Brilliant trips to take when you're pregnant

Weekend in Brussels
These days, Brussels is just a Eurostar ride away and offers an alternative to Paris for a continental stop-over. There is plenty of wandering to be done in this bilingual city, and there's no need for any of it to get too taxing. The historic Grand Place is the place to start, with its myriad of restaurants and daily flower market. Then visit the Museum of Ancient Art, and The Fondation Internationale Jacques Brel, a quaint must-see, honouring Belgium's favourite chanteur. Don't miss the Belgian Centre of Comic Strip Art - after all, this is the country that brought us Tintin and Asterix. The rue des Bouchers area is atmospheric with its candlelit terraces - check out the Toone Marionette Theatre, a bar and puppet theatre combined.

Top Tip:
Avoid foods that may be contaminated with listeriosis bacteria, such as soft cheeses, pâtés, and rare or raw meats (wave goodbye to the idea of steak tartare on this trip). Don't eat unpeeled fruit or salads, and drink bottled water at all times, and no ice. To avoid salmonella, steer clear of raw eggs (that steak tartare again) and undercooked chicken. You'll be giving mussels a miss on this trip, but if you (and/or baby) are craving carbs, then this is the place for chips.

The Belgian Tourist Reservation Office (free hotel booking service)
Tel: +32 (0)2 513 74 84

Tourist Information Office (list of hotels)
Tel: +32 (0)2 504 03 90

Eurostar
www.eurostar.com

The Museum of Ancient Art
Rue de la Régence, 3
Tel: +32 (0)2 508 3211

Fondation Internationale Jacques Brel
Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés, 11
Tel: +32 (0)2 511 10 20

Belgian Centre of Comic Strip Art
Rue des Sables, 20
Tel: +32 (0)2 219 19 80

Toone Marionette Theatre
Impasse Schuddeveld, 6 (off Petite rue des Bouchers)
Tel +32 (0)2 513 54 86