Reminds me of my first trip over in 1971 that was also Belgium. After a week of preparation studying maps and talking to every man & his dog that had been before and bear in mind i had customs, plus the corridor was just a small road thrue the coastal towns and villages then. I managed to get lost and went thrue all the emotions at once, fear, excitement, dread, panic, anxiety, ect, ect.
(Imagine how i felt when i first went to the communist country’s the first time a year later.)
Now looking back i don’t know what all the fuss was about as it is something i could in my sleep. So my advise to you is don’t be afraid to ask for help as the Belgium’s are nice people and speak good English, and enjoy the experience you only do a first trip once good luck…
I found vodafone passport the cheapest for international work, it lets you recieve a call for up to an hour for 75p one off charge. When you make a call it is again 75p one off charge and then the time of the call comes off your uk call allowance. They also do quite a good euro data pack as well for mobiles. Blackberry messenger is a good way to stay in touch also.
I have found O2 to be the best for me in europe. I use a blackberry to send messages to my wife all the time and when I want to talk to here I ping here.
Cost wise I pay £5 for my Blackberry bolt on and £10.21 for myeurope extra. for this I get free BB messenger and some data in europe and all my incoming calls are free. calls out are 35ppm and texts are 10p a go.
My wife spends about a tenner which covers here blackberry and calls. she has unlimited calls to O2 numbers so everytime she rings me its pretty much free.
glen958:
I have found O2 to be the best for me in europe. I use a blackberry to send messages to my wife all the time and when I want to talk to here I ping here.Cost wise I pay £5 for my Blackberry bolt on and £10.21 for myeurope extra. for this I get free BB messenger and some data in europe and all my incoming calls are free. calls out are 35ppm and texts are 10p a go.
My wife spends about a tenner which covers here blackberry and calls. she has unlimited calls to O2 numbers so everytime she rings me its pretty much free.
If you are on o2 myeurope, the cost of making calls is 25ppm, unless you are not in one of the listed countries and not many would ever visit those anyway.
Maybe the police have got harder over the years but Belgium and the people are good ok some/many dont know how to drive after 2 trips it will be so easy you will be an expert
and any problems ask the locals enjoy
Harry Monk:
sydeakinwoods:
One more thing…am I right in thinking service stations are free to park in over there■■?Yes they are, although there are a few truckstops where you have to pay.
You may find that on visiting the toilet though, that there is a “toilet dragon” sat on a chair outside the toilet demanding 50cents for entry.
OOerr 
I always bought the relevant road atlas for each Country when I was in that Country. After all they’re the people who should know.
W
Sat nav will be fine…Just have a back-up plan just in case.
AlexWignall:
I always bought the relevant road atlas for each Country when I was in that Country. After all they’re the people who should know.W
Not such a good idea in Bulgaria or Greece
first. time…
by sydeakinwoods » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:21 am
Hey guys & gals!!!
I’m shipping out to Belgium for the first time this week for a couple of days in a tipper. Bit nervous (obviously), I’ll be grateful for any useful tips
Don’t mention the war
In Belgium give any car with only 5 characters on its number plate a bit extra room.
newmercman:
AlexWignall:
I always bought the relevant road atlas for each Country when I was in that Country. After all they’re the people who should know.W
Not such a good idea in Bulgaria or Greece
first. time…
by sydeakinwoods » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:21 am
Hey guys & gals!!!
I’m shipping out to Belgium for the first time this week for a couple of days in a tipper. Bit nervous (obviously), I’ll be grateful for any useful tips
Don’t mention the war
As I have never been to Bulgaria or Greece even on holiday I’ll defer to your superior knowledge.
I still have the original maps of the many countries I did visit and although it’s unlikely that I’ll need them again, they are a nice reminder of a very happy part of my career.
W
AlexWignall:
As I have never been to Bulgaria or Greece even on holiday I’ll defer to your superior knowledge.W
I am referring to the different alphabets that these countries use, may make using a map bought locally a bit challenging 
newmercman:
AlexWignall:
As I have never been to Bulgaria or Greece even on holiday I’ll defer to your superior knowledge.W
I am referring to the different alphabets that these countries use, may make using a map bought locally a bit challenging
Oh I dunno that could be kinda fun…
newmercman:
AlexWignall:
As I have never been to Bulgaria or Greece even on holiday I’ll defer to your superior knowledge.W
I am referring to the different alphabets that these countries use, may make using a map bought locally a bit challenging
At least the names on those maps will match the names on sign posts 
newmercman:
AlexWignall:
As I have never been to Bulgaria or Greece even on holiday I’ll defer to your superior knowledge.W
I am referring to the different alphabets that these countries use, may make using a map bought locally a bit challenging
This is not a daft post on this thread.
Belgium use 3 languages and it has caught many a driver when they are following a sign for Luik and it changes to Liege, or looking for Anvers when you are already in Antwerp, these are the easy ones but as you get closer to the borders it gets more confusing 
Gand Gent
Malines Mechelen
Mons Bergen (at least the others have the same initial)
Bruges Brugge
Louvain Leuven
I forgot Ypres or Leper, pronounced Wipers
I know a driver who once spent a whole day driving around looking for Turin, it is spelled Torino on a sign post, yet in the map he bought in Dover, it was Turin, up and down the A4 he went Mind you he was a complete tool anyway, so par for the course really 
As Malc says, here are many others to catch you out too, Koln and Cologne, Wien and Vienna being others, you don’t have to get too far away from the ferry to make a right balls up of it if you’ve not got your wits about you
Wheel Nut:
This is not a daft post on this thread.
Belgium use 3 languages and it has caught many a driver when they are following a sign for Luik and it changes to Liege, or looking for Anvers when you are already in Antwerp, these are the easy ones but as you get closer to the borders it gets more confusingGand Gent
Malines Mechelen
Mons Bergen (at least the others have the same initial)
Bruges Brugge
Louvain LeuvenI forgot Ypres or Leper, pronounced Wipers
Although one would have to admit that Coxyde is a far more sensible way of spelling Koksijde than the one the chocolate-eating kiddie-fiddlers use.
newmercman:
I know a driver who once spent a whole day driving around looking for Turin, it is spelled Torino on a sign post, yet in the map he bought in Dover, it was Turin, up and down the A4 he wentAs Malc says, here are many others to catch you out too, Koln and Cologne, Wien and Vienna being others, you don’t have to get too far away from the ferry to make a right balls up of it if you’ve not got your wits about you
Good job his second drop wasn’t in Florence then.
Coffeeholic:
newmercman:
I know a driver who once spent a whole day driving around looking for Turin, it is spelled Torino on a sign post, yet in the map he bought in Dover, it was Turin, up and down the A4 he wentAs Malc says, here are many others to catch you out too, Koln and Cologne, Wien and Vienna being others, you don’t have to get too far away from the ferry to make a right balls up of it if you’ve not got your wits about you
Good job his second drop wasn’t in Florence then.
I think that’s Dougals regular job 
Coffeeholic:
newmercman:
I know a driver who once spent a whole day driving around looking for Turin, it is spelled Torino on a sign post, yet in the map he bought in Dover, it was Turin, up and down the A4 he wentAs Malc says, here are many others to catch you out too, Koln and Cologne, Wien and Vienna being others, you don’t have to get too far away from the ferry to make a right balls up of it if you’ve not got your wits about you
Good job his second drop wasn’t in Florence then.
There are some tools, a lad at Lewis’s asked where I was going and I said Munich, he then asked me where Munchen was.
They would be knackered in Bulgaria or Greece
Pyce or Ruse? Difficult choice