toomanybooks

Welcome aboard!

toomanybooks

Great Belgian Beer Dinner officially announced (thanks, polkacat):

http://www.lekkervlaanderen.be/en/th...er-dinner-2014

April 23, 7 pm, Ghent

Tickets go on sale Feb. 23. In previous years we have used Paypal. Limited seating. 99 Euro.

toomanybooks

Some of the blogs are reporting that Brussels Airlines award space is now bookable through United's website.

AaronD23

Not to compete with the other hotel suggested, but may I suggest for those people who are planning to spend the night in Brussels to do so at the Crowne Plaza Le Palace in Brussels. It is a renowned 4 * hotel, 5 min walk from the Midi train station which will take you to Leuven in 20 minutes. If you are planning to stay there, let me know so I can contact the guest experience manager of the place to take good care of you ;-)

toomanybooks

AaronD23:

Thanks for your post. Hope you can join us.

polkacat

Information about Night of the Great Thirst is now available at http://www.geuzegenootschap.be/nacht-van-de-grote-dorst.

Michilander

We are arriving on the 23rd and are also staying at the Ren. We are booked out on the 30th. I'm not sure I will be able to make the dinner on the 23rd. We are usually pretty wiped out on the day of arrival. I am interested in doing a day of ZBF. visiting the cafe at Westvleteren and possibly visiting De Heeren van Liedekircke.

So, will there be a chance for us to meet? Anyone already made plans for any of the above? Should I be buying tickets to ZBF on-line now or is it safe to plan to buy at the door?

Sorry for all the questions, but as I said, this is my first FT Do.

toomanybooks

There are no advance tickets for ZBF; it's not restricted, except I guess by fire code, but it's plenty big enough. You buy however many tokens you want for samples and get a small tasting glass at the entrance.

Our group customarily gets there at opening and grabs a table at the far back right, where we can leave our stuff all day and sit and yak. Some of the time there are several crazy Danes with us, wearing red and yellow. I think that will be Sunday this year. Cannot miss them.

I definitely recommend all three of your listed activities. Call/email and reserve at De Heeren, and don't fail to call ASAP if you have to cancel. They'll put you on a naughty list.

That said, it's possible I may have to cancel my trip at the last minute. My mother-in-law went into the hospital this weekend and the outcome is uncertain.

polkacat

Also consider going to Night of the Great Thirst on April 25: http://www.geuzegenootschap.be/nacht-van-de-grote-dorst.

Toomanybooks, sorry to hear your mother-in-law is in the hospital and hope she recuperates.

KMA26

Let me echo those sentiments for a full recovery. Having spoken off-line with toomanybooks, at present we seem to be under somewhat similar circumstances. Let's all hope for the best.

Michilander

Toomanybooks,

I know I haven't met you like the others but I too would like to offer my best wishes for you mother-in-law. Hope things work out for you.

srletend

Don't visit FT too much anymore since not traveling like I was before. But, I saw the call out for this DO in the blast FT e-mail. A Belgium beer trip has been on my wish list for awhile so I'm in.

Arriving BRU Fri; staying at Ren; Depart BRU Mon

Will be my first DO--looking forward to it!

KMA26

Very sadly, I must advise that I will not be able to attend the Belgian Beer Festival this year. My father-in-law has passed away. I will miss seeing all of you this year (as well as all the great beer, especially The Night of Great Thirst and ZBF). All three of the previous DOs have been great fun and no doubt this one will be as well.

For those of you staying at the Renaissance next weekend, please note that while cancelling my reservation I saw that for Marriott Rewards members they seem to have added a rate of 79 euros/night inclusive of 10 euro/night food and beverage credit, plus 1000 bonus pts/stay. After you've entered your dates and click on view rates, hit the "Marriott Rewards Offer" tab and this offer should appear. These extras were not available when I made my original reservation and the offer seems to be good for Fri, Sat, Fri+Sat, and Fri-Sun date combos.

Hope to see all of you soon.
Safe travels to all.

toomanybooks

And unfortunately I must pull out as well. My mother-in-law is just home from a week in the hospital, and I am one of her primary caregivers.

Very disappointed to miss this. There's always next year.

polkacat

KMA26, so sorry for your loss.

Definitely going to miss hanging out with you & toomanybooks this year.