🇧🇪 Fam Trip to Ypres -Belgium 🇧🇪

Fam Trip to Ypres, Belgium

27th–29th February 2024

Hello and welcome back to my blog!

As many of you know, I work for a coach company and help organise school trips abroad, including battlefield tours. When a familiarisation trip to Belgium popped up for travel agents, I jumped at the chance! I’d only been with the company five weeks, but my amazing colleagues instantly took me under their wing. I’d never been to Belgium before, so it felt like the perfect opportunity to build my travel knowledge first-hand.

I’m so grateful to work in an industry I love, and getting to travel with work really is the cherry on top. We set off on the 27th, travelling by coach to Dover. As a coach company, we transported some of the other travel agents and made a few stops along the way. We then boarded the P&O ferry — my first ever ferry trip, and yes… I got seasick 🤢. The water was pretty rough, but P&O kindly gifted us access to the Club Lounge where we were welcomed with a glass of bubbly and the most amazing fish and chips. I was starving, so it felt like heaven!

Once we arrived in Belgium, we hopped back on the coach and headed to our hotel, where I was given a lush double room all to myself.

After checking in and unpacking, we headed to the In Flanders Fields Museum for a short introduction about what they offer our school groups. We were given name badges and our itinerary before being let loose to explore. The museum was brilliant — incredibly informative, interactive, and the staff were so knowledgeable.

After exploring, we had a small reception in the museum café where partners from Visit Flanders, Tourism, and the museum gave a talk. We also enjoyed a lovely nibble board! Then it was back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at Depot. The food was great, the wine was flowing, and afterwards we tried a local pub for some Belgian beer. We’d been given a voucher for a free pint — it would’ve been rude not to use it! We didn’t stay out long though; we had a full schedule ahead, and I was desperate to dive into the biggest, comfiest bed ever.

Day Two – Our Main Battlefield Day

After a good sleep, we started the day with a hotel breakfast — I had a fry-up and orange juice, and slipped a chocolate milk into my bag because my blood sugars had been playing up.

At 8:30am we set off for the Passchendaele Museum 1917, and I absolutely loved it. I’ve always been fascinated by the war — my grandad was in WW2 and my great-grandad in WW1 — so this museum felt special. They’ve recently opened an immersive experience that makes you feel like you’re right on the battlefield. It was raw, powerful, and so realistic. We also had the chance to walk through trenches with a guide who gave us so much insight.

Next, we travelled to Hooge Crater Museum, a private museum in Ypres with a new viewpoint called The Front Eye, where you can see Hill 60, Hill 62, Sanctuary Wood, and Hooge Crater Cemetery. After exploring, we had lunch: a huge ham and cheese sandwich with salad — genuinely the biggest bread slices I’ve ever seen!

We then visited Hill 60, Caterpillar Crater, Tyne Cot, and the Yorkshire Trench. Walking the exact ground where thousands lost their lives was incredibly emotional. Our guide shared the history with such care.

Afterwards we visited Talbot House — a unique WWI soldiers’ club still preserved with the authentic atmosphere of the time. You can actually stay there, and it feels like walking straight into history. It was one of my favourite stops. We enjoyed tea and cake before finishing around 5pm.

Then we returned to Ypres to visit Chocolaterie Peter De Groote, where our company has sent school groups for years. As a newbie it was lovely to finally meet them — and they spoiled us with a goodie bag full of chocolates and gingerbread!

Back at the hotel, we had a little downtime before heading to the Menin Gate for the Last Post Ceremony. Every evening at 8pm, traffic stops and buglers play a moving tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Ypres Salient. Anyone can attend for free. Standing there, listening, was beautiful and emotional — I had a tear in my eye.

Dinner that night was at Yperley, a very posh final meal of the trip. The food was incredible and it was lovely chatting with both colleagues and new friends. Some of the others travelled alone, so I felt lucky to have my team around me. We had a few drinks afterwards but didn’t stay out late — I didn’t fancy being hungover for a day of hostel visits!

Day Three – Hostel Visits & Home Time

After another amazing sleep in the king-size bed and a quick breakfast, we checked out. I felt sad to leave, though I was eager to get home as my dad had been admitted to hospital.

Our group split into two — some were there to tour hotels, while I visited five of the main hostels we sell to school groups: Salient 1 & 2, Poppies 1 & 2, and De Linde. Afterwards, we visited one more hostel before heading to Peace Village at 12:30pm. We divided into two groups again: one enjoyed a drink while the other had a tour. The owner showed us all the facilities, including a striking statue of soldiers shaking hands.

Lunch was a cold buffet with chicken, pasta, meats, and breads. With all the walking and no shops nearby, managing my blood sugar was tricky — thank goodness for the emergency Jammie Dodgers in my bag!

At 2pm we set off for Dunkirk to catch the DFDS ferry home. I treated myself in duty-free to my Chloé perfume. On board we headed straight to the restaurant for dinner. The ship was very rocky at first which put me off eating, but thankfully it settled and I managed some fish and chips.

After a short ferry journey we were back in the UK and began the long coach ride home with plenty of rest stops. By the time I got back, I felt exhausted but so grateful.

I truly loved this trip. It was busy and emotional, but I learned so much. Sorry this blog is so long — I wanted to share every detail!

Keep an eye out for my next post — I’m trying to catch up on all my recent adventures.

Chloe x