I think I better diet before I go so I can make room for all the Belgian chocolate I'm sure to consume!! I'll probably buy some to take home for gifts for my children & grandchildren, but they'll be lucky if it all makes it home!!!!

Thanks also for the photo of Lion's Mount. I'll have to talk that one over with my husband. The Optionals all look so good, that it's always a difficult decision to leave any out.

Jan,
If you're going to buy chocolates, I think Bruges will be less expensive than Brussels. Also, I'd recommend taking along one of the bags they sell at our grocery stores to keep hot things hot and cold things cold. People have had concerns about their chocolates melting and those whatcha-ma-call-it bags are what have been suggested.
Enjoy!

We're doing Best of HB&L in mid-Sept, too. Other than Lion's Mount and Anne Frank's House, what other optionals do those of you who have taken this tour recommend or not recommend. BTW, this will be our 10th TT!

Jan, the weather should be quite nice - temps in the 60's, and low rain levels.

Hi Berwoman!

We are on the tour that starts on Sept. 18. Is that the one you're on? This is my 2nd TT, but only the first for my husband. We have gone on 2 cruises, & really enjoy them, but wanted to spend more time in the Benelux countries this time, so chose a TT. On my previous TT, I couldn't find anyone who had even heard of this BB! All the Optionals listed in the brochure for this tour sound great, so we'll probably sign up for all or at least most of them. We love meeting all the great people on tours with us, so if you're on the same tour as we are, I'm sure we'll meet up!

Jan

For anyone planning to do this Benelux tour (and by the way, it is a great tour), the chocolate to buy is Galler (excellent! and we're not even chocoholics), and the place to buy it is Brugges!

Skip the Brugges optional and spend the day in the City. It's so typically European, so quaint, so intriguing.

We were glad we skipped the Brussels tour, too, to immerse ourselves in the city and the Belgian waffles and pomme frites.

Don't skip the tour of Anne Frank's house - it's very sombering - or the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam.

There is a new optional now in Rotterdam - a tour of the windmills via a canal cruise and then a hands-on demonstration of the way windmills work. Definitely worth doing!

The meals - esp. the included meals - were the best ever on a Trafalgar tour. There has been a huge improvement in the included meals over the last 10 years.

Hi Laura,
We finally got home, & then I promptly got sick. However, I've now recovered & posted our synopsis of our trip in the Tour Tales section. Check it out.

Have you printed any of your photos yet? You & your hubby are in a couple of mine. It was great meeting you!

Jan

Hi,We were in Holland and a wee bit in Belgium this year with Trafalgar tour beginning of October.It was quite cold,and grey.I think if I recall aproximately 14 degrees.all the best Janine