Hotel Heritage ★★★★

It always amazes me that you can hop on the train at St. Pancras in the morning and be in Belgium for brunch of chocolate waffles and coffee. I love train travel; for me part of the enticement of Bruges is time spent on grand old station platforms, meditative gazing at the pretty Flemish countryside, and a quick stop off in Brussels. After a few hours shopping in Brussels, we were back on the train and speeding north to the compact charms of medieval Bruges. An hour later and we were stepping out into the timeless fairytale of this fabled 'Venice of the North'. The Hotel Héritage **** is centrally located, so we took a meandering stroll from the station through some of the city's most enchanting streets, past some landmark sights, through colourful Market Square, from where the hotel is reachable in a few minutes walk. As soon as we saw the grand facade and entered the luxurious lobby, we knew we had found a perfect place for another 'anniversary'.

The hotel has a long history, with records of its beginning in 1390. At times an aristocratic mansion, at times a bank, it has been transformed by the current owners into an exquisitely beautiful and luxurious boutique hotel. Here you can feel the kind of attention to detail, both decorative and in the service, which is often afforded by family-run establishments.

We were escorted to our Classic Room by a friendly member of staff. A chandelier hung from the centre of the ceiling, a cushioned headboard and the thick patterned carpets, and the floor to ceiling curtains in gold chimed perfectly. The walls were wood-panelled and painted in soft natural tones, and bore paintings and portraits of the privileged people that could once have called this mansion home. The furniture was plush and stately, and there were wonderful little welcoming touches like a bowl of fresh fruits, fine Belgian chocolates on the pillow and a little slip of paper with the weather forecast for the next day. This turned out to be a daily treat! We made coffee with the machine provided and I shed my travel clothes for the inviting soft gown and slippers. My whole body breathed a sigh of relief. I decided to take myself to the bathroom for a pre-dinner shower and spruce up.

The bathroom was gorgeous, with hardwood floors and marble walls, and an oversized gold gilded mirror and an enticing bath tub with a shower. I emerged feeling fit for fine dining! We went down to the accolade-bearing restaurant and dined surrounded by frescoed wooden walls, glittering chandeliers, old marble fireplaces and crackling fires. It was the quintessential romantic dinner, and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. We planned our next few days, allocating plenty of time to wandering the serene tree-lined waterways and lunching in picturesque medieval squares. Our romantic trip in Bruges was made extra special by staying at the Hotel Héritage. If you want my advice, find more anniversaries to celebrate, and spend at least one of them here.