Destination Ghent, Flanders

Ghent

Fuse stunning medieval architecture with harmonious contemporary high-tech buildings, throw in some beautiful old squares and picturesque canals, then spice it up with sparkling energy and you have Ghent. Wonderfully charming, yet at the same time there is a lived-in vibe that lets you know that Flanders’s gem is a city adored by its inhabitants.

Ghent, in its glory years, was the second-largest  city in Europe after Paris. Take a boat trip through the heart of the city. As you drift by the Castle of the Counts, Gothic guildhalls and the old fish and butchers’ markets, you can almost taste its long-gone world. At night, it is almost as if you have stepped on to a film set.

If like me, you are not one for traipsing round museums, you can enjoy wonders such as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, a masterpiece by the Van Eyck brothers at the renowned St Bravo’s Cathedral. There is also a Rubens masterpiece which I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to miss.

Afterwards I wandered off to soak up the atmosphere and explore the quaint town, a compact weave of cobbled streets. Be sure to dodge the trams and bicycles.

Library in the vineyards of St Peter’s Abbey

The city is also peppered with contemporary art and installations, part of TRACK, an international exhibition organised by S.M.A.K (the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art) running until 16 Sept 2012, which will certainly get those old grey cells working as you try to fathom out the artist’s message. Well, art is supposed to speak to you, isn’t it?  One I particularly liked was a library in the vineyards of St Peter’s Abbey. I could imagine sitting on the grass on a hot summer’s day curled up with a good book.

Ghent is awash with lively bars and cafés – it is, after all, a student town – as well as interesting and quirky boutiques. Of course, it would be rude not to taste some chocolate. I took a nibbling tour, which is a great way to combine walking and history with tasting local specialities such as beer at old-styled Flemish shops. 

Street in Ghent

Yuzu is a chocolate lover’s heaven. Prepare for your taste buds to be seduced by Japanese-inspired creations from Ghent’s renowned chocolatier, Nicolas Vanaise.

The food in Ghent is superb. A must is the Belga Queen. Once a grain storehouse, this waterside restaurant will dazzle you with its culinary delights and its contemporary chic architecture. Also not to be missed is Bord'eau. This huge brasserie, housed in the former fish market, as its name suggests, is on the water’s edge. Food is excellent and the views are rather special.

Pol, the owner of  ‘Dt reupelkot.

A trip to Ghent wouldn’t be complete without a visit to ‘Dt reupelkot. This bar which specialises in jenever, a juniper-flavoured liquor, is a favourite haunt of both locals and tourists. Pol, the owner has over 200 different kinds for you to try. Beware, it is extremely potent! I only managed to try a couple including the vanilla one. I had to leave the rest for another time. A good enough reason to go back to this underrated city.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

It’s incredibly relaxing to reach Ghent with Eurostar. With one easy connection, you can be there in under three hours from London St Pancras International

Eurostar offers return fares to Ghent from £80. Eurostar also offers connecting fares from more than 300 stations in the UK. For more information or to book, visit eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186

I stayed at the NH Gent Belfort (/www.nh-hotels.com)

For further information about visiting Ghent contact Tourism Flanders-Brussels on 0207 307 7738 (Live operator line, Mon – Fri) or visit www.visitflanders.co.uk

Destination Paris

© ATOUT FRANCE/Hervé Le Gac

Paris is the city of style. I love the sense of history, the stunning buildings and the wide boulevards. I took the Eurostar, which is “greener” than flying, and comes without the hassle of a lengthy check-in procedure you usually have with airlines nowadays. After a comfortable couple of hours I stepped out into another world. I crammed so much into a day that when I returned to London I felt that my trip had the same benefits as if I have been away for a weekend.

Paris is totally absorbing. All the neighbourhoods have their own distinct personality. It is easy to get round the city using the Metro combined with some leisurely walking. The more aimlessly I wander the more I discover, including great boutiques. After all, the Parisian shops are an important part of the city's identity.

 Le Marais

I started my day in Le Marais, one of the city’s oldest districts which is now rather trendy. It’s where tradition meets modernity. It is easy to while away a couple of hours here roaming the narrow medieval streets, which are peppered with beautiful boutiques crammed with cool fashion and which sit comfortably alongside art galleries and lovely cafés all surrounded by amazing architecture.

Over a cup of coffee I sat chatting to a couple of locals and got a real feel for the place. I never find the Parisians aloof. A word of advice, if you can speak a little French, or at least you show you are trying, people seem to warm more easily to you.

Next on the agenda was rue Faubourg St Honoré, littered with designer labels. There are plenty of shops around this area where you can lighten your wallet. However, don't expect bargains, prices are about the same, and in some cases, dearer than at home.

A shopping trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without a visit to Galleries Lafayette (bd Haussmann). This department store is home to a vast array of brands so it's well worth a visit.

After a rummage round the store, I decided it was time for lunch and headed to visit Lafayette Gourmet. It’s a foodies’ heaven stocked with all the delicacies you could possibly imagine. It also has some superb delis, tasting bars and restaurants.

Les Tuilleries

To burn off the calories, I walked from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde through Les Tuilleries – these gardens truly are magnificent – to take a quick stroll beside the Seine before returning home.

I always leave Paris wanting more. As Eurostar is such a civilised way to travel and there are always good deals for a day, I know it won't be long until I go back.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

Eurostar operates up to 18 daily services from London St Pancras International to Paris (fastest London-Paris journey time 2hrs 15mins). Connecting fares available from over 200 stations in the UK. Return fares from £69. Book through eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186.

Worth checking out Eurostar plus, (available with your ticket) for special offers such as 2-for-1 entry into museums and galleries and discounts at shops including Galeries Lafayette as well as restaurants.

Bordeaux, city of style

Elegant and seductive Bordeaux is like one of its fine wines, once experienced, never forgotten.

It’s one of my favourite destinations in France. This chic city not only has plenty of historic buildings to discover  ̶  approximately half Bordeaux is a Unesco World Heritage Site  ̶  but it is also renowned for its excellent cuisine. And there are also plenty of great boutiques to tempt you to part with your cash.

The Port of the Moon, as Bordeaux is often called due to it being on a crescent-shaped bend on the River Garonne (South-West France), has like Paris a right and left bank and is broken up into districts. As the city is much smaller it is easier to get around. I love the high-tech tram system.

One of the star attractions of the city is the Cathédral Saint-André, renowned for its superb architecture and Tour Pey-Berland, a 15th century bell tower. One of the most striking landmarks is the Gross Cloche, a big bell from the Middle Ages.

Bordeaux looks magnificent whatever the weather. As you would expect from such a sophisticated city there are some amazing restaurants.

Le Pressoir d'Argent in The Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux, the city’s smartest address, and where I stayed, was my favourite. The beautiful French décor of this Michelin-starred restaurant made me feel as if I was back in the 18th century – the period known as Bordeaux’s Golden Age – reliving the glamour of this era.

Another superb eaterie is La Tupina, a country-styled restaurant in the heart of the city which specialises in south-western French cuisine. Also check out Le Gabriel in the ornate Place de la Bourse with its Fountain of the Three Graces which has superb views of the river.

This is a city where you will want to make sure that your hair is styled to perfection and that you are dressed immaculately when you go out at night.

In general French women always look so well turned-out. Their secret is how they put themselves together. By and large they wear clothes that fit them and that flatter their shape. They tend to opt for classic tailoring updated with a contemporary twist usually in the form of accessories such as the bag of the moment. They invest in key pieces in quality fabrics. Simple and elegant seems to be their mantra. Maybe this is a lesson we can learn when we next go shopping.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) offers connecting services to Bordeaux, return fares from £109. Tip: go via Lille, it’s an easier connection than Paris

The Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux (www.theregentbordeaux.com) rooms per night from €320 (approx £300)