CRESTA has added three more hotels in Bruges to its Eurostar programme for 2000 to meet growing demand for the Belgian city.
Head of marketing Jane Williams said weekend accommodation in Bruges has been sold out well in advance throughout the year, so an extra three properties, in the two, three and four-star bracket, have been added for next year.
The availability of day trips to Paris, Lille and Brussels has also been extended in the new brochure. These can be taken any day of the week from April 1, 2000 instead of on Saturdays only, as at present.
A day trip to Paris from April to September costs £99 including standard-class travel on Eurostar, a 1hr river cruise and an Eyewitness Travel Guide.
Williams said bookings on the 1999 Eurostar programme were “flat”, with overall bookings up only about 5%.
Lille performed well, moving up from 19th to 14th place in the operator’s top 20 city breaks league.
“With the advent of Eurostar. Lille has become popular for both day trips and weekend breaks,” said Williams.
Lead price on the programme, on sale now and valid until September 30, 2000, is £138 per person for a three-night break at the one-star Amarys Simart Hotel in Paris including return travel on Eurostar.