What Worked, What I’d Tweak, and What It Taught Me
As a travel coach, I talk a lot about planning with intention—choosing destinations, pacing, and priorities that actually reflect what you want out of the experience. This trip was no exception. To celebrate our 20th anniversary, I designed a 16-night road trip through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands. Our goals were simple and meaningful: history, food, and connection.
We chose this region to escape the sweltering heat (summer trip 2024 in Asia was toasty) and immerse ourselves in history; medieval castles and churches topped our list. It was also our 20th anniversary, so time to reconnect mattered. And let’s be honest: the chocolate and cheese didn’t hurt.
As I began planning, our priorities quickly sorted themselves into three clear buckets:
Education – We wanted to dive deeper into the region’s layered past
Food – Cheese. Chocolate. No further explanation needed
Connection – After a season of long hours and packed calendars, we wanted this trip to feel like a reset, for both of us
We debated where to base ourselves for the first few days: Antwerp, Ghent, or Bruges. Ultimately, we chose Ghent for its central location, planned a day trip to Bruges, and saved Antwerp for next time.
Turns out? Ghent is awesome, and we’ll probably stay there again. It offered the perfect balance: more space to spread out, beautiful canals, diverse restaurants, and a castle right in the center of town. We stayed at 1898 The Post, a phenomenal boutique hotel housed in a historic building—my interior design soul was delighted. Thoughtful design, exceptional service, and a killer location.
Our day trip to Bruges was just the right amount of time. The city is charming and small, but packed with visitors—it would’ve felt overwhelming for more than a day. Instead, we hopped on a train, arrived early, and followed a chocolate tour I planned (Oh no! Hours researching chocolate!). We visited The Basilica of the Holy Blood, wandered the historic squares, relaxed in the shade of a park, and finished with one of our favorite meals of the entire trip at Bistro Bruut, watching the sunset over the canals.
Of course, we missed our train back to Ghent (by mere minutes!), but we caught the next one, and giggled most of the way home.
One of the best surprises? We accidentally timed our trip to be in Luxembourg City for its national holiday. The city was alive with concerts, fireworks, and celebrations. It wasn’t what I originally envisioned for that stop, but it turned into a trip highlight—and a great reminder that staying open to spontaneity can lead to joy.
What I’d Tweak Next Time
I accounted for downtime, but I didn’t plan for a heat wave. With temperatures climbing across Europe, we retreated to the relief of air conditioning in our hotels more than expected. This is where location matters; since we were staying near city centers, popping back to the hotel for a break was easy. We did miss a sight or two we had hoped to see (looking at you, Rembrandt House and Our Lord in the Attic!), but skipping them to stay cool and connected was the right call.
Lesson learned #2? Don’t buy perishable gifts on day two of a road trip. I was so excited to bring home artisanal Belgian chocolates for loved ones—but I didn't consider how we’d keep them from melting as we drove between cities and explored in the heat. We eventually found a cooler bag and stocked up on ice from local markets, but it added time to travel days. Mission (barely) accomplished. Next time, I’ll wait until the last stop for goodies.
This was a fabulous trip: designed with intention, aligned with our goals, and flexible enough to adapt to what we needed in the moment. We came home full. Full of new experiences, full of laughter, full of connection… and yes, full of chocolate and cheese.
It reminded me of what I always aim to give my clients: travel that doesn’t just check boxes, but actually feeds something meaningful.
If you’re dreaming of a trip that reflects your values and goals (not just your bucket list) I’d love to help you design it.