Amsterdam to paris HELP!!
Dec 14th, 2003, 08:28 PM
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Amsterdam to paris HELP!!
Forgive me if this qurestion seems repetitive, but this is also my first trip outside the US. I am planning on flying in to amsterdam on a friday morning, staying friday and sat night. Then taking a train to paris. I have already purchased a eurorail ticket ( but only for paris and italy) My question is how do i find a train to take me to paris, where does it leave from, and i need the cheepest train i can get. Also the eurorail passes are they good on any rail line? I am confused about how they work but i was advised by a friend who has been to france that i should buy them. HELP! I feel like i am getting in over my head
Dec 14th, 2003, 08:34 PM
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Go to a travel agency near you that sells Eurail Passes and they can answer your questions about how the Pass works.
There are daily trains from the Central Station in Amsterdam that will take you to Paris. Just go there and get your ticket for when you choose to leave. Most people in Holland speak English, so you shouldn't have any trouble communicating.
There are daily trains from the Central Station in Amsterdam that will take you to Paris. Just go there and get your ticket for when you choose to leave. Most people in Holland speak English, so you shouldn't have any trouble communicating.
Dec 14th, 2003, 08:37 PM
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Stop panicking! You can leave Amsterdam from Centraal Station to Paris Gare du Nord - about 4 hours journey. I am sure you will be able to use your Eurorail ticket. Go to www.raileurope.com for more information and time schedules.
Dec 15th, 2003, 02:47 AM
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The through trains from Amsterdam to Paris are Thalys high speed trains for which you need a reservation with a supplementary fare. A cheaper option are the hourly intercity trains from Amsterdam to Brussels for which seats cannot be reserved, then a TGV to Paris; these are generally every 30 mins and you need to reserve a seat. If you have a rail pass for France, you'll need to show this at the ticket office and pay for a ticket to the French border.
Dec 15th, 2003, 04:48 AM
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Dear illusion,
Since you haven't used your railpass yet, it might be refundable.
Go to www.railsaver.com and enter your itinerary. They will tell you if a railpass will save you money over point-to-point tickets.
You will find train schedules for the whole world at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Other useful sites are www.trenitalia.com/en for Italy andhttp://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_for France.
As noted above, certain trains such as THALYS and the ES* (eurostar) trains in Italy require prior reservations for which you will pay a supplement in addition to your railpass.
The THALYS train leaves from Amsterdam Centraal (the main train station) and arrives at Gare du Nord in Paris. (Paris has 6 train stations)
You will have to pay for a reserved seat, if you wish one, on other trains for which your railpass is valid.
Since you haven't used your railpass yet, it might be refundable.
Go to www.railsaver.com and enter your itinerary. They will tell you if a railpass will save you money over point-to-point tickets.
You will find train schedules for the whole world at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Other useful sites are www.trenitalia.com/en for Italy andhttp://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_for France.
As noted above, certain trains such as THALYS and the ES* (eurostar) trains in Italy require prior reservations for which you will pay a supplement in addition to your railpass.
The THALYS train leaves from Amsterdam Centraal (the main train station) and arrives at Gare du Nord in Paris. (Paris has 6 train stations)
You will have to pay for a reserved seat, if you wish one, on other trains for which your railpass is valid.
Dec 15th, 2003, 08:30 AM
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Two sites that have very helpful railpass guides are www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. As ira says, visit www.railsaver.com to determine if a railpass or point-to-point tickets will be better for your itinerary.
Dec 15th, 2003, 09:53 AM
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I think it can be confusing if you've never traveled by train before and don't know what to do. First, I'm not sure you have a Eurailpass because you say you have a ticket to Paris and Italy. Eurailpasses aren't for specifici cities.
IN any case, go to the main train station in Amsterdam. In European train stations, you will find information on departures by schedules posted on boards, usually -- kind of big bulletin boards. They will list trains and times to all destinations. Sometimes it can take a while to figure out the order for where you want to go. For trains within the next hour or so, the trains and times will be listed on a some kind of overhead board that they change all the time. This overhead board will list a train number, the quay where you board it, and the destination.
Other options are to ask a clerk at a ticket window, of course.
IN any case, go to the main train station in Amsterdam. In European train stations, you will find information on departures by schedules posted on boards, usually -- kind of big bulletin boards. They will list trains and times to all destinations. Sometimes it can take a while to figure out the order for where you want to go. For trains within the next hour or so, the trains and times will be listed on a some kind of overhead board that they change all the time. This overhead board will list a train number, the quay where you board it, and the destination.
Other options are to ask a clerk at a ticket window, of course.
Dec 28th, 2003, 01:11 PM
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When you land at Schiphol and have retrieved your bags, pass thru customs... in the big Arrivals hall, veer to the left... look for the train station. There are ticket windows there and you can get your seat reservation for the day you depart for Paris, and you can also get a train ticket (about 4Euro) to ride into Amsterdam Centraal. From Centraal Station, you can cab to hotel or get a tram ticket.
What I don't know about your Eurail pass is - you might need to pay a supplement fee for your Ams-Paris route, if it is entirely on the Thalys service. Ask about it at the window when you are buying your seat reservation. Go to the "International" window, not the local or regional one.
What I don't know about your Eurail pass is - you might need to pay a supplement fee for your Ams-Paris route, if it is entirely on the Thalys service. Ask about it at the window when you are buying your seat reservation. Go to the "International" window, not the local or regional one.
