Brugge to Amsterdam: train or car rental?
Jun 18th, 2009, 05:24 PM
#1
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Brugge to Amsterdam: train or car rental?
Brugge to Amsterdam- Should we drive a rental car or take the train? (2 people)
I can rent an economy car one-way trip from Brugge to Amsterdam (Europcar =$153 in Oct '09) plus gas. For some reason, mostly I guess because people pay it without questioning, all the rental companies charge 2 days rental for a single day's one-way rental. I wish I got paid like that. Is there any way to avoid this?
We'll be taking the train from Paris to Brugge so I don't think I'll miss another train experience.
Also, this will allow me to stop at the Hague (a biggie in my book).
Using the internet site to buy tickets, I can't see how much the fare is until after I pay for it. Its hard to make an informed decision with limited info. So,if someone out there can give me a straight on the price of a ticket, please do.
How does a 2nd class ticket (Brugge to Amsterdam's Centraal) cost?
I can rent an economy car one-way trip from Brugge to Amsterdam (Europcar =$153 in Oct '09) plus gas. For some reason, mostly I guess because people pay it without questioning, all the rental companies charge 2 days rental for a single day's one-way rental. I wish I got paid like that. Is there any way to avoid this?
We'll be taking the train from Paris to Brugge so I don't think I'll miss another train experience.
Also, this will allow me to stop at the Hague (a biggie in my book).
Using the internet site to buy tickets, I can't see how much the fare is until after I pay for it. Its hard to make an informed decision with limited info. So,if someone out there can give me a straight on the price of a ticket, please do.
How does a 2nd class ticket (Brugge to Amsterdam's Centraal) cost?
Jun 18th, 2009, 06:16 PM
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Definitely by train. For schedules, I usually rely on www.bahn.de, the site of the Deutsche Bahn. They have the easiest site to maneuver.
Most likely, if you rent a car in Belgium (Brugge) to the Netherlands (Amsterdam) you will be charged a hefty cross border drop-off charge, although this may be waived within Benelux. Check it out.
Don'r buy the tickets on the Internet. Buy them in Brugge. This way you can buy a icket to The hague, and another in The Hague to Amsterdam. There are all kinds of discounted tickets available when you buy them within the Netherlands.
For the costs of ose tickets, check the Netherlands RR site.
My guess is that the entire ticket costs will be less than EUR100, and some of the special tickets allow more than one person to ride on a single ticket.
Most likely, if you rent a car in Belgium (Brugge) to the Netherlands (Amsterdam) you will be charged a hefty cross border drop-off charge, although this may be waived within Benelux. Check it out.
Don'r buy the tickets on the Internet. Buy them in Brugge. This way you can buy a icket to The hague, and another in The Hague to Amsterdam. There are all kinds of discounted tickets available when you buy them within the Netherlands.
For the costs of ose tickets, check the Netherlands RR site.
My guess is that the entire ticket costs will be less than EUR100, and some of the special tickets allow more than one person to ride on a single ticket.
Jun 19th, 2009, 12:55 AM
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Definitely train in this case. The two day fee may well be the drop off fee for leaving the car in the Netherlnds, but you could expect to have to pay a drop off fee when you collect the car - online booking don't usually include the fee in the price - read the small print carefully.
Dutch motorways, and the Belgian motorway to the Dutch border are crowded, often jammed and not for the faint hearted. Although the Hague is a lovely city I am not sure you will want to negotiate your way into it, then find parking etc. Also Amsterdam is not a city to drive in unless you are very confident - trams, buses cyclists pedestrians, road works etc etc make it a stressful experience, even for those of us who are fairly used to it.
There are no special deals on trains in the Netherlands unless you have an extra pass, which is not worth buying in your case. You will need to change trains in Antwerp, and possibly in Gent depending on what time you leave. You can then get the train to Den Haag from there and then on to Amsterdam.
Yes the train will take a little bit longer, but it will in this case be better for you since you only want to visit cities.
Have a look at http://www.nshispeed.nl/en/ and see if there are any cheap tickets available for your time of travel which you can book ahead. If not then just buy them at the station. make sure you don't try to use the Thalys from Brussels to Amsterdam - you will pay extra for no time gain.
Dutch motorways, and the Belgian motorway to the Dutch border are crowded, often jammed and not for the faint hearted. Although the Hague is a lovely city I am not sure you will want to negotiate your way into it, then find parking etc. Also Amsterdam is not a city to drive in unless you are very confident - trams, buses cyclists pedestrians, road works etc etc make it a stressful experience, even for those of us who are fairly used to it.
There are no special deals on trains in the Netherlands unless you have an extra pass, which is not worth buying in your case. You will need to change trains in Antwerp, and possibly in Gent depending on what time you leave. You can then get the train to Den Haag from there and then on to Amsterdam.
Yes the train will take a little bit longer, but it will in this case be better for you since you only want to visit cities.
Have a look at http://www.nshispeed.nl/en/ and see if there are any cheap tickets available for your time of travel which you can book ahead. If not then just buy them at the station. make sure you don't try to use the Thalys from Brussels to Amsterdam - you will pay extra for no time gain.
Jun 25th, 2009, 12:19 AM
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There's no need to book in advance for the hourly intercity (non-Thalys) trains between Amsterdam, the Hague and Brussels, or the half-hourly trains linking Brussels & Bruges. The price doesn't change, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.
My wife is Dutch, and a few months ago we circled the one-way system in Den Haag for rather a long time whilst trying to get from my in-laws in the eastern Netherlands to the ferry back to Blighty from Hook of Holland. I can therefore confirm that driving round Den Haag is not fun, a stress-filled experience (an we weren't even trying to park, just get through the place!)
My wife is Dutch, and a few months ago we circled the one-way system in Den Haag for rather a long time whilst trying to get from my in-laws in the eastern Netherlands to the ferry back to Blighty from Hook of Holland. I can therefore confirm that driving round Den Haag is not fun, a stress-filled experience (an we weren't even trying to park, just get through the place!)
Aug 13th, 2009, 01:29 PM
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Following Hetismij's suggestion above, I checked HISPEED.nl to see if there are any "cheap" tickets available.
OUCH! 113.2 euros per person. Total 2nd class for 2 = 226.2 Euros!
On 22 June ÖBB had quoted me a price of € 44,40 per person in 2nd class. Seat reservation: € 3,- per way.
While I doubt that I will rent a car I might just might @ 226.2 euros
OUCH! 113.2 euros per person. Total 2nd class for 2 = 226.2 Euros!
On 22 June ÖBB had quoted me a price of € 44,40 per person in 2nd class. Seat reservation: € 3,- per way.
While I doubt that I will rent a car I might just might @ 226.2 euros
Aug 13th, 2009, 02:51 PM
#8
We have done that trip both ways. The train was far better. The highway was not particularly interesting and at least when I drove it, there was lots of traffic, particularly trucks. We went by train last year, Brugge - Antwerp and Antwerp-Amsterdam and while I do not recall the total price, it was nowhere near 113 per person. We bought the tickets at the station, no problem.
