Does anyone know if Brussels airport has installed shower facilities yet? They had not about a year ago but the airport office said they were considering it.

Thanks for all of the information. Ozstamps, to answer your question, I am just transfering from an American flight from ORD to a Virgin Express flight to Shannon on the way to Ireland. I have a layover of three hours so I hope everything goes right. On the way back to the States I am staying the night in Brussels. I get in BRU about 2 PM and leave about 3PM the next day. I have decided to stay at the Sheraton at the airport instead of messing with baggage on the train to town. I have only been to Brussels once and that was for only a few hours about 10 years ago. I guess people have some really strong opinions about this city. Is there anything worth seeing? Also, I am flying Business class on the way back to ORD. How is the lounge that AA uses (I believe it's BA's). Thanks again for the advice.

Applefan .. whatever you do, don't miss seeing that tiny statue in a backstreet somewhere of some young boy pissing on his feet.

It is their No#1 tourist attraction, (true!) which kinda sums up Brussels neatly. After that, it is all downhill! Enjoy, and IMHO rejoice you only have ONE day there!



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~ Glen ~

AAAH... the joys of the Google.com search engine!

Here to whet your appetite about the touristic joys of Brussells are 2 websites depicting the legendary Mannequin De Pis. Do bear in mind there are "leading" restaurants, and indeed a beer named after this cultural icon, and historic piece of sculpture .. I swear that is true!

Click on these and "enjoy"! PS .. neither website is mine or anything to do with me, but the first one kinda sums up my view! The person who posted the pissing statue pics says later on:

"Belgium is generally considered so uninteresting, that competitions to think up interesting things about the country are farcical in their brevity. Chocolate, lace, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Tin-Tin, and that's it, folks - same time next year. Equally, Brussels is not considered a top tourist destination. The only reason I went was a free air ticket. "



http://www.sobi.org/photos/places/Brussels/pis/


http://home.san.rr.com/xshao/photo/phoe_index.html

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~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 08-22-2000).]

Brussels is great for a couple days but thats about it. One thing I would say for it is that it is a good place to end a trip because it is easy to get into, easy to get to the airport and the city is "manageable". When I am on the last day of a 21 day trip the last thing I want is to deal with the crowds, congestion, etc of Paris or London. If you do end a trip in BRU and need to spend the night I highly recommend the Montgomery Hotel, it is relatively close to BRU and in a nice quiet neighborhood near EU and NATO, feels like a private residence, very relaxing.

The Hilton Board has now discovered the joys of Brussels!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/000789.html

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~ Glen ~

On my last stay in Brussels I waited for my case about 45mins (all they had to do is to unload a tiny Swissair A321), and there wasn't even an announcement. Just a TV screen saying "baggages retardées" (baggage delayed). Great! On the other hand, they have a nice restaurant/observatorium on the top deck, and the GODIVA chocolates - also available at the airport - are at least as tasty as the swiss Sprünglis, although still less exclusive than Teuscher.

If you are in Brussels, and have a little time, then take the train to Brugges. This is one of my wife's and my favorite places. It is quaint and beautiful. The food is outstanding and there is so much to do.

The Amsterdam Huis is a great place to stay and has one of the best breakfasts available ANYWHERE, and it is included in the price of the room. This hotel is decorated with pieces of art throughout all the rooms (some dating back hundreds of years.)

Brugges is also home to the only sculpture by Michaelangelo which is located outside of Italy.


[This message has been edited by FlyingRev (edited 10-28-2000).]