Plain sailing in Bruges (De Barge Hotel (Bruges))

Member Name: jaggynettles

Product:	De Barge Hotel (Bruges)
Date:	08/02/06 (1024 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: value for money, close to town centre

Disadvantages: not for land lubbers

If you're around the same age as me then the words "De Barge" will hurl you back to the mid-80s and that awful pop song "Rhythm Of The Night". Fortunately the De Barge I'm reviewing here has far more to do with the rhythm of the canal than the night.

I have a pal who works for Eurostar and she thrives on being given a travel challenge. Not one to disappoint, I challenged her last June to find me a cheap weekend break in Europe. No sooner said than done - she'd booked me 2 return tickets to Bruges in Belgium including two nights in a 3 star hotel - all for the princely sum of £200 inc.

£200!! What's the catch? Well actually there was one little catch. I was given the Eurostar tickets at discount because I was to be a “guinea pig”. The hotel was actually a BARGE and if I gave it the thumbs up then it would be recommended to future Eurostar customers.

I loathe sea travel – I can get sea sick just sitting in a rowing boat - so the thought of sleeping on a barge for two nights was hideous. But – and this is a big but, I'm never one to look a gift horse in the mouth and as my friend had gone to the trouble of booking everything, I couldn’t and wouldn’t back out.


BRUGES

Bruges is the perfect destination for a romantic weekend away. Also known as the Amsterdam of the north, it is entangled within a series of ancient canals and steeped in magnificent architecture and fine galleries and museums. If you love French and Belgian cuisine, Bruges is a gastronomic paradise with a multitude of great bistros and three Michelin star restaurants too. Oh and did I mention Bruges is home to no less than 30 breweries?


GETTING TO DE BARGE

Eurostar - from Waterloo to Brussels (2 hrs 20 mins) and then change on to a local train from Brussels to Brugge (another 40 mins). The total journey time is approximately 3 hours. Eurostar do an all-inclusive ticket. From Brugge train station it's a short walk (around 10 mins) to the De Barge Hotel but if you don't fancy carrying your luggage that far then you can get a taxi for around 5 euros.

If you are travelling to Bruges by plane, there's a special coach at the airport who brings travellers into Bruges centre for around 7 euros. This coach stops in a coach park close to De Barge Hotel so no need for any taxis.


DE BARGE – AN INTRO

Once a working river boat that sailed the Bruges-Ghent canal (Brugsevaart) De Barge retired a few years ago and underwent a completely renovation to become a stunning, and dare I say very romantic, 3 star boat-hotel now permanently moored on the Southside of Bruges - within comfortable walking distance of its historical centre.

De Barge has to be the most original hotels I have ever stayed in. It's nothing like the canal barges I've seen on the Norfolk Broads. Two stories high and painted in a deep blue with white trimmings, De Barge has 22 good-sized guest rooms (called 'Cruise Cabins') all with en-suite showers/baths, a lounge, restaurant and bar. The interior is decked out in blues, whites, gingham and dark-wood panelling to give it a subtle marine theme.


CHECK-IN

Check in time is normally anytime after 2pm. We arrived dead on 2 and were told as they were short staffed the room would not be ready until 4. We were very tired and a little disappointed at this but decided not to make a fuss. Instead the receptionist let us put our bags into the room and invited us to have complimentary coffees in the lounge area. While we sat looking drinking our coffee, she joined us to go through some information leaflets on Bruges and circled areas on a map of the town that she thought would be worth a visit.

We decided to take as troll down the canal, map in hand, and returned to the De Barge an hour later to find our room finally ready.


ROOMS

The hotel offers accommodation in double and twin cabins, all are equipped with modern amenities. Smoking is not allowed in the rooms. If you're planning to book here, ensure you ask for a room on the canal-side. I saw a couple of rooms on the bank-side that overlook the hotel terrace and they weren't as bright and airy - the bank blocks out the sun.

Our room was decorated with dark wooden panelling, cream walls and a navy carpet, a fitted wall unit across one entire wall (fitted with a wardrobe, desk, set of drawer and the mandatory mini-bar), a queen size bed, and a private bathroom, digital clock radio, satellite TV, heater and direct telephone line. (Note: Cots, hairdryers and irons are all available on request.) You're also provided with life jackets in the room - though I didn't feel that reassured looking at them!

The room also had a double shuttered window with fly screen (very useful when the windows open up on to the canal!). We were on the ground story of the barge so when you open the window you can almost lean out and touch the water with your outstretched hand.


BAR AND RESTAURANT

The De Barge staff, I have to say, are a very warm and friendly bunch. It was difficult to sneak out at night (or return) without them beckoning you for a quick drink in the bar (which was cheap by hotel standards). They have a wide selection of local beers and the staff speak fluent English.

The bar is in the corner of the restaurant (which takes up half the ground floor) and like much of the De Barge is decked out again in wood and marine paraphernalia. The bar and restaurant are open all day long and if you don't feel like staying in your room, there is a lounge where you can watch TV, read a book from the small library or enjoy free internet access.

The De Barge is also home to "The Captain's Table" restaurant and serves a great range of moderately priced, Belgian cuisine and fresh seafood dishes inc. lobster and oysters. It's open for dinner ever evening except Sundays and Mondays. I highly recommend you have at least one meal in the hotel restaurant. "Fresh" seafood is the operative word here because sitting at the side of the restaurant is a large fish tank with live lobster in it. I counted 6 when I arrived on the Friday and only 5 by the time we checked out on the Sunday. I had thought about being naughty and setting them free but my husband reminded me about what had happened to Pete Gabriel in Geneva (he'd set sea lobsters free into a fresh water lake and the promptly died!)

If you don't fancy sitting inside, the De Barge also has a small and secluded garden terrace at the front which is open during the summer months.


BREAKFAST

Breakfast is included in the room price and is served daily between 8am and10am. Cooked breakfasts are provided on request but I was content with the continental buffet selection which included several breads and fresh pastries, cereals, fresh fruits, meats, cheeses and yoghurts.

Other facilities the hotel has to offer include:
Bicycle rental
Fax service on front desk
Multilingual staff
Tourist information
Free parking


CONCLUSION

I would definitely recommend the De Barge hotel to anyone who is visiting Bruges. The barge is securely fixed to the banks so there is the minimal movement and most of the time I completely forgot I wasn't on dry land.

Note:- There is a ramp available for disabled access though I noticed several small steps within the barge itself so I don't think it'd be that easy to get around in a wheelchair.


------------------------------------------------- ----------

RATES (closed January)
Room rates at Boat-Hotel De Barge
Double / twin 110 euros (Sunday to Thursday)
Double / twin 125 euros (Friday and Saturday )

I would shop around on the internet for the best rates and promotional offers as upon looking, I found that the hotel's own website doesn't always offer the best.

CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT
Check-in: 2pm
Check-out: 11am.

Cancellations: Up to 24 hours before arrival
Min. 2 nights stay during the weekend
Breakfast is included in the price of the room

ADDRESS
Hotel De Barge
Bargeweg 15, 8000,
Brugge,
Belguim

www.debargehotel.com


-------------------------
© jaggynettles / kollarosie on ciao

Summary: The perfect destination for a romantic weekend.