Accommodation in Flanders - tips welcome

If you like your accommodation ‘compact’ the campsite in Kluisbergen has some 4-person huts that they rent out by the night - just 4 bunks and a table, there a bar serving food onsite or a bar up the hill. Nice ride into Oudenaard as there’s a bike path most of the way. Managed to ride my way back safely in the dark despite having been plied with a few beers after coming 4th in a crit around the Oudenaard town square! You could also ride the Scheldt bike path from Oudenaard, but maybe not when you’re pi$$ed.

We reserved this place for our (COVID cancelled) Paris Roubaix sportive, looked nice, good communications, would gladly book again on that basis anyway.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/8453373?bev_ref=&c=.pi80.pkYm9va2luZy92MV9taWdyYXRpb24vcmVzZXJ2YXRpb25fcGVuZGluZ192Mw%3D%3D&eal_exp=1571081405&eal_sig=622d26daafd50f6a1c3b7485efcc9b73c27fbee5c6578f37ce56d7ed91ad6c9c&eal_uid=294939959&euid=6bb7feca-ad32-e21a-1ce2-c084f75a809b&photo=&s=&user_id=&_set_bev_on_new_domain=1673267266_MjVlMDM1ODIyYTc2&source_impression_id=p3_1673267267_zB7UEE%2FygRcKpTML

Edit: d'oh! Sorry, am confusing Roubaix with Flanders 🙄

Dovebiker - you're obviously the expert, how would you suggest travelling to Oudenarde (from Edinburgh)?

I'm reluctant to fly with the bike if I can help it but would love to do the 3 day Flanders Gravel event. Fly to Brussels then train?

I’ve been to Flanders a few times, by plane, Eurostar but mainly by car because when I lived in Hampshire it was only a day’s drive. Eurostar was before they insisted on pre-booking bikes and them (maybe) going on a different train. Once over the channel it’s a very straightforward drive - plenty of places to stop/see. That area of West Flanders is very popular with cyclists and cycling, even if you can’t stay directly in Oudenaard.

@13thfloormonk,

I’m reluctant to fly with the bike if I can help it but would love to do the 3 day Flanders Gravel event. Fly to Brussels then train?

I'd feel the same, could you get the train from Edinburgh to Newcastle and then take the overnight DFDS ferry to Amsterdam, then train onward to Oudenaarde?

https://rijden.uk/blog/review-flandrien-hotel/

Not self catering but you might want to take a look. There is a discount code in the article.

@13thfloormonk,

I’m reluctant to fly with the bike if I can help it but would love to do the 3 day Flanders Gravel event. Fly to Brussels then train?

I’d feel the same, could you get the train from Edinburgh to Newcastle and then take the overnight DFDS ferry to Amsterdam, then train onward to Oudenaarde?

I'm one of the party who went with OP to Oudenaarde before and travelled from Edinburgh. I had a credit with DFDS for the Newcastle to Ijmuiden trip as had previously booked it for a trip in 2020 as I wanted to do a no-fly holiday but that got cancelled. I'd definitely do the train and ferry again from Edinburgh but only for a longer trip - say 2 weeks or so. For a long weekend you spend a fair amount of time just travelling if going by train and ferry. You need to check in by about 4ish so that means leaving Edinburgh at about 1 on the day you're travelling. You then get in about half 9 or so the following day so realistically you're not going to be in much before mid afternoon. Repeat in reverse for return leg.

I'll be looking at train down to London then Eurostar for this next trip but that can be so expensive and I don't think Eurostar takes bikes again yet either.

Which unfortunately leaves flying, but for a short break gives you the most time over there.

I’d feel the same, could you get the train from Edinburgh to Newcastle and then take the overnight DFDS ferry to Amsterdam, then train onward to Oudenaarde?

That would be my choice.  However, you may need to buy a ticket for your bike on the train.  I've never had hassle getting a bike on the train but if there is an event on there may be limited space 🙁

Thanks for the tips so far, will check them out.

I did Eurostar from London to Brussels (starting in Sheffield so an easy trip to London), and then a short onward journey to Oudenaarde. They weren't taking bikes at the time, but I took the opportunity to rent a rather nice Cinelli bike in town. Having said that, the Eurostar website now suggests they are "working as hard as we can to relaunch it before the end of January." so it may all be back to normal service soon.