Category: bike travel

Transform Your Travel Habits with Expert Insights – The podcast

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“The Carbon Conscious Traveler” podcast seeks to create new perspectives on travel by engaging in thoughtful discussions with guests from diverse backgrounds. The podcast highlights unique travel experiences, sustainable travel practices, and the personal impact of slower, more meaningful journeys.

By featuring conversations with experts, writers, and notable figures in the travel world, it aims to inspire listeners to rethink their travel habits and embrace more mindful and ecologically friendly ways of exploring the world.

Through a relaxed 45-minute chat, “The Traveler” provides insights and stories that encourage a deeper connection to the places visited and the people met along the way. We’ll try to launch one new episode per month. You can find the podcast here on Spotify.

Are you active in the travel industry? Do you have inspiring stories to share? Reach out and you might be our next guest!

How It All Started

  • I was interviewing Satish Kumar, a former monk and expert on radical love and organic agricultural practices. I wanted to get his thoughts on traveling connected with our planet Earth. He shared his views and I recorded it on my phone to avoid having to write. While listening to it afterward, it sounded like a podcast so I asked permission to publish his views on traveling like a pilgrim in the very first episode.
  • It is fun to engage with inspiring people in tourism and travel and share and inspire others while learning and being motivated to think differently myself, so I keep making new episodes since.

Before we dive in, are you already following this podcast on Spotify? If you enjoy the episodes, please follow, rate, and share them with fellow travelers. We want to help people make more conscious and well-considered travel choices, so reaching as many people as possible is our goal.

If you have suggestions for improvement, additional questions or stories? Engage with us commenting below, reaching out via social media channels or email! Your feedback is needed to improve step by step!

Fun fact: The idea to make the table recording with Satish Kumar made by phone a podcast, and the intro and outro of the first episode with Satish Kumar were recorded here on Mount Etna in Sicily.

Previous guests

  • E1 – Satish Kumar – Travel like a pilgrim: This episode features Satish Kumar, a lifelong activist and former monk, who shares wisdom on traveling with ecological and spiritual awareness. The conversation delves into the concept of mindful travel, peace pilgrimages, and concludes with a meditation on “Gratitude for the traveler.” Satish’s message is rooted in ecological regeneration and spiritual fulfillment.
  • ​E2 – Andrew Stevenson – The destination & the collective: UK-based travel psychologist Andrew Stevenson examines the psychological impact of travel destinations and ratings, as well as the divisive effects of flight shaming. The episode addresses collective versus individual responsibility in travel decisions and offers advice for those dealing with eco-anxiety. Listeners gain perspective on balancing enjoyment of travel with environmental concerns.
  • E3 – Paige McClanahan – The New Tourist: Journalist and author Paige McClanahan analyzes the impact of tourism on communities, highlighting both its positive and negative effects. The conversation encourages travelers to align their actions with personal values, aiming to maximize positive contributions while recognizing collective responsibility. Paige offers guidance on becoming a more conscious and responsible traveler.
  • E4 – Michael Brein – Unlocking the secrets of Travel Psychology: Michael Brein discusses the evolution from being a tourist to becoming an explorer, introducing psychological concepts to enrich travel experiences. The episode explores how travel journaling and seeing familiar places with new eyes can deepen one’s connection to the world. Michael’s insights offer practical ways to reflect, reconnect, and expand personal boundaries through travel.​
  • E5 – Britt Buseyne – The importance of economic equality in travel: Britt Buseyne, an advocate for sustainability and systems thinking, expands the dialogue beyond carbon emissions to include broader ecosystem impacts. The episode debates the merits of carbon offsetting, flight shaming, and the importance of being addressed as citizens rather than just consumers. Britt emphasizes shared responsibility and personal definitions of sustainable travel.​
  • E6 – Patrick Edmond – Flying with purpose: Patrick Edmond, Chief Marketing Officer at SAF aggregator Future Energy Global, discusses the shift from recreational flying to purposeful air travel. The conversation covers frequent flyer levies, adverse effects of US SAF tax incentives, and EU policies’ impact on ticket prices. Patrick reflects on aviation’s golden age, current environmental dilemmas, and the industry’s need to decarbonize for future growth.​
  • E7 – Louis Lammertyn – intro episode – The journey of the traveler: Louis, the host and founder, shares his transition from business aviation to sustainability entrepreneurship. The episode explains the origins of the podcast, its focus on mindful and ecologically friendly travel, and the host’s commitment to low-impact journeys. Louis introduces BookBetter and the mission to inspire travelers to rethink habits for a more sustainable future.​
  • E8 – Matt Tips – Green Erasmus & academic travel: Matt Tips, Policy Advisor at KU Leuven, presents sustainable academic and student travel initiatives such as Green Erasmus. The episode covers behavioral changes, institutional support, and practical steps for decarbonizing educational travel. Matt outlines a vision for 2050 in which travel is easier, less polluting, and embedded in academic culture.​
  • E9 – Xavier Font – The S-word and certification: Xavier Font, Professor of Sustainability Marketing, analyzes how travel businesses communicate about sustainability and carbon offsets. Research findings reveal that environmental labeling rarely aligns with guest perceptions and that excessive transparency may cause information fatigue. Xavier argues for measuring real improvements rather than mere certification, advocating regulation and innovation over consumer-led change.

Share your ideas! Share the podcast! Because we want to have people make more conscious and well considered travel choices, we want to reach as many people as possible. Please follow, rate, and share with two or more fellow travelers! If you can recommend a new guest for this podcast… let me know!

Genval lake – sports & relax just outside Brussels

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Looking for a quick family-friendly escape close to Brussels that’s both sustainable and full of adventure? For my birthday, my (very pregnant!) wife surprised me with a weekend at Lac de Genval—the perfect blend of slow travel, nature, and fun activities accessible for both big and small explorers.

Getting There the Green Way

  • Train: Hop on the direct train from Brussels North or Brussels Luxemburg station for a stress-free, low-carbon journey.
  • Bike: Feeling energetic? Cycle through the beautiful Sonian Forest for a scenic and eco-friendly route the kids will love. The trip takes between 1 and 1.5 hours from Brussels depending on where you start

What to Do at Lake Genval

  • On the Water: Rent a kayak, pedalo, SUP, rowing boat, or sailing boat at the local yacht club. Or, relax on the club’s terrace in a comfy beach chair while the kids watch the action.
  • Run or Stroll: Go for a run or a leisurely walk around the lake—perfect for burning off some energy in nature, spotting beautiful lakeside houses and classic cars driving around during the weekends.
  • Picnic & Play: Pack a picnic to enjoy by the water. Bring a book or some games for the kids. (Swimming is officially forbidden, but I couldn’t resist a sneaky early morning dip!)
  • Wellness & Tennis: Treat yourself at the spa or tennis courts at Martin’s Château du Lac—ideal for parents needing a little recharge. The spa also has a rooftop terrace where we read our books for hours.

Where to Eat

  • Lakeside Terraces: Grab a table at one of the many restaurants with terraces overlooking the water—Lucy Chang is a favorite for families.
  • Special Occasion: For something extra special, try L’amandier (my wife’s birthday treat for me!) for a 6-course haute-cuisine lunch or dinner.
  • Don’t Miss: An ice cream from La Laguna, right by the lake—guaranteed to delight! The cue on summer days is worth the wait.

Where to Stay

  • Lakeside Cabins: Book a cozy cabin or house along the water via Airbnb for a homey, kid-friendly stay.
  • Boutique Comfort: L’amandier offers charming but pricy guest rooms.
  • Hotel: We stayed at Martin’s Château du Lac (watch for deals including spa and tennis) for a touch of luxury and plenty of space for kids to roam.

Why We Loved It

This weekend reminded us that you don’t need to travel far to create lasting memories. Slow travel—by train or bike—makes the journey part of the adventure, and Lake Genval’s mix of nature, activities, and relaxation is perfect for families with young kids (and parents-to-be!).

Want tips or help booking your own sustainable lakeside escape? Drop me a message—I’m happy to share more!

Weekend Cycling Adventure: Brussels to De Haan

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We took this trip about two years ago, in Covid times. We found a new way to enjoy a weekend getaway: a cycling journey from Brussels to De Haan with a stay at the seaside. Whether you’re planning a winter trip with a scenic grey backdrop or a sunny summer escape, this route offers a perfect blend of nature, history, and adventure. Let’s delve into our experience and how you can recreate this journey.

Setting Off: Leave early!

Our adventure began on an early Saturday morning in Brussels. I packed a picnic and set off around 7 AM. The route was approximately 140 kilometers, guiding us through some of Belgium’s most scenic towns and cities. You can check out the detailed route here: NodeMapp Cycling Route. This system of fietsknooppunten is the best way to plan any cycling trip in Flanders.

Since Tine was pregnant then, she chose to go by train and join me for the last part of the cycling trip.

Cycling long distances can seem daunting, but planning becomes easy when following canals and rivers. These natural guides make navigation straightforward, turning the ride into a sequence of picturesque views avoid having to look at your phone or gps too often.

If you’re traveling with kids, consider using an electric bike with a bicycle cart. For those who prefer a more relaxed pace, split the trip into two days with an overnight stay in or before Ghent. This approach allows you to break up the journey, enjoy the ride, and fully appreciate your surroundings.

The Journey: From Brussels to De Haan

I maintained a slow but steady pace, with my touring bike, averaging about 20 kilometers per hour this takes 7 hours without brakes. This allowed me to enjoy the sights along the route without feeling rushed. The journey took us through Ghent, a city known for its vibrant culture and historic buildings, and Bruges, often called the “Venice of the North” for its beautiful canals and medieval architecture.

In Bruges, Tine joined me for the final leg of the trip to De Haan. This part of the journey combined scenic countryside with coastal views.

The Seaside: De Haan

Arriving in De Haan felt like going back to the glory times of the Belgian coast. Known for its Belle Époque architecture, De Haan offers a mix of history and coastal charm. One highlight was the heritage walking route, which tells the town’s rich history, including how Einstein lived there. You can explore more about this walk here.

We stayed at Hotel Internos, located just in front of the legendary Hotel Astoria. Both situated in the center of De Haan, ensuring you’re close to all the main attractions.

Due to Covid restrictions, dining options were limited, so at that time we enjoyed dinner in our hotel room. One memorable restaurant we enjoyed during another trip was Villa Julia, set in an old house with a warm interior. Despite the restrictions, dining in such unique settings added to our experience.

Returning Home: Easy and Convenient

After a weekend filled with cycling, history, and coastal beauty, returning to Brussels by train was simple. We cycled to Ostend and took the train back to Brussels. You can easily complete the journey to Ostend by coastal tram as well.

Final Thoughts on Sustainable Travel

Cycling long distances offers an eco-friendly alternative and a deeper connection with the surroundings. Whether you’re an avid cyclist or someone looking to try something new, this journey from Brussels to De Haan is a great way to explore and relax.

So, pack your bags, hop on your bike, and set off on your own sustainable adventure. Who knows what adventures you’ll make along the way!

Eco-Friendly Travel: Mastering the Art of Reusable Diapers

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Traveling with reusable diapers might seem daunting, but with the right approach, it can be both eco-friendly and manageable. We’ve had a mix of good and challenging experiences, and we’re here to share what we’ve learned to make your journey smoother.

We have made many trips with August during his first 2 years and always took reusable diapers: on a camper trip of 2 months to Spain and France, on our train adventure of a month in Sicily, on our cycling holidays through the Dolomites last summer,… It requires a bit of planning and reflection, but once you’re used to it it works well.

Our Favorite Reusable Diapers

Our top pick is the “Close Pop-in Bamboo Diaper”. These diapers are easy to wash and use, consisting of a bamboo layer, a water-absorbent insert, and waterproof over pants.

  • For soiled diapers: Simply toss the bamboo layer in the garbage.
  • For wet diapers: Wash and reuse the bamboo layer 3-4 times until it’s too decomposed.

Another setup we love:

  • “Bamboolik Cover Duo Snap” outer pants combined with “Anavy Bamboo Diaper with Velcro” and “TotsBots Bamboo Insert”.

Packing Tips

We typically prepare packaged layers in advance, taking 9-10 sets (3-4 diapers per day, adjusting as your child grows). For extra absorption at night, you can add a night booster like the “Close Pop-in Night Insert”.

Benefits and Practical Tips

  • Washing: Use a bit of eco soap to wash diapers in a lake, shower, washbasin, or toilet.
  • Drying: Lay them open in the sun or wind, or place them in a well-ventilated bicycle cart to dry.
  • Reuse: You can reuse the waterproof cover multiple times without washing if it remains clean.
  • Frequency: In hot weather, do not go longer than 2 days without washing. Use a washing machine every 3-5 days while on holiday.

Challenges & Solutions

  • Skin Irritation: In warm weather, humidity can irritate your child’s skin. Switch to disposable diapers (eco-friendly versions are available in most hypermarkets) if needed.
  • Smell: Carry a plastic bag for odor management.
  • Handling Poo: It’s not always pleasant to handle soiled diapers, but I (Louis) take on this task most often since I care most about the use of reusable diapers.

Additional Tips & Tricks

  1. Wet Bags: Invest in wet bags to store dirty diapers until you can wash them.
  2. Travel Size Detergent: Bring eco-friendly detergent in a travel size for easy washing on the go.
  3. Disposal Liners: Use biodegradable liners inside the diapers to make cleaning easier.
  4. Plan Ahead: Research your destinations for laundry facilities to ensure you can wash the diapers when needed.

Cycling the Dolomites with kids

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The best memories are made in nature. Spending time slow-traveling with our toddler in the Dolomites was amazing. When researching for this trip, I stumbled upon someone making this comparison list: Himalaya – Andes – Dolomites. I had to laugh since I thought it was slightly exaggerated to put the Dolomites on that list… but after the trip, we fully agreed!

This post is split in 4 parts:

  1. The route through the dolomites
  2. Musts when cycling with kids
  3. Our daily routine while cycling
  4. A day-by-day detail of the itinerary

1. The route through the Dolomites

We traveled by bike a couple of times before, e.g. during our summer trip along the Rhine and through the Black Forest, but never with August. In this post, you’ll find some honest parenting details on how we survived this trip with our 2-year old.

Disclaimer 1: Doing this beautiful bicycle trip with a kid is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE without an electric bike! There were many moments when we had a tough time cycling up the passes, even with help of our electric engine. At moments, we would get out of battery and sweat or hardly make it up the 1000m climb.

Disclaimer 2: we did not find a train alternative to get to the Dolomites with our two-year-old todler & two adults; two electric bicycles; a bike trailer and camping gear for all of us. Without a toddler and bike trailer it would have been possible to get to Bolsano and start cycling from there, so let me know if you are planning to do so!

For the route we practically merged the below two routes to create a loop and get back to where we left the car: Dolomites from West to East and Dolomites from East to West (returning via different valleys). We switched from the first to the second route in Cortina.

2. Musts when cycling with kids

If you’re planning to go on a cycling trip with a toddler, this is what you certainly need, on top of the usual kids’ stuff that you would take on any trip:

  • Seat & bike trailer: Bring both a child seat in the front and a Thule bike trailer behind one of the bikes. We switched all the time since sitting in the front allows us to look around, sitting in the back is more for playing and taking a nap.
  • Baby carrier: Take a light baby carrier backpack for short hikes in the mountains where the bike trailer cannot be used as a stroller
  • Baby sleep tent: We put the little tent inside our tent at our feet at night time. He got so used to it that he sleeps as well in the tent as in his bed at home. See the third tip for more details on our previous post on kids on trains where we tell you a little more about the tent.

For the dutch speakers: one of our biggest inspirations was this podcast of Grensverleggers – two months through Sweden with kids

3. Our daily routine while cycling

While cycling, our typical day routine with 2-year-old August would be as follows:

  • 5:30-6:30 Louis sneaks out of the room, goes running, reading a book, journaling
  • 7:30-8:00 Wake up & milk for August (he drinks his milk cold – makes life easy while camping), get ready for the day
  • 8:00-9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30-10:00 Pack our stuff
  • 10:00-11:30 Start cycling or if we stayed in the same location, one of us would take 2 hours of me-time and the other would make a hike. We often started with August in front of Tine’s bike so that August could look around (and does not yet fall asleep).
  • 11:30-13:00 Give August his lunch while taking a break… change his diaper and then he slowly falls asleep in the bike trailer behind Louis’ bike around 12:00 or 12:30.
  • 13:00-14:00 Tine & Louis have lunch while August is taking his nap – we take the bike trailer as a stroller onto the restaurant terrace. Warning: we had to be inventive to keep August out of the sun while sleeping…not easy when the roads are curved and the sun comes from a different side every couple of minutes. When he woke up after 2 hours nap we would give him some more of our food or fruit.
  • 14:00-17:00 Visit or cycle: often we would either cycle a bit more, visit a city, do a hike in the mountains, or plan shifts taking me time to read/chill/write.
  • 17:00-18:00 Find a good camping spot or hotel. We traveled in July and August which is high-season, but we did not reserve any hotel or campground in advance. We would often call the day itself either in the morning or sometimes just half an hour before knowing if we would make it to that city or want to stop earlier (in case of August being unhappy on the bicycle or bad weather).
  • 18:00-19:30 Get installed, have dinner together or if there’s a nice restaurant in the hotel we would already give August his dinner and after that put our phones on WhatsApp as baby phone while August is sleeping and we’re having dinner. We would often wash out August’s re-usable diapers by hand in the shower, and let them dry during the day in the bike trailer. More on travelling with re-usable diapers in a seperate blogpost – coming up.
  • 21:30-22:30 Tine & Louis sleeping time

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4. A day-by-day detail of the itinerary

Day 1: start in Castello-Molina di Fiemme to Pozza di Fassa

On the first day, we started slowly after having spent the night in Hotel Italia. We cycled past the waterfalls – Cascate dell’Avisio di Cavalese, where we had heavy rainfall and stopped cycling for an hour.

We booked an (expensive) camping in Pozza di Fassa: Camping Catinaccio Rosengarten. Since August went to bed around 19:30 we did not have the time to go to a restaurant and had takeaway pizza in front of our tent… in between two rainfalls.

Day 2: to Passo Fedaia

The second day started very beautifully, with views of impressive mountain ranges and a steep climb. We took a break to have lunch in the restaurant La Maison Fredarola while August was sleeping in his bike trailer.

When we wanted to hit the road for the second part of the climb and after having charged our batteries, we found Tine’s bike with a flat tire. When I pumped it up again we noticed it only went flat very slowly… so rather than spending an hour there trying to fix a flat tire of an electric bike, we inflated the tier every 20 minutes. With only a big hour of climbing the Passo Fedaia, we made it to Rifugio Capanna Bill. For the last part of the road we took a little closed-down road next to the hydro reservoir.

Day 3: we stayed at Passo Fedaia in Rifugio Capanna Bill

With beautiful mountains surrounding the Passo Fedaia, we decided to stay for two nights and go for some hikes. In the morning we took turns of 2 hours each to go for a hike with August while the other had some me-time. In the afternoon we took the cable car and went for a hike higher up. The Rifugio had a restaurant so we could have breakfast and dinner there. For lunch, we always had a good stack of food with us in our bags.

Day 4: to Agordo

And guess what… rather than fixing the flat tier, we decided to inflate it every 20 minutes and cycle to a bike repair shop where they fixed it for 10 euros. It saved us a lot of frustration and clumsyness on the road.

We had lunch in Agordo, visited the city, and decided to cycle a bit more uphill before searching for a camping spot in the wild. We were unlucky: The local multinational had organized their international family day in Agordo and fully booked all hotels in the surroundings. Our first pick to camp was in the garden of the school of a small village called La Valle Agordina. We filled our water bottles at the little fountain, and enjoyed the local playground, but we could not find any electricity to charge our bicycle batteries… and with more than 1000m climbing foreseen for the next day, we sure needed that.

After talking to some people in the village, they showed us their little forest and field where we could camp and offered to charge the batteries in their house. Tine had fun building a bonfire and August slept super well in his little tent, inside our bigger tent.

Day 5 to Villa Chele in Pralongo – Val di Zoldo

We climbed the mountain until Rifugio Passo Duran where we had lunch. We were rewarded by the impressive views of Chiesa, a beautiful old village with many charming wooden houses.

After that, we continued cycling downhill, with a small climb at the end to reach the charming room we booked with Louisa in Villa Chele. The host is amazing. She immediately volunteered to take care of August while we carried our bags up. We could do our laundry there and she borrowed us her hiking backpack for toddlers to do a bigger mountain hike.

We had dinner in Restaurant El Taier, a couple of 100 meters down from Villa Chele, and enjoyed the sunset from the hill next to the village.

Day 6 & 7 we stayed in Pralongo – Val di Zoldo

The next day she explained she had to take care of her grandkids in Belluno and that we could drive along to the city in her van… so we took a lovely road trip with sixty-something years old Louisa. We talked for hours, where she shared her interesting life story – from Argentina to Germany to Italy – travels by boat – falling in love – … An encounter with a woman full of wisdom. It gave us the perfect “Celestine prophecy” vibe full of magic. If you haven’t read the book yet: this is your call!

In the mornings, Louis would sneak out of the room and go for a long run in the mountains and read his book, while August and Tine would be calmly sleeping. On one of the mornings in Villa Chele a group of women hikers was preparing to head for the mountains, while one took out a box of cards called: “Nature meditation cards”. We bought the same deck and still enjoy it once in a while, a nice gift idea!

Day 8 to Cortina d’Ampezzo

This was a legendary day: we had to take a good 1000m climb again, The majestic roughness of the mountains is impressive, and while cycling you have all the time to enjoy it and look around.

After that, we continued our trip to Cortina d’Ampezzo where we booked a camping ground. We had to go to Camping Cortina, because Camping Rocchetta was already fully booked. The latter is a nicer campground according to the reviews… but the Pizza at Camping Rocchetta was good and August enjoyed the playground a lot.

Day 9 to Cinque Torri and San Ciascian

Before continuing our trip, we visited Cortina and had breakfast there.

While climbing up the next col, the views over the Cortina valley are nice, so worth stopping for.

After a couple of hours, we reached the cable car to Cinque Torri. We did not plan all of this upfront, but when searching we saw that it was certainly worth going up for a hike around the rocks of Cinque Torri.

We continued cycling for a little while until we reached B&B Hotel Frohsinn for the night.

Day 10 to Passo Gardena

As we never knew what we would find on our route and had quite some flexibility in our schedule, we would never reserve any hotels or campgrounds in advance… so we were extremely happy to find a free room in Hotel Cir. A very nice place on top of the Passo Gardena, with a good restaurant, nice terras with relaxing chairs, and the most impressive views of the rocks around.

Day 11 we stayed in Passo Gardena – Hotel Cir

Since the hotel was so nice and nature so impressive, we decided to stay a second night and take the time to relax and take half a day of me time each, while the other would take care of August.

Day 12 to Moena

We climbed the Sella Pass before closing our loop through the Dolomites in Canazei, the city where we passed as well on our second day. That night we stayed in Hotel Catinaccio, a nostalgic hotel that had its best days… but the old charm was pretty funny and August enjoyed the pool a lot.

Day 13 to Castello di Fiemme

On our last day, we rolled down the hill, along the river with a day of fully separated cycling lanes to our start location. It was an easygoing day to close this beautiful trip through the Dolomites.

In case you are planning to take this trip, please reach out with any questions! It would be great if we could inspire others to have a similar adventure with their kids.

Night train to Berlin

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Disclaimer: I’m definitely biased in this post 😉 since I have been working on Moonlight Express and for European Sleeper

If you’re looking for a cultural and fun weekend escape from Brussels or Antwerp: jump on the direct night train to Berlin!

In May our night train from Brussels to Berlin started circulating. With hundreds of cooperative shareholders that contributed, the night train could finally start circulating on the 25th of May 2023. I traveled to Berlin to be part of the first trip, enjoyed Berlin for a couple of days, and helped a bit on the preparation of the maiden trip. To manage expectations, it’s important to know that the coaches are old, so the experience will be a nostalgic one rather than a luxurious trip! In the future, new coaches will be renovated and built for European Sleeper, but in the short term, these coaches are the only available ones.

If you’re planning to take this trip with kids and want to have our best tips & tricks, make sure to check out our article about train travel with kids.

It was not my first time in Berlin, so I did not feel pressured to try to see all the highlights. It’s fun to just do what you feel like and leave the rest for another trip. The places I hang around this time:

  • Climbing Teufelsberg – a beautiful hike in nature, climbing a mountain built based on the debris of World War II. On top, you can access the old military buildings full of graffiti (access for 5 euros)
  • Soviet War Memorial Treptow – a free guided tour through the impressive soviet memorial with Guruwalk
  • Reichstag – Free visit to the rooftop for impressive views, you do need to reserve online in advance.
  • East Side Gallery – Berlin wall
  • Museum island
  • Brandenburg Gate & Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

While wintertime can be very cold in Berlin, the city is full of incredible museums and restaurants so that even on the coldest days you can still have an amazing trip. Of course hot summer weather is even nicer for enjoying the many parks, beer gardens, and nature around Berlin.

Just book a trip with European Sleeper and find out for yourself 🙂

Brussels-Lisbon by train – seat61.com

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When traveling to the World Aviation Festival to hold a presentation on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), I wanted to make a statement. That’s where I needed the website of The Man in Seat 61 to guide me towards the best train itinerary to get to Lisbon. For more info on why I was at the World Aviation Festival, check out the video at https://www.green-trail.eu/

I would have taken my first flight in 4 years, only if I could buy a ticket with truly transparent SAF certificates… which was not possible. I tried all I could to buy fuel straight from different producers, but none were capable of selling it to me within the first 6 months. So I decided to go to Lisbon by train!

It took me two full days to go and another two to get back. It was a beautiful trip, but a tiring one. Before Covid, I would have been able to travel to Madrid on day 1, and the same evening take a night train, waking up in Lisbon the next day… but that train has been canceled leading to a hilarious situation: it takes 3 trains with transfers in the middle of nowhere to get from one capital to the next. All details of the trip can be found here on Seat61.com. I took a stopover in Madrid where I slept in the Latroupe Prado hostel and had some good tapas in El Alambic around the corner.

It’s important to mention that for the return journey, the transfer time in Badajoz is too tight with only 10 minutes in between, while the bus-like train that takes you there always has a delay of 10 minutes or more. We were very lucky that the high-speed train to Madrid waited for us and that we arrived just 13 minutes late… since the train would have left 2 minutes after anyway, with no more options to make it to Madrid that night except for a 500 EUR taxi or a hitchhiking adventure.

I went to Portugal for work and spent some days in Ericeira and Lisbon. For 9 days I took a small backpack and my folding bike… and given the many train connections to get, I would definitely recommend packing light. If you are not in a hurry, you certainly want to split the travel into 2 or 3 segments so you can enjoy it more. Possible stops are Barcelona, Madrid, Entroncamento, or Badajoz.

Recommendations in Lisbon

  • Miradouro da Senhora do Monte – nice views for sunset
  • Secret garden – bar with concerts and basic restaurant, just under Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
  • Sao Vicente de Fora – monastery
  • Parque Eduardo VII – a nice big park in the city center
  • Jardim do Torel – also with nice views
  • Viewpoints from Largo Portas do Sol
  • Ruta de Sao Pedro de Alcantara – for the famous tramway going uphill
  • Santa Justa Lift – take cash or you don’t get in!
  • Praça do Comercio – big square on the waterfront

Recommendations in Ericeira

  • Getting there: you can get there easily by taking the direct bus from Lisbon Campo Grande to Ericeira.
  • Selina hostel: If you’re traveling alone, stay in the Selina hostel with yoga in the morning, a small swimming pool, a healthy breakfast, and a good restaurant.
  • Surf: There are plenty of surf schools. Depending on the swell, beginner classes get canceled on some beaches. You might want to consult multiple schools and ask for the maximum number of students per teacher, which should be 4 or 5 max and not 10 per teacher… leading to a lot of frustration.
  • Mountainbike: we rented mountain bikes, and did an incredibly beautiful tour with a guide from Take Off e-bike for 35 euros per person only.
  • Skatepark & halfpipe: Boardriders Quiksilver Roxy flagship store has its own huge halfpipe and skatepark. They also offer all kinds of surf and skate courses.
  • Sunset locations:
    • Mar das Latas – wine bar with perfect views for sunset
    • Praia da Empa / Pedra Branca reserve – views from the top of the rocks for sunset
  • Restaurants:
    • La Popular Taberna
    • Mar d’Areia – fish restaurant
    • Howm by Maikai
    • Mar das Latas – need to reserve, always full

So, Brussels to Lisbon by train is an option if you have some time. If you need to rush it in the shortest possible time frame it soon feels like a bit too much. Perfect for a holiday trip, less perfect for work 😉

South of Italy by night train

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Last month I traveled from Brussels to the south of Italy for the wedding of our dear friends Jan & Corentin. Since I managed not to fly for three years now, I booked myself a nice alternative for flying: a private “luxury” cabin on the night train.

In short the trip is:

  1. Brussels – Paris by high speed train (morning)
  2. Paris – Milano by high speed train (afternoon)
  3. Milano – Fasano by night train (night)

I took my folding cycle along which facilitated the switch of stations in Paris and Milano a lot. It is of course feasible to do it by subway (Paris) or walking (Milano), but it just involves a little extra time buffer needed.

I booked the Thalys (29-65 EUR one way) and TGV (49-74 EUR) on http://www.sncf-connect.com and the night train (Vagone Letto Deluxe Uso Singolo – Cabina Intera for just 85-95 EUR one way) on http://www.lefrecce.it which worked fine. In total the transport for this trip costs 397 EUR, which I agree, is not really cheap if you can fly for 60-100 EUR. Nevertheless, the views from the train and a night of hotel saved make it worth it. I could take my folding cycle and a big backpack for free, which of course does not work while flying either.

I left for Paris on Wednesday morning, worked a bit in our Brussels office of Hinicio and left after lunch to catch the TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Milano. Even with a delay of almost an hour (for which I got a partial refund), I was nicely on time to buy dinner in the station and catch the first of the two night trains that leave Milano for the south of Italy at 21:15. Let’s be clear: luxury on this Italian night train is not at all the same as what e.g. OBB offers for a sleeper coupé. Breakfast was very basic, so better to bring your own food.

We arrived in Fasano at 8am after a comfortable night of sleep, some morning yoga and meditation, while sliding through the Italian countryside. I cycled to the beach and installed myself in http://www.pettolecchiaillido.it for a morning swim and some reading.

Tine and August whom flew to the South joined me for lunch in Ardecuore, a great restaurant in Fasano.

After a walk in Fasano we started talking to some locals that were so amazingly friendly that they offered to take us to Alberobello with its special Trulli’s, round stone roofs.

After spending one night in Fasano we were picked up by our friend Jeanke that brought us to Masseria Corte Degli Asini, the hotel where the other wedding friends were staying as well. On Friday we visited the beautiful town of Ostuni with some of them.

It was a fairy tail weekend with the wedding of Jan & Corentin on Saturday night in Masseria Mozzone just next door, a pizza party, poolparty, lots of talking and dancing. Thanks again to the two amazing guys that organised all this (with a little help of Tabloo Margot)!

I left Fasano again with the night train on Sunday evening to go back via Torino, Paris and back to Brussels.

Lustin safari

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Some months ago I booked a surprise weekend in Lustin, close to Namur. To get there we jumped on the direct train from Brussels-Schuman to Lustin and took our folding bikes along. It took only 1h13 minutes to get from Brussels into this lovely spot in nature.

With a weekend ticket you pay only 12,20 EUR p.p. going and back, only downside is that it requires you to leave Brussels after 19pm on Friday evening.

We stayed in La Fête au Palais, a small hotel on top of the hills next to the Maas river. The boss kindly picked us up at the railway station to bring us up the hill (inform him in advance). The hotel is no-nonsense and nice. The rooms with terrace towards the river are a pleasure to hang out and cost 109 EUR/night. You want to reserve well in advance since it’s fully booked most of the year. The restaurant of the hotel has a beautiful terrace so on Friday evening we ate at the restaurant of the hotel.

While going on a hike on Friday afternoon we encountered a small snake and some lovely shiny cockroaches… The big surprise came in the evening in front of our room when we heard some nibbling noises and got to see some beautiful racoons. They are a true ecological problem in Europe since they are an exotic species disbalancing nature by killing too many birds, squirrels and lots of fruits and plants. Apparently there’s hundreds of them in the Belgian Ardennes.

After a good breakfast in the hotel, we filled our Saturday with a nice hike and a long cycling trip along the Maas river. We cycled from the hotel all the way to Namur. Made a stop to picknick, chilled at the local hipster beach bar ‘The Flow‘ and cycled back. In the evening we ate at Pizzeria Venezzia, the local restaurant in Lustin, which is at walking distance from the hotel, following a small hiking trail.

On Sunday we first took a walk in nature, following the local tracks indicated through the woods. In the afternoon we took our bags from the hotel and rolled down the hill by bike.

As you might remember from other blogposts, I enjoy swimming in rivers… The Maas river is a very beautiful and calm river to swim in, with stairs all along the riverbanks.

We followed the Maas river until we got to Yvoir where we took the train back to Brussels (eating vegi takeaway on the train from Jin Xiu next to the station).

All in all, it’s an easy trip from Brussels and a perfect escape into nature both in summer and wintertime. There are also airbnb’s around the railway line from Brussels-Schuman to Lustin. On the hills around the Maas there’s a lot of forests with hiking routes to discover. No excuses to stay in the city!

Cycling in “De Vlaamse Ardennen”

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After a long silence there’s a strong motivation to bring you a longlist of inspiration for low carbon trips: Rome and Vienna by train, sailing, hiking, camping, … We’ll dive right in with a lovely trip we did last weekend to Flanders cycling paradise: De Vlaamse Ardennen.

We left from Brussels on Saturday. It took us only 20 minutes by train from Brussels South to Denderleeuw. We took our folding cycles but you can just pay 4.5€ more to take your normal bike on the train. With Tine being pregnant we made it a short cycling trip (35km) through nature, from Denderleeuw along the Dender river to Geraardsbergen and then to Brakel where we slept.

You can easily extend the cycling part by starting your trip in Aalst (43km), Dendermonde (55km) or even start cycling from the Schelde or Brussels. We knew it was going to be a wet day so even with rain pants on, cycling for 2 hours was enough.

We slept in one of the cabins of B&B De Groeneweg in Brakel. A great glamping getaway in nature with views on a beautiful orchard for only 55€ per night. The host is kind and super helpful so don’t hesitate to ask her whatever you need. The breakfast basket is worth its 10€ p.p. so if you’re not on a tight budget you want to go for that one. These “pods” are actually part of the “Trekkershutten” network, located close to GR hiking routes and big cycling corridors through Europe.

For diner there’s plenty of impressive restaurant options around… but most were already fully booked two weeks ahead, so make sure to reserve and check the menu prices before booking: Moeder Agnes, La Granja, De vijf seizoenen or La Villa.

On Sunday we slept a little longer than average, took a late breakfast and went for a lovely walk in the woods. Based on the application of Wandelknooppunt it is really easy to determine your walk in the surrounding woods. You just save or remember the numbers of the “nodes” and follow the indications along the path. It works exactly the same as the “fietsknooppunten” for cycling routes in Flanders.

During our hike we had a picknick. After returning to the B&B we packed our bags and started cycling back to Geraardsbergen…through the rain. Surprisingly, Tine enjoyed the weekend so much that she kept a big smile even through the pouring rain.

As for the culture part, except for the windmill we visited, you might have spotted a Manneke pis on the background of the second picture… Geraardsbergen claims that their manneke pis is actually older than the Brussels one. (note: it looks exactly the same and both original statues were made around the 1450’s).

Before heading back home we still went for pancakes in Montana – nothing special but cosy to warm up during heavy rainfall. A little sun would have surely invited us to visit Geraardsbergen more extensively, but we had our portion of nature so were totally satisfied.

To go back to Brussels on Sunday evening we took the train from Geraardsbergen. There’s a direct train from Geraardsbergen back to Brussels every hour.