Amsterdam Train Help Please!

Old Jul 25th, 2017, 01:19 PM
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Amsterdam Train Help Please!

Hey friends!!! My boyfriend and I are taking our first big trip to Europe for two weeks over New Years! We are traveling from Amsterdam to Paris, Paris to London, and London back to Amsterdam. We are flying in and out of Amsterdam. Here's where I need some advice!

1. We arrive in Amsterdam at 8:15am local time and need to head straight to Paris. Should I buy train tickets that give us a little wiggle room unless our flight is delayed? We also don't want to be stuck there too long, as we need to check into our Airbnb that evening in Paris.

2. I am debating between a plane or a train from London back to Amsterdam. The plane trip definitely takes a shorter amount of time, but they are both about the same price.

Thanks in advance for your advice!
ekharvey3 is offline  
Old Jul 25th, 2017, 01:38 PM
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First of all, have you bought your tickets already? Did you purchase them within the last 24 hours? "Open jaws" tickets may be a better and cheaper option - you would fly into Paris and out of Amsterdam. When you analyze this possibility, keep in mind the time you save in arriving at the city you want to be in at the beginning of your trip, and the cost of the train trip from Amsterdam to Paris.

If that isn't an option, then yes, leave yourselves PLENTY of time in case your plane arrives late. Especially when travelling over the holidays. And check the trains - you might be able to catch an earlier train, if your flight arrives on time, for a nominal change fee. (We were able to do that once in France.)

If the plane from London to Amsterdam takes less time (including the trip to the airport, etc., right?), then do that.

And I'm sure you will get more information about this than you ever wanted to hear, from many other posters, but short-term rentals are illegal in Paris.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 01:50 PM
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I agree with open jaw - but I would probably fly into Amsterdam out of London and stop in Paris in between, unless you need to be in each city on certain dates. That completely avoids backtracking. Otherwise, you will have to waste time and money returning to one of the cities. I guess if the original airfare was insanely cheap it still might make sense to backtrack, but the savings would have to make it worth doing that way.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 02:34 PM
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there should be direct Amsterdam-London trains soon I think or if not a simple change in Brussels-about 4 hours -as quick as flying about when factoring getting to airports and in, etc.

anyway for lots of train info check www.seat61.com - guru of discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Leave a lot of wiggle room -Schiphl Airport has lots of restaurants, cafes, shops, etc if have to wait but discounted tickets can be 39 euro to Paris vs 199 euro or about for fully flexible full fare. www.thalys.com.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 04:08 PM
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Center of Amsterdam to center of London - well St Pancras not far from center - takes 4 h 40 minutes with about hourly links -one simple change of trains in Brussels-Midi.

www.eurostar.com for fares- some will rival airlines all in all - factor in cost of luggage on many cheap flights and air fare and cost of getting to and from airports.

And you see the countryside -especially nice being Kent, the Garden of SE England.

And experience Europe's bullet trains-going up to near 200 mph and unique trip under the English Channel. And these trains are usually, unlike airlines, spot on spot on time.

Consider the train.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 04:21 PM
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Far less hassle on the train London - Amsterdam, and often the difference in price is minimal.

If you arrive at Schiphol, a 10-ish train will be good. You can have some good coffee before boarding (on board catering on Thalys is not spectacular). You'll be in Paris mid-afternoon.

PalenQ, I'm waiting for a direct connection to London, but not yet, alas. It keeps being pushed off, and no one knows what will happen with Brexit and all.

Thalys have reserved seats: you may not get one if you change trains, and changing your reservation is a bother and will cost you, depending on the ticket. You'll have more than enough time to make your AirBnB rendez vous.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 05:09 PM
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I would leave even later from Amsterdam, like noon. You will still be in Paris by 4.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 05:53 PM
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Thank you all for your helpful replies! I bought the plane tickets out of Dallas for $400 each round trip flying in and out of Amsterdam. I've never seen tickets that cheap so I jumped on the opportunity, though it will be inconvenient to make the extra train trip to Paris.

I think that we will take the train around noon from Amsterdam to Paris and I'll look for a train from London to Amsterdam as well. Thanks again y'all!
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 10:09 PM
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I would fly London-Amsterdam. See if you can fly from City Airport as it is fast to get through.
Train is 2 hours to Brussel - change for Thalys and 2 more hours to Amsterdam. You must be at St Pancras at least 45 minutes in advance. If you fly from City, an hour in advance for check-in is fine. The flight is an hour.

I travel between Antwerp and London regularly, and even from Antwerp, flying is the fastest option.

You will have seen the countryside from the train on your way to London. It's not a spectacular journey as far as views go.

Check www.rome2rio.com for travel times.
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Old Jul 26th, 2017, 05:41 AM
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Taking train via Brussels also lets you stop off in Brussels for a few hours if you want -put bags in station locker and see the Grand' Place and Mannequin Pis and heart of Brussels.

Flying to City Airport in London is a lot quicker than other airports so that could make sense -especialy since you will have seen the countryside already.
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Old Jul 26th, 2017, 07:06 AM
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PalenQ, I'm waiting for a direct connection to London, but not yet, alas. It keeps being pushed off, and no one knows what will happen with Brexit and all.>

Yeh I shouldn't have said 'soon' -was supposed to be a year ago but now may never but so easy to do, in theory that is.
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