We are staying in Brussels next May for 2 weeks and are planning on taking the IC train from the airport to downtown then transfer to the local train to the Sainte Catherine stop. Our Airbnb is a minute or two walk from there. We'll most likely have one checked bag and two carry ons with us.

It seems very straight forward, but is there anything else I should know ? Anything to watch out for? Any tips to make it easier?

I want to go to Belgium this Christmas and visit Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges (the classic route), but with one important detail: I want to propose to my partner. We’ll be there for five days. I want to spend the first night in Brussels, but I’m not sure where to stay for the remaining days. I’m debating whether to base ourselves in either Ghent or Bruges and just travel by train from there, or if it’s better to book separate accommodation in each city. What do you recommend—that approach, or staying in each city individually?