milanchelian

In the process of planning a trip to Brussels (Reaching by 26th Dec2014 and Leaving by 1st Jan2015) with my wife and two kids aged 8 & 15. Made the following preliminary schedule, needs advice from friends.
To stay near Grand Place in Brussels
Will buy Train pass for three countries -Belgium, Netherland, Luxembourg
Will buy Data SIM for ipad , and phone SIM at the airport if available.
Like to be in Brussels on 30th Dec and 31st Dec and will use 48hrs Hop on / Hop off bus ticket
So 27th, 28th and 29th with train pass, what can be done?
How to reach Grand place from airport?
Interested in canals, medieval places and live music
For train pass, is there any family pass available?
Thanks in advance.

Tulips

If you're interested in canals, do a day trip to Brugge.
A trip to Gent and/or Antwerp would also be a possibility.

Maastricht is a very nice place to visit too.

Why would you buy a train pass for three countries for 5 days? Better just to buy point to point tickets. No need to book these in advance, unless it's the Thalys to Amsterdam or Paris.

MyriamC

Three countries in three days? Good luck!

MyriamC

If you use the train only in Belgium, you can buy a Rail Pass for your wife and yourself (you can travel with more persons on one pass), and a Go Pass for your 15 yr old. Cost is resp. 76 and 51 euro and the passes are good for 10 single journeys throughout Belgium.
However, on weekends a point to point weekend ticket might be more economical.
Note that your 8 yr old travels for free on the Belgian rail.

milanchelian

Tnx Tulips and MyriamC. Our plan to visit only Belgium, but when i checked in raileurope.com, the pass is for three countries. Where can i buy belgium only pass?

MyriamC

You can buy passes in every railway station in Belgium (also at Brussels airport) but you'd better check first if loose tickets wouldn't be more economical. Make a planning of where you want to travel, weekend or not (weekend tix are cheaper), etc.

MyriamC

I checked raileurope.com
You really don't want to buy your pass there! Raileurope is far, far too expensive! They even want to make you pay for 1 child whereas in Belgium children upto 12 travel for free.

As I said before, check whether it's worth to buy a (Belgian) Rail Pass at 76 euros for the adults and a (Belgian) Go Pass for yr 15 yr old. If it's worth, buy it on your arrival in Brussels.

How to reach Grand Place from airport? The easiest way is to grab a taxi in front of the arrivals hall. Make sure to take a licenced taxi in order not to be ripped off. Licensed taxis can be recognized by the blue and yellow emblem on the roof.