The Pand Hotel

So specialized are Bruges’s charms that the city’s become — unfairly — a bit of a punchline. Yes, it’s stunningly picturesque, cultured, medieval. That doesn’t mean it’s boring, per se, just that it’s not the sort of city that’s going to reach out, grab you by your scruff, and forcibly entertain you to within an inch of your life. Bruges rewards a slightly more deliberate approach, and so, in turn, does the Pand Hotel.

One look and it’s obvious that a certain quiet elegance rules the day here. The existence of the Ralph Lauren–decorated junior suites reveals that a considerable amount of stylistic attention was paid to the place. It may seem a bit of a stretch to compare the Pand, with its subtly modern charms hidden beneath a veneer of classicism, to the city of Bruges itself — but we’re doing it anyway.

It’s hardly a five-star pleasure palace. There’s breakfast, of course, and a bit of room service here and there, but you’re expected to get out and see the town a bit. For those having gym withdrawls there’s a health club nearby — then again a pleasant saunter along the canals would be an altogether more Bruges thing to do.

How to get there:
The Pand Hotel is approximately a 1 1/4 hour drive from Brussels International Airport. There is a train from Bruges to the airport that runs every 30 minutes and costs approximately €20. The hotel also provides airport transfers for approximately €175 one way.