AMS! Well, I'm going to AMS on Sun morning for a day of post-DO detoxing before I fly home on Mon. And yes, I'm well aware that AMS is perhaps the worst place one could think of when it comes to detoxing... :D

I updated post #1 with some details and a proposed schedule for Saturday evening. Feel free to suggest any changes you may have. I realize 18:30 may be a little early for dinner, but I think that might work best since we are a larger group.

In the morning, I'll research some restaurants for dinner and update the post again.

3pm EWR-DCA opened up. Persistence pays.

cova + 1
- 1/14: DCA-EWR CO1208
- 1/14: EWR-BRU CO60
- 1/19: BRU-EWR CO61
- 1/19: EWR-DCA CO3345
Hotel: Brussels Marriott (4 nights)

18:30 is too late to start drinking :D

Sure, but I figure we'll be well into the drinking by the time dinner rolls around. ;)

Looks like we're up to 5 or 6 folks on CO61 on 19 January.

For those getting into BRU prior to Saturday, is there any interest in getting together for dinner and/or a pre-pub crawl pub crawl on Fri? It seems a handful of us will already be there by then.

Yes.

To those staying at the Four Points - seems far out - maybe you should be considering the Le Meridien - as it is near Central Station.

Seems like the best way from BRU to town is the train - every 15 minutes to Central Station for about 3E.

Agreed. I have also read that taxis in Brussels are bit pricey. The Marriott says the average fare from the airport is 45 EUR one way.

I may be up for dinner on Friday. I'll be arriving on the Thalys from Paris at 16:47.

I am up for dinner on Friday.

It looks as though the route to the BRU from the Marriott is a little convoluted but manageable.

To me, it looks like you can walk from the Marriott to Central Station. The Marriott website shows it as:

Train Station
Gare Centrale (0.6 miles NW)

You should be able to walk that in 15 minutes with a roller bag. Likely not worth the hassle of a cab from hotel to Central Station or a subway connection.

You can go to the train schedule and trains leave every 15 minutes.

For return on 1/19:

http://hari.b-holding.be/Hafas/bin/q...eDisplayed=yes

Well, I wasn't suggesting a dinner near the airport itself. Probably somewhere downtown. I'm staying at the Hilton Brussels City, which is about 2.5km from the Centraal Station. If someone wants to suggest a restaurant somewhere near there, I'd be game for that. Or we can just all meet at the station, and decide then.

No, I didn't think you were, I was just mentioning travel by the rail system in general. :)

Do NOT pay that much for a ticket to Bruges!! They have a weekend special deal for 8 EUR r/t for a shopping excursion. And I think there is a group/family travel ticket that can be used by any group of folks, not just a family, that makes it even cheaper. I'll dig up the details on the 8 EUR and post it and also see if I can find the group ticket, too.

ETA: Here's the 8 EUR "shopping" ticket. Must be purchased on the website, but otherwise shouldn't be a problem.

You are absolutely right - I completely missed that option. Thanks!

I finally booked my room for the trip. I went cheap and booked in at one of the hostels in town, the Jacques Brel Youth Hostel. The reviews are just meh, but at $25/night it is hard to complain too much. More money for beer. The other option in town that is supposedly a bit nicer has a 1am curfew, and that doesn't seem like a good idea at all.