Hi! I am leaving tomorrow for Europe - will be traveling by train:
Amsterdam - Brussels
Brussels - Bruges
Bruges - Paris
Paris- Amsterdam
I priced out the eurail passes, and it does not offer any cost save.
Plan on buying the tickets probably the day before (ie, when we get to Amsterdam, we will buy the tix for Brussels, etc.)
I was just wondering if anyone had any extra tips on cost savings, etc.
Thanks!
trains- advice on tix
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You could do a quick check for special deals on the Belgian rail site (www.b-rail.be) and the Netherlands rail site (www.ns.nl). At this late date I think you'll just have to take what you can get for Bruges-Paris and Paris-Amsterdam.
If you arew arriving at AMS Schiphol you can get all of the tickets at the windows above the airport station and be done with it.
You can avoid the expensive Brussels-Paris Thalys train by going from Bruges to Lille then taking TGV to Paris - could be cheaper --- but also consider the ABS fare in conjunction with Thalys tickets - All Belgian Stations - thus you can go free between Bruges and Brussels if taking a Thalys to Paris - it's free if bought in US but there may be a minor few euro fee in Europe - at least ask.
Bruges-Lille-Paris is E62.40.
Bruges-Brussels-Paris is E88.70.
One hour longer to go via Bruges.
Correction: Obviously I meant to say one longer to go via Lille.
timS: did you figure the ABS fare in the Brussels route or does your 88 euro figure include the price of a Bruges-Brussels ticket, which should be free in conjunction with Thalys under the ABS fare - or a few euros at most??
I think time is about the same on either route if my old-fashioned Thomas Cooks is right:
Lv Paris 10:58 ar Lille Flandres 12:02 lv Lille Flandres 12:10 ar Bruges 13:27
or
Thalys
Lv Paris 10:55 ar Brussels 11:50
lv brussels 12:37 ar Bruges 13:29
PalQ - I got the prices and times from sncf.com. However, when I checked bahn.de just now, I see that, with one exception, you are correct about the travel times being nearly the same for either route. I just happened to choose the exception when I was checking on prices. I also just returned to sncf.com and got a price of E74.50 for a Brussels-Paris ticket (compared to E88.70 for Bruge-Brussels-Paris). At b-rail.be I got a price of E80.00 for Bruges-Brussels-Paris.
thanks. you do have to change twice on the Lille route vs once via Brussels and even though the change in Kortrik i believe is from one platform to another it's still a hassle changing with luggage and the connection time in Lille is shorter than in Brussels.
I know the ABS fare is printed on Thalys tickets bought thru RailEurope stating that within 48 hours you can go to any Belgian station free and same when going to Brussels - ditto for Eurostar trains to Brussels - of use when going to Cologne as you can go free to the German border. But may not be offered in Europe - don't know but they should ask.