august2014
FLYTO
brussels
frommorethan50europeandestinations.
brusselsairlines.com
SLEEP
The
Hassotel
(Sint-Jozefsstraat 2–10,
(0)11230655, hassotel.be, rooms from€250)
isHasselt’snewgo-todesignhotel. Upgrade to
the ‘Lux’ rooms,whichcomewitha freeminibar
stockedwithBelgianchocolatesandan in-room
pet goldfish. Alternatively, if you’replanning to
partyatPukkelpop, try
LeRefuge
(Kiewitstraat
247, (0)11332664, lerefugekiewit.be, rooms
from€95), anearby formermonastery turned
B&Bwith four luxury roomsamidgreengardens.
EAT
Lunchat the ‘Flavour Lounge’ or
Smaaksalon
(Maastrichterstraat 61),
whichworkswith local Limburgproducers to
createa lip-smackingmenuof regional dishes
that changesweekly. It’s reasonablypricedand
serves first-classwines.
CULTURE
Dance for threedaysstraight at
Pukkelpop
, Belgium’ssecond-biggestmusic
festival, held from 14-16August 5kmnorthof the
city. The line-up thisyear ranges fromEd
Sheeran toSnoopDogg. Day ticketscost€85.
SHOP
Tastesome regional specialitiesandpick
uppresents inonegoat
Lekker Limburgs
(Kuringersteenweg 161)–a rusticshopselling
everything from local beer tobiscuits.
LATER
Takea taxi northof thecitycentre to
Baouzza
(Elfde-Liniestraat 23)–a restaurant-
cum-lounge-bar clusteredaroundapool and
openonly insummer. Thereare liveDJson
Saturdaynights from9pm.
TIP
Catch the last of thesummer artmarket,
heldonSaturdays from2pm to6pmbehind
Hasselt townhall.
EmmaThomson
TRAIN
Trainsdepart
fromBrusselsAirport,
withachangeat
Leuven,at 18and39
minutespast thehour
Monday toFriday,
whileatweekends
trainsdepart at40
minutespast the
hour.Journey time
isonehour and
10minutes,and
asecond-classsingle
ticket costs€15.90.
TAXI
A taxi from
BrusselsAirportwill
cost roughly€90and
takesabout anhour.
TOURIST INFO
toerisme.hasselt.be
/
info
10,449,361 +32 13°C
Euro (EUR)
hasselt
belgium
71kmfrombrussels
Pukkelpopattracts
thousandsofmusic
fanseveryAugust
Bathershavebeen
enjoying theThermes
deSpa for centuries
SLEEP
Tenminutes fromcentral Spa, the
Villa
d’Olne
(CheminHenrotte92a, (0)475796938,
villadolne.be, rooms from€130) isacharming
country innwithsixcosy rooms, someofwhich
areevenequippedwithkitchens, aswell asa
heatedoutdoor pool andan indoorwellnessarea.
EAT
The tradition-meets-gastronomymenusat
L’ODeSource
(PlacePierre leGrand2) are
alwaysexcellent value formoney.
CULTURE
From22-24August, catch the
F1
BelgianGrandPrix
atSpa-Francorchamps.
If youpreferVolkswagenBeetles to fast cars,
there’s theannual
BugShow
from2-3August,
featuringdrag racesanda tracksideparade.
Until 31August, delve intoa little-known local
chapter inWorldWar II historyat anexhibition
at the
Museumof the Forestand theWaters
innearbyBérinzenne (Bérinzenne4).
SHOP
StockuponElixir deSpa, a traditional
liqueurmadewithabout 40plant andherbal
extracts, at the
MaisonDaenen
(PlacePierre
leGrand5-6).
LATER
After hours, join local partygoersat the
colourful
HavanaCafé
(Ruede laPoste7),
whichofferssalsa lessonseveryTuesdayand
DJsspinningmainly latin tunesonweekends.
Choose from50 typesof rum, or try thehouse
mojito,which tastesasgoodas it looks.
TIP
Toavoid longqueuesat the
Thermes de
Spa
wellnesscomplex (Collined’Annetteet
Lubin), bookyourmassage, therapeuticbathor
beauty treatment inadvance.
RenéeCordes
TRAIN
FromBrussels
Central station,
a train journey to
Spa takesabout two
hours,usuallywith
a transfer inVerviers;
trains leave for
Vervierseveryhour
roughlyon thehour.
A round-trip ticket
costs€39.
CAR
Spa isabout
a90-minutedrive
fromBrussels.
Rent acar atBrussels
ZaventemAirport
and take theE40
highway in the
directionof Liège.
TOURIST INFO
spatourisme.be
/
info
10,449,361 +32 18°C
Euro (EUR)
SPA
belgium
135kmfrombrussels
64
