InterContinental Hotels Group Stay Forum - CP Brugge (Bruges / Belgium)

Just wanted to share my experience at this hotel.
It was a very pleasant surprise!
I got upgraded to a suite facing the Burg, on the corner above
the hotel front door. The location is absolutely amazing,
the best in Brugge. There is an underground parking, very good breakfast.
Everybody was very nice and the service was great (not common in Europe).
The room was very clean and very large. VEry highly recommend it
to anybody visiting this beautiful town.
One thing - it's kind of hard to drive in Brugge, many streets are one way
and the hotel being right in the heart of it is difficult to get to.
Just follow the driving directions, but be careful.

I would second this! I stayed there two weeks ago and must have had an equivalent room. Great view. Nice hotel. Right in the city center of one of the most beautiful little cities in Europe.

I was thinking of staying there next week as both HI's in Gent (Expo & Express) were sold out. The only thing which stopped me was the internet - it said WIFI all over and dial-up in the rooms. WIFI can be spotty at times in rooms, and without wired HSI, I can be pretty handicapped. Use Skype/Vonage/Cisco IP phone to keep in touch with family/co-workers. Also, I think did not show up as a Boingo hotspot. Did any of you use the internet?

Was able to call PC and get into Gent Expo using the Platinum 72 hour guarantee. Much pleased..as other co-workers have to stay in 3 diff hotels on 3 diff nights in 2 diff cities.



I would second this! I stayed there two weeks ago and must have had an equivalent room. Great view. Nice hotel. Right in the city center of one of the most beautiful little cities in Europe.

Yes, I used the internet in the Brugge CP without any problems (other than I could not connect to my SMTP mail server to send mail from my personal account so I had to use the webmail interface). It was 10 Euro per day for the wireless access in both rooms and common areas (at least I think it was wireless).

So, spent the weekend there. I paid 80 euros Incl tax per night, room only.
Skipped the brekkie (22E) but the hotel automatically adds it to the bill and you have to get it removed on checkout-policy!!!!

Got upgraded to a medieval junior suite- lovely room!!!

No club room, a pool, no jacuzzi :(
NO business centre.

A great hotel but limited facilites- gr8 location!!

the service was great (not common in Europe)

This is a very well known fact proved by many studies: CP Bruges is the only place in whole Europe when you can have a good service :D:D

Got a weekend at the CP Brugge next month.

Has anyone who has stayed there got any tips/observations?

Specifically, how far is it from the train station? We don't want to be trudging miles with bags, but equally don't want one of those embarassingly short taxi rides where the driver basically crosses the road then asks for a tenner.

Cheers

MIM

Good hotel in an excellent location - especially if you are lucky with upgrades; I've had both a nice suite and smallish room.

The station is on the ring road, probably a mile or so from the hotel. I wouldn't think it was too easy to walk with bags, but I haven't tried.

DH and I visited Brugge year and a half ago and loved it! We didn't stay at the Crowne Plaza but we did visit their basement - they have a display of frescoes and other items found when they excavated for the hotel. It's a fantastic location, just across from Burg Square.

City Hall is practically a museum itself - complete with audio guides. And don't miss the Renaisance Hall fireplace (I think it's included as part of the City Hall tour).

Brugge is a great walking city but I would definitely take a taxi from the station to the hotel and back - cobblestones and wheeled luggage are not a good thing, even if you love walking!

If you're into art, the Groeninge museum is spectacular. Everything, including a few canals, are a short walking distance for you so you should love the place.

We were a short distance from the Crowne Plaza - remember "In Bruges" - it was the same hotel Colin Ferrell stayed at in the film (Relais Bourgandisch Cruyce). In fact, if you haven't seen it, the film uses most of the locations right around that area so seeing it was a walk down memory lane.

Have a great time.

I stayed at the CP Brugge on a pointbreaks rate. It's a very nice hotel right in the centre of the beautiful historic old town of Brugge. We booked and got a Family room with two Queen beds. The room seemed to be renovated lately. It had a flat TV, minibar, safe (unfortunately not big enough for a laptop), coffee and tea making facilities and an air condition which worked fine in May/June. I'm not sure if it has enough power in the summer month.


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3672/bruegge01.jpg


Brugge doesn't have an airport. You can go there by car or train. If arriving by car, there is a large parking garage at the central station for a fee of 2,50 Euro/day. The hotel has it's own parking garage. Charge is 20 Euro/day.

From the central station it's a 20 minutes walk to the hotel. There are also buses going to the stop "Brugge Markt", which is 200 metres to the hotel.

Wireless internet is 10 Euro/day right now but there will be installed a new form of internet supply in the first week of June.

The swimming pool is on the 8th floor, which is small but nice. There's also a sauna room, ~ 75° C, with the option to make a "Aufguss" (finnish: Löyly). When looking at the hotel building I'm still wondering where the 8 floors are located.


http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6263/bruegge11.jpg


From the central bus station there are buses going to the beach locations, e.g. to the city of Blankenberge. It's only a 23 minutes ride. A day pass for all buses including the Kusttram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusttram) is only 5 Euro if purchased at the ticket machine. Inside the bus it's 6 Euro.

I've stayed here several times and it is a great hotel. The parking at the train station really is the best way to go. Trying to drive right to the hotel will get you lost for at least a half hour every time guaranteed. Park at the station and walk to the hotel, take the bus, or take a cab if you have baggage. The savings on parking will more than offset the cab fees.

And don't forget to check out the museum in the basement. It is very interesting.

Just got back from a two night reward stay at this property using "point breaks". We booked two rooms, for myself and my husband as well as for my parents.

Communication by email with questions prior to the stay were dealt with quickly, politely and efficiently.

I have platinum status and we were quietly and casually given an unannounced upgrade for both of our rooms. We booked standard non-smoking Queen rooms and were given non-smoking King rooms on the top floor with views of Burg Square (701 & 703). We were very happy with this, particularly as we knew that the hotel was booked out as many of the staff associated with a Natalia concert were staying there. Complimentary water was issued in both rooms (alas, only on the first night) and I received a box of Belgian chocolates - which was also very much appreciated.

The A/C worked well and kept us comfortable during this very hot weekend. TV channels in English consisted of BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, BBCWorld, CNNNews and Channel 5. (TVE was the only channel in Spanish)

WARNING FOR THOSE WITH MOBILITY PROBLEMS
There is elevator access to the 8th floor for those wanting to use the Gym, Sauna and Swimming Pool facilities. Unfortunately, access involves a further flight of stairs. I have problems with my sacroiliac joints (a common aliment for pregnant women) and walk with the aid of a stick, I was just able to manage these stairs.

Budget tip: Getting water in large quantities (essential in hot weather) is tricky and expensive in Brugge. There is a Carrefour Express at some distance from the Hotel and many local shops charge extortionate prices for large bottles. If you have the patience and a suitable receptacle (and minimal mobility problems) there is a water dispenser in the Gym where you can fill up a water bottle for free.

Alternative breakfast location suggestion: http://www.lepainquotidien.be/liste_magasins.php?langue=french&cle_menus=1152881541&cle_data=1041614316
An excellent Belgian patisserie/bakery/organic store chain with reasonable prices and a friendly atmosphere. MAP (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Philipstockstraat+21,+Brugge+8000+Bruges,+West+F landers,+Flemish+Region,+Belgium&sll=4.774425,43.57382&sspn=100.371055,143.789062&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FVdlDQMdZzoxAA&split=0&ll=51.20978,3.228832&spn=0.003428,0.009624&z=17&iwloc=A)
(The pomme-framboise/apple-raspberry juice at 3Euros a litre made a delightfully refreshing drink when mixed 50/50 with sparkling water back in the hotel room)

I'm heading here next week for a few nights with my wife and the in-laws. Has anyone arrived here by train? (Going by Eurostar)

Suggestions appear to be that the best way of getting to the hotel from the station is either bus or a taxi. There'll be four of us to I lean towards the latter, does anyone have experience with this? (ie are there plenty of taxis at the station?)

I'm heading here next week for a few nights with my wife and the in-laws. Has anyone arrived here by train? (Going by Eurostar)

Suggestions appear to be that the best way of getting to the hotel from the station is either bus or a taxi. There'll be four of us to I lean towards the latter, does anyone have experience with this? (ie are there plenty of taxis at the station?)

I arrived with Eurostar and then went onto the hotel by taxi with my parents. Our train arrived at Brugge at 10pm. My husband came on a later train and arrived at midnight, he walked to the Hotel and enjoyed it very much. Both my husband and I walked back to the station.

At Brussels Midi station just find the train to Brugge/Ostende in the adjacent Brussels Zuid station - there are large boards showing the departing trains at several points.

It will leave about 30 minutes after you arrive which leaves you with plenty of time to amble (it shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes to get from one platform to the next).

At Brugge station there are plenty of buses and taxis to the left as you get out. If you wanted to save about 3/4 Euros (so that the taxi fare is 8+ Euros instead of 11+ Euros) you could get out at Markt square. There are a couple of small streets that connect Markt to Burg - I'd recommend the Street at the North (Philipstock Straat rather than Breidel Straat which gets closed off when there's an event in Burg). Otherwise, the taxi will veer South at Markt and make a long detour in order to get through the one way streets and make it to the Crowne Plaza. The taxi fare adds up quickly and is more expensive than London or Tokyo.

The walk between the Hotel and Station is neither particularly long, arduous or unpleasant and takes about 20 minutes (or 30 minutes if like me you need a walking stick and need to take small steps) and you should pass some appealing bars and restaurants that seem well used by the locals. However, the journey is very noisy if you have a case with wheels to haul over the cobbles.

Budget tip for the Eurostar is to take your own tea/coffee/chocolate as you can request a cup of hot water for free on board. Just take the cups (which are sleeved and with lids) back to your seat and add the tea/coffee there. If there's four of you this will potentially save you £1.70 each (£6.80 each way). You can take the refreshments from the Hotel room on the way back.

The trains back to Brussels (remember it's Brussels South/Zuid you're heading for, not Brussels Central) leave at approximately 30 minutes past the hour and on the hour. The train may be extremely crowded if your trip back coincides with the time that Brussel residents are returning to the city from the beach, we were lucky to secure seats for our trip back, many didn't.

If you're returning on the Eurostar on a Sunday afternoon/evening, leave more time than the 30 minute minimum required as you will need to queue to enter the Eurostar terminal, queue again for passport control, queue again for the Xray machines and queue once more for UK border control... and then walk to your train carriage.
We had paper tickets that we knew wouldn't work/scan and queued to see a person at the first set of desks, then we were turned away and made to queue for the automated ticket machines under protest and then needed to come back to the original queue - all of which which took some time. And this was just the first hurdle. We barely made it on board.

All things equal I'd say the Eurostar is the best way to get from London to Belgium, the Eurostar tickets are valid to any Belgian station so you don't need to pay extra to get from Brussels to Brugge. It also saves you valuable time as there's no need to queue for a ticket.

Also remember that unlike most UK rail operators, all food and drink in first class is free. The food is airline style, tray based rather than freshly prepared by a chef but is still usually decent. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are free flowing and I've never had any problems asking for more. In standard class you have to pay for almost everything - although as mentioned by LapLap you're free to bring your own.

Leisure Select is the cheapest 1st class offering and sometimes the price can be very close to the standard class fare so it's worth looking at both options. Note that Leisure Select does not get you lounge access (although Amex platinum will) or priority check-in, you'd need Business Premier for that. However, on-board there's no difference between these two products.

However, as I need valuable bmi miles I most often fly these days, that's purely for the miles though ;)

Thanks for the useful information all

I think it'll have to be a taxi from the station because the bags will be heavy and the wheels will drive me insane! But, tip duly noted about finding a taxi - I look forward to looking dead clever as I march enthusiastically out of the station in the 'wrong' direction and towards a more reasonable ride to the hotel.

Have any PBers had any upgrade loveliness? I'm debating whether to email the hotel and grovel, but I don't like doing it for award stays (unless theyr'e full and getting 90%+ of ADR in which case it feels OK!)

Have any PBers had any upgrade loveliness? I'm debating whether to email the hotel and grovel, but I don't like doing it for award stays (unless theyr'e full and getting 90%+ of ADR in which case it feels OK!)
I mentioned in my report that I had - and that both my room and the one I booked for my parents were upgraded. Only I have status with PC (plat).

We were impressed with this, particularly as we were upgraded to non-smoking rooms on a weekend which was completely sold out - with only a few smoking rooms and suites available the week before.

No mention was made of our upgrade and I certainly never requested one. You may get a better upgrade, such as to a suite, on another weekend which isn't packed out with local popstars and their entourages. We never minded not snaring a suite and were very happy that we arrived when we did - my mum (who's no wallflower) blagged us an invite into the Tour aftershow party at the Hotel with all the drinks and desserts (divine!) we could eat - the local volunteers who had been stewards for the event were the loveliest, loveliest people, it was a wonderful welcome to Brugge. More than made up for the lack of a lounge!

[...]
Have any PBers had any upgrade loveliness? I'm debating whether to email the hotel and grovel, but I don't like doing it for award stays (unless theyr'e full and getting 90%+ of ADR in which case it feels OK!)

I must say that we've had a very nice upgrade on a recent PB stay at CP Brugge.

Since they were totally booked on the first day they couldn't upgrade us, but on the second night we were upgraded to a suite on the top floor overlooking the Burg, which might have been the best room in the hotel.

We really enjoyed our stay in Brugge and I recommend everyone to stay at the CP while there.

. The food is airline style, tray based rather than freshly prepared by a chef but is still usually decent. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are free flowing and I've never had any problems asking for more. In standard class you have to pay for almost everything - although as mentioned by LapLap you're free to bring your own.




.....and with a fairly decent Marks & Spencer grocery store strategically positioned at St Pancras adjacent to Eurostar , that's exactly what many passengers end up doing;)

Just back from a 3 night pointsbreak stay in Brugge over the UK Bank Holiday weekend. Very nice property, briliantly located and with excellent staff.

There were 3 of us in a family room as booked, given the need for family accomodation and the fact it was an August holiday weekend we were not aggreived that no upgrade was available. There was a box of chocolates in the room on arrival however and the two complimentory bottles of water were replaced daily which seems to be increasinly rare at the moment. The family rooms are huge with a nice large bathroom as well.

Breakfast is an eye-watering 22 Euros but it is good quality so a good candidate for using reward breakfast vouchers if you have enough points.

The internet terminal is now free - you have to get a 30 minute voucher from reception. I think wireless internet is now free as well but wasn't able to try this out - the wife would not allow the laptop on a family holiday!

All in all, for 15,000 points for 3 nights in August we felt like we were robbing them!!

Thanks all for this most excellent thread!

I am booked into the CP Brugge in December during a weekday. On the advice of those in this thread, I sent an email to the hotel on Wednesday asking of room 702 is available for my stay.

The response was in less than 24 hours.

The room was available, and they are happy to reserve it for us.

Thanks all!

Are there any recent reports on this hotel? What can a platinum expect? Any excellent nearby restaurants?

Are there any recent reports on this hotel? What can a platinum expect? Any excellent nearby restaurants?

I took my wife there for a long weekend in December last year, and can confirm that it is a superb hotel in a wonderful location. We booked with points and got upgraded to a suite - no free breakfast though.

The hotel is right in the city centre so there's no shortage of restaurants within walking distance. We went to one called Restaurant De Stove, which was excellent, but I can't remember the name of any of the others.

Have a great time in Brugge.

I've stayed there twice in the last year. First time, we were upgraded to one of their deluxe suites - with the exposed wooden ceiling beams; second time I was there with 2 friends so needed a room with 3 beds. Booked a family room and a rollaway bed, and received a deluxe family room with rollaway bed

There was free water (still + sparkling) water in the room, plus a box of fairly ordinary belgian chocolates on both occasions (unsure whether that was a plat gift or welcome gift)

There's free internet access available (or paid for for faster.....although even the free slow version was more speedy than my home connection)

The location is GREAT!

as Doug mentioned, there's no free breakfast though - even when I asked (you can't blame a guy for trying eh?!). There's a "Le Pain Quotient" place at the end of the road that exits the square to the right of the hotel if you want a small breakfast (although not cheap - you're in Brugge after all)

I've been to Brugge 4 times now, and my absolute favourite restaurant is Bistro De Schilder. It's run by a family - Mum in the kitchen with Dad and adult son out the front. The Dad should be pensioned off as he can be a bit miserable, but the Son is great, and the Flemish beef stew is the best I've ever had. It's on Jan van Eyckplein, and the restaurant is right on the corner by the statue.

My favourite pub in the town is one of the slightly touristy ones, I'm afraid, but it's got by far the best atmosphere, in my opinion.
www.thofvanrembrandt.be

CP Brugge is a great hotel, and in a perfect location. If you go by train, take a bus to the centre (the Market), and the CP is just in the next square.

If you want any more details, please PM me. Brugge is a FANTASTIC little town. A must see!

I've now come and gone, and was very content with my stay. I thoroughly read all the reports above, and benefited from much of the advice.

Arrival
We came by train. Others reported taking a bus to a nearby square, but we splurged and took a taxi. It cost roughly 14 euros. Our return to the train station cost about 10 euros. Much of the historic center of Brugge is closed to traffic or a real maze, so the taxi cannot take a particularly direct route. It took roughly 10 minutes to get to the hotel.

We were greeted cordially and were given room 702. This is a spacious family room, with two queen sized beds. The bathroom is small, and only one person fits in it at a time. Others had mentioned upgrades to suites. We are both platinum, but the suites were unavailable. Soft furnishings including the duvet and carpet were acceptable but not luxurious.

We were given two small bottles of sparkling water, one still and one sparkling. We were also given a box of chocolates. We both had laptops, and were both able to use wireless internet for free.

We never ate at the hotel, but did like the large outdoor seating area where you can get food or just a beverage.

Location
Fabulous. We loved being able to walk anywhere we wanted to go, whether restaurants or sightseeing.

Restaurants
We had an excellent breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien, roughly 1 1/2 block from the hotel. It was a bit tricky to find because the Belgian name is given in large letters, and Le Pain Quotidien (by which it is known in the States) was quite small. Both their baked goods and their hot chocolate were superb.

We appreciated markdg's recommendation of Bistro De Schilder. The weather was initially great, and we started outside. We moved in, though, as it began to sprinkle, and found the interior charming. We had the 3 course spring menu for 37 euros and found both the white asparagus and the sole delicious.

Conclusion
I highly recommend the hotel, in large part because the location is ideal for sightseers. It was a great use of a Sweet Dilemma night.

Good to know a recommendation was useful, SanDiego 1k. Thanks a lot for the feedback! ^

Hope you took the time to enjoy some of the wonderful Belgian beers. Some of them are simply wonderful. I've spent much time doing research on this topic (purely for scientific purposes, you understand) and definitely have some favourites, if anyone wants a "dummy's guide to Belgian beer"! :)

We were greeted cordially and were given room 702. This is a spacious family room, with two queen sized beds. The bathroom is small, and only one person fits in it at a time. Others had mentioned upgrades to suites. We are both platinum, but the suites were unavailable. Soft furnishings including the duvet and carpet were acceptable but not luxurious.



It is the most comically small bathroom I ever was in.

But still one of the best experiences ever. One piece of advice: In Brugge as well as Ghent, if you have a GPS take it with you when you walk. It is sooo easy to get lost in the winding streets.

AndI do strongly recommend Ghent, if just to see the castles and waterfront through town at night.