Page 135 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

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B EL G IUM A N D LUXEM BO UR G 13 5
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are similar in style to French breakfasts; in the south, they (00 352), also omitting the
cuisine and specialities include are more like the French. initial zero from the area
foie gras, fine cheeses, snails Luxembourg breakfasts are a code.
served with herb butter, and mixture of Dutch and French.
fresh trout, pike, perch and Many of the restaurants with Public holidays Carnival time
crayfish from the rivers. Beef rooms offer reductions for (the week around Shrove
from Herve and lamb from half board or demi-pension Tuesday) sees many
Hainaut are particularly good. (a per person rate for the businesses shut, and the grape
In Brussels, café snacks room, dinner and breakfast). harvest in Luxembourg’s
include mussels and chips, These are often good value. Moselle Valley is another oc-
shrimp croquettes, chips and casion for holidays. The official
mayonnaise or stoemp (steak Language About 60 per cent holidays are: Belgium: January
tartare). Vegetarians are not of Belgians are Flemish speak- 1; Easter Sunday and Monday;
particularly well catered for: in ers; the rest (the Walloons) 1 May; Ascension Day; Whit
fact, vegetarian restaurants are speak French. There are also Sunday and Monday; 21 July;
rare – the notable exception some German speakers in the 15 August; 1 November; 11
being Lombardia (03 233 eastern provinces. November (Armistice Day); 15
6819) in Antwerp. In Luxembourg, the two November (King’s Birthday);
Sweets and pastries are on official languages are French 25 and 26 December.
sale everywhere. As any and Letzeburgesch. The latter Luxembourg: As above, but
chocoholic knows, Belgium is a Germanic language which with the addition of Good
and chocolate go together as most of the population speaks. Friday; 23 June (National Day).
readily as Plastic Bertrand and Road signs are written in both.
Europop. There is a Chocolat USEFUL WORDS
Jacques ‘kingdom of choc- Currency From 1 January
olate’ at Eupen, 30km (18 2002, the European euro See France, page 217; and
miles) from Liège, but if you (written ‘EUR’), made up of Germany, page 147.
don’t make it there, look out 100 cents.
for their chocolates on sale PRICE BANDS
everywhere, or those of Galler Shops 9am–5:30pm Mon–Fri.
Manufacture, Léonidas or Some shops are closed on RICE BANDS refer to the price
Godiva, who are the other top Monday mornings and for Pof a standard double room
chocolate producers. lunch. On Saturdays, shops in high season, and usually
There are more than 400 open for half a day or all day include breakfast. Prices
types of Belgian beer, includ- and are closed on Sunday. quoted for rooms include all
ing three strong beers brewed taxes.
in the traditional way by the Tipping In hotels, service is
Trappist monks at Chimay, included in the bill, and a 16 ¡ below 90 EUR
Rochefort and Orval. It’s also per cent service charge is ¡¡ 90–240 EUR
worth trying the equally lively usually added to restaurant ¡¡¡ 240–470 EUR
fruit beers. Brussels’ famous bills. A further tip is only ¡¡¡¡ above 470 EUR
beers are Faro, Gueuze, required for exceptional
Lambic and Kriek. service. As in France, cinema We give a single price band
Luxembourg’s specialities usherettes are given a small tip for hotels in Belgium and
include mussels, Ardennes (about 50 cents). Luxembourg since the cost of
ham, pastries and trout. Its living in the two countries is
Moselle wines are similar in Telephones Public phones very similar; prior to currency
style if not in quality to those in Belgium take coins or convergence, the Belgian and
over the border in Germany. telecards, which are on sale Luxembourg francs usually
at post offices, newsstands had the same exchange value.
BEDROOMSAND and stations.
BATHROOMS But with cheap,
unlimited local calls,
OOMSUSUALLY have double phoning from a hotel
R R R beds. If you would like may, unusually for
twin or single beds, these must Europe, be a relatively
be requested when booking. economical option.
It’s very rare for any of the To make phone calls
hotels listed here not to have inside Belgium, dial the
en suite bathrooms, but a whole number including
bathroom with a bath costs the initial 0. To tele-
more than one with a shower. phone Belgium (or
Luxembourg) from the
OTHER PRACTICAL UK, dial 00 32 (00 352),
INFORMATION then the number
omitting the initial 0
NNORTHERN Belgium, from the area code;
Ibreakfasts are like Dutch from the US, dial 011 32 Oud-Huis Amsterdam in Brugge, page 138