Page 315 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  313

at the customs desk at the
airport on presentation of a
completed Tax Free Form and
relevant receipts. Local
restrictions apply regarding
how much visitors can bring
into their country of destination.

Travel Safety Advice
Visitors can get up-to-date travel
safety information from the
Foreign and Commonwealth
Helpful advice from the Tourist Office in Ghent Office in the UK, the State
Department in the US and the
although Brussels also has its Embassies and Department of Foreign Affairs
own agency. The best place to Consulates and Trade in Australia.
begin looking for information is Belgium has embassies in
the Internet. Virtually all towns most capital cities of the world.
in Belgium have dedicated Queries about visas and other Travelling with Children
websites in the format www. formalities can be addressed to Belgium and Luxembourg
townname.be and these these centres before departure are both family-oriented
generally have links to from the home country, nations, and children are widely
their tourist offices. Again, although much of this welcomed – provided that they
almost all towns with any kind information is available on their are reasonably well behaved.
of attraction will have a tourist official websites. Luxembourg Restaurants and hotels are
office, often located in the has embassies or consulates in accommodating: Belgian
main town square, if not in most major countries. Likewise, children are taken to restaurants
the town hall itself. Most most nations, including the UK, from an early age, and soon
offices and visitor centres have the USA, Canada, Australia and adopt the gastronomic
English-speaking staff. They can New Zealand have embassies in expertise of their parents.
provide hotel listings and may Brussels and Luxembourg. There are numerous
even offer to make bookings concessions for families, such
on a visitor’s behalf. as reduced-price museum
The Luxembourg Tourist Customs entrance tickets and free public
Office also produces a wealth Visitors from EU countries transport for children under the
of visitor information. The Grand travelling to and from Belgium age of six (if accompanied by an
Duchy has tourist offices in and Luxembourg face almost adult). Apart from this, there are
most locations, which generally no restrictions on the quantities plenty of attractions and
follow the format www. of alcohol and tobacco they activities to keep children
townname.lu on the Internet. can carry with them, provided entertained (see pp308–309).
that this is for their personal It is also easy for parents to
use. Duty-free goods are get carried away with the
Visas and Passports available only to nationals of variety of beautiful clothes and
Visitors from countries of the countries outside the EU (such toys available from the
European Union can travel as Canada and the USA). Non- numerous specialist shops in
freely to Luxembourg and EU visitors can get a tax refund both countries.
Belgium provided they have
a valid passport or identity
card. EU nationals wishing to
stay for longer than 90 days
should apply for a residence
permit at the local town hall
within eight days of arrival.
Passport-holders from the USA,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand
and Japan do not require a visa
for visits of up to 90 days.
However, regulations may
change, so it advisable to check
with your local embassy
before departure. It is a legal
requirement in Belgium to
carry identification at all times. Families at the Plopsaland theme park on the Western Flanders coast

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