Off to Belgium

[Derry]

I'm off to Belgium this year never been or drove there so should be fun :? My question is do I need or is there a list of must haves to take on board would hate to get over there to find I don't have something I should have purchased before setting off

Got breakdown cover but hope I don't use it :lol:

 

[Stu]

If you smoke then Adinkerke should be on your to do list.

 

[Ambler]

The beer is fantastic but strong. Enjoy.

 

[Les]

Watch out for bikes like the Nederlands they have right of way in many places. I found Belgium's obey the rules pedestrians and bikes will not cross on red lights at all even if the road is clear.

 

[LindaF]

We are off to Belgium too at the end of July. Have an event to go to in Brussels for 4 days and then a bit of touring before heading home. First venture to Europe in our cali (only got her in December). We've only managed to fit in 2 weekends and 2 overnighters so far - work keeps getting in the way unfortunately. Loving it so far

 

[teeboy]

Hi there

We are off to Belgium in the summer and your post reminded me to look for requirements.

This page from the AA covers all the musts and must nots for driving in the EU:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/to ... ipment.pdf

What is weird is that I also looked on the RAC page (http://www.rac.co.uk/travel/driving-abr ... es/belgium) it suggests that you need a international drivers permit. I think this is a mistake, as a UK license is essentially good for all of the EU. Also if you go to purchase a IDP, then Belgium is not in the drop down list. I think you need an IDP for most European countries if you come from outside the EU.

Does anyone know if my assumptions are correct and RAC have made a mistake (the AA definitely disagree with the RAC)

T

 

[T5WOB]

a must to visit Brugge and gent camp sites near to both .can get a bus in to town .chips and mayo .

 

[teeboy]

Yep - Brugges is where we are going to stop (mainly due to the film In Brugges - an excellent advert for the town - and should be adopted by the BE tourist board!!!!)

This is a list of campsites we found:

http://www.kleinstrand.be/
http://www.bonanza1.be/en_voorzieningen.html
http://www.veldenduin.be/en/Lodgings/Camping.html
http://www.campingmemling.be/
http://www.jamboree.be/en
http://www.esmeralda-aan-zee.be/camping ... sp?taal=en


We are going to try for the Memling one, as it looks close to town (if a little basic).

Does anyone have experience of any of these sites?

 

[T5WOB]

always stay there .5 min walk to bus stop .nice and clean there .sites ok .would pay to book on line. have to pay up front .some nice shops just down the rd supermarket 10min walk .wifi has a ticket machine there one euro a hour .only 20 mins on the bike to the town .they hire them at camp site to .

 

[Custardtart]

Yep - Brugges is where we are going to stop (mainly due to the film In Brugges - an excellent advert for the town - and should be adopted by the BE tourist board!!!!)

I agree! Great film and city. The tower is definitely worth a visit - get's a bit cramped right at the top but that's all part of the excitement.

 

[Californiaman]

+1 for camping memling.

 

[Stu]

Have been to Memling twice and wouldn't hesitate to go back.

 

[Hotel California]

Nice to hear lots of you guys vistit Belgium, but......
Antwerp is the place to be !
Nowhere else in the world you can see amazing old/new architecture , museums, shopping at " the Meir" , lots of restaurants and bars , the view over the river "Schelde" , all these things can be done by foot or public transport !
With your Cali you can park on the waterside of the Schelde , few hundred meters of the old city and cathedral....
Camping "Vogelzang" also few km from old city , tram stops nearby.

 

[Derry]

Wow looks like Belgium is popular we are going to De Lisle Bergen in Antwerp.
I was told I also need a breatherlizer as well as a high viz and reflective triangle.

 

[Hotel California]

Alcohol-test not but fluovests(as we call it) for ALL passengers is a must in case of stop on highway when car troubble.
Reflectife triangle and fire-ext....is also a must ( in the whole of europe i guess?)

 

[KernowLad]

Watch the road surfaces; on our trip last month, the autoroute type roads were in a shocking state!

 

[Hotel California]

Yep ,the roads are in some places in bad shape , part of all the forieng trucks passing Belgium (tollfree)
There is also the problem of the regions who have to take care of there own roads and where a region stops....the surface changes! No money....
Only one tunnel in Belgium you need to pay , but nearly nobody use that tunnel (it is in the portsite of Antwerp mainly trucks use that tunnel)

 

[teeboy]

As per the PDF I posted from the AA above, the breathalyser thing is pretty much dead across all of Europe - even in France:

"In principle all drivers should possess a breathalyser. However, as of the 25th January 2013a driver can not be penalised for not carrying one. The fine has been postponed indefinitely. The breathalyser has to be a certified by the French authorities, showing an ‘NF’ number. The official text states that one unused breathalyser should be produced. We recommend that two single-use breathalysers are carried, so if one is used or damaged you will still have a replacement to produce."