Brussels trip in December

[boiledbeans2]

Hi everyone

I'm planning a Brussels trip, say 30 Nov to 4 Dec. It will be my first time there.

I'm looking at the hotel prices and they are shockingly expensive within the area served by the Brussels Metro! At least £600 (£150 per night).

So I'm deciding to stay somewhere further out. On hotels.com, right next to Leuven railway station, there are a few hotels around £300 (£75 per night), which I find more acceptable. (My main criteria for choosing a hotel is that it should be near a metro/train station, so I don't have to drag my luggage over a long distance).

Before I confirm my hotel, I'm searching for the train ticket prices to get to Brussels city centre. Most of the days, I will just walk around the city centre to see the sights.

One of the days, I will dedicate solely to train bashing. Am I right that the Brupass for €7.80 (travelcard equivalent?) isn't valid from Leuven? So I will have to buy a return train ticket to get to the city (Leuven to Bruxelles Central for €11.20 according to the website). Then I need to get a Mobib card, then load a Brupass on it?

Are there any suggested train/metro/tram lines which I should ride? The older the train, the better.

 

[CC 72100]

There used to be a tram line in Brussels that ended up in a wood for part of its journey, the line 44. That was interesting

 

[telstarbox]

You can use a contactless card or phone on STIB services which has a daily cap of 7.50 euros - that might be easier than Mobib.

Leuven itself is worth a look round. Depending on the day you can get a weekend ticket from there to Brussels which is cheaper than a normal return.

 

[johncrossley]

You could consider an Airbnb. I stayed near the airport for about £40 a few months ago.

 

[boiledbeans2]

Thanks for all your replies so far!

You can use a contactless card or phone on STIB services which has a daily cap of 7.50 euros - that might be easier than Mobib.

Leuven itself is worth a look round. Depending on the day you can get a weekend ticket from there to Brussels which is cheaper than a normal return.

Yeah, I did see that option of contactless on their website. But I can only bash the metro & trams, not the trains.

Thanks for the tip on weekend tickets. I will be travelling on both weekdays and weekends. So I can probably make use of it some of the days.

You could consider an Airbnb. I stayed near the airport for about £40 a few months ago.

I saw some hotels near the airport for reasonable prices as well. But I read there was a Airport "Diabolo" surcharge if I use the train to travel to/from the city. So decided not to stay near the airport.

 

[johncrossley]

I saw some hotels near the airport for reasonable prices as well. But I read there was a Airport "Diabolo" surcharge if I use the train to travel to/from the city. So decided not to stay near the airport.

You can use buses to the airport that are cheaper. Or you can use the free bus to the Ibis and walk to Eurocontrol tram stop.

I actually stayed in the town near the airport where there is no surcharge.

 

[boiledbeans2]

You can use buses to the airport that are cheaper. Or you can use the free bus to the Ibis and walk to Eurocontrol tram stop.

I actually stayed in the town near the airport where there is no surcharge.

Is there anywhere which confirms there is a free shuttle bus? I was looking at Ibis and the Eurocontrol tram stop as well. But the ibis website says

Brussels is easily accessible by car or public transport. NATO headquarters just 1km away and Brussels Expo a 10-min drive away. Please note there is no shuttle to/from the airport.

ibis Brussels Airport

Looking for a hotel near Brussels airport? Discover ibis Brussels Airport. Book now!

all.accor.com

 

[boiledbeans2]

Anyway, I'm was just reading that there will be a train strike from 29 Nov to 1 Dec.

Strikes and union actions

All information on disruptions with the SNCB train offer in case of union action

www.belgiantrain.be

I can't tell if trains to Leuven are affected - it says check the day before travel.

Luckily I haven't booked the hotel yet. Maybe the airport option is a good idea. Though the walking from Eurocontrol to Ibis with luggage is not going to be fun.

 

[johncrossley]

Is there anywhere which confirms there is a free shuttle bus? I was looking at Ibis and the Eurocontrol tram stop as well. But the ibis website says

ibis Brussels Airport

Looking for a hotel near Brussels airport? Discover ibis Brussels Airport. Book now!

all.accor.com

I stayed at the Ibis budget and used the free bus. Maybe it no longer runs. Diegem station is within walking distance anyway.

 

[boiledbeans2]

I stayed at the Ibis budget and used the free bus. Maybe it no longer runs. Diegem station is within walking distance anyway.

Thanks for the details. How frequently did the bus run?

 

[johncrossley]

Thanks for the details. How frequently did the bus run?

I think it was every half hour. It was in 2017.

 

[boiledbeans2]

I think it was every half hour. It was in 2017.

Thanks for your reply. If it doesn't exist today, then the other option would be to walk to Eurocontrol then take the tram (changing at Bourget) to the airport.

Based on this link:

Airport line

✈️ Travel smoothly between Brussels Airport and the city center with the Airport Line. Get your ticket now and enjoy a fast, direct connection!

www.stib-mivb.be

It seems I can use the Brupass or a single journey ticket on the tram TO the airport. But not FROM.

 

[D6130]

There used to be a tram line in Brussels that ended up in a wood for part of its journey, the line 44. That was interesting

Yes....and it passes the tramway museum in the old tram depot at Woluwe St Pierre/Sint Pieters Woluwe, which is worth visiting if it's open on the weekend that your're there.

 

[boiledbeans2]

Yes....and it passes the tramway museum in the old tram depot at Woluwe St Pierre/Sint Pieters Woluwe, which is worth visiting if it's open on the weekend that your're there.

Thanks for the tip. Just visited their website. They seem to be open afternoons only on weekends. I may have to think carefully about my schedule to fit it in.

Is the Train World museum also worth visiting?

 

[D6130]

Is the Train World museum also worth visiting?

By all accounts yes....but I haven't been yet. Apparently there's also a railway-themed hotel across the road, where you can stay in an old Wagon-Lits sleeping car perched on the roof of the building.

 

[boiledbeans2]

Many thanks! I will try to visit both the tram museum and train world.

Btw, if I understand, the MOBIB card is not a Oyster PAYG, but more like the NR smartcards.

So I have to buy tickets at a ticket machine, then load onto the MOBIB card.

Can I load different types of tickets on the same card? E.g. a single ticket and a day ticket.
If so, how can I choose which ticket to use when I validate?