Nam_Oscar

Hi,

Whenever I am clueless about how to even start planning my trips, I rush to Fodors. I am visiting Frankfurt (Main Taunus Zentrum to be precise) for 3 days, for business and planning to further go to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam before returning to India. Need your inputs on the below:

When and where can i book train tickets in advance?
Is there a train pass that can take me to all three places?
Where in Belgium should I go? Which is the best city to visit?
I love taking pictures, need suggestions on places to visit in Amsterdam and Belgium city.
Is there a website where I can get cheap accommodation? Hostels may be?

I may have further questions once I get an idea on the above.

Thanks,
Namrata

Tulips

How much time do you have for this trip?
Brugge is a pretty town to visit, or Gent, which is also pretty but a bit less touristy. Or if you have very little time, just stop in Brussel and go to the Grand Place before continuing to Amsterdam.
For traintravel, this is a great site: https://www.seat61.com/
Just buy point-to-point tickets, if you only want to do Frankfurt - Paris - Brugge (change in Brussel) - Amsterdam.
For Paris/Belgium/Amsterdam book the Thalys train well in advance for cheaper tickets.
For hotels; www.booking.com

PalenQ

Yes book train tickets far in advance to get serious discounted fares which are limited in number and can sell out early sometimes - book any train involving Germany at www.bahn.de/en online yourself.

Thalys trains www.thalys.com. And yes www.seat61.com is the best source for current rail info and didactic advice on booking your own online discounted tickets - general train info like 1st v 2nd class, etc BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

Nam_Oscar

Yes, I don't have much time. I was thinking 2 nights in Paris, 1 night in Belgium and 2 nights in Amsterdam. Do suggest if this sounds feasible and worth. Thank you for your inputs, helps a lot!

Tulips

Skip Belgium and add a night to Paris. Have you been to Paris or Amsterdam before?
Can you fly back home from Amsterdam?

janisj

>>Yes, I don't have much time. I was thinking 2 nights in Paris, 1 night in Belgium and 2 nights in Amsterdam. <<

That means you'd have 1 day in Paris, about half a day in Belgium, and 1 a day in Amsterdam.

I'd choose either Paris or Amsterdam and leave it at that.

Nam_Oscar

Yes. I will be flying back home from Amsterdam. I am visiting all the places for the first time.

menachem

Then do Paris - Amsterdam, time you train journeys well, to get the maximum out of it all.

PalenQ

Yes skip Belgium - though could easily stop off in Brussels for a few hours to see the Grand' Place and Mannequin Pis and area. Put bags in station locker butn really even have little time for that but if it's Tuesday.... Paris 3 nights - Amsterdam 2.

Nam_Oscar

Got it! Thank you so much. Also, any suggestions on accommodation at Paris and Amsterdam would be helpful. I do not wish to spend much on the same.

janisj

>>I do not wish to spend much on the same.<<

That really doesn't tell us anything -- what is your actual budget?

Nam_Oscar

Since I will be roaming around the whole day, I just need a place to crash at night. I am open to options like hostels. budget - 30-40 Euros.

PalenQ

Amsterdam has many youth hotels and hostels - see Let's Go Europe guidebook for rundown on zillions - but you get what you pay for - multi-person rooms with no privacy. Check www.hostelworld.com too. Paris also has several.

PalenQ

Not sure of current status of airbnb in Amsterdam or Paris but check and see if they meet the legal requirements as many have not. Cheapest non-hostel option.

Tulips

Amsterdam is expensive, and Airbnb is as expensive as hotels there. 30/40 euros is very little money.

menachem

For reasonable prices, choose Haarlem (although even there prices now are rising) or Utrecht (university city, gorgeous, partly medieval city centre, interesting night life (students!) and it's a train hub: within half an hour you can be in Amsterdam)

40 euros will buy you next to nothing in Amsterdam, unless your standards are really, really low.

Nam_Oscar

Okay! In this case, I will ensure to secure a good place. Thank you guys! Now, please do help me with list of places that are a must visit in Paris and Amsterdam. I will have a minimum of 2 days at both the places.

StCirq

There are no "musts" when traveling - it all depends on your personal preferences. If you haven't done so, and it would seem you haven't, pick up a guidebook and select places that are of interest to YOU.

kitbag

Do a google search for topics like "If you one have 1 day in Paris" or "2 days in Paris what should I see" and the same for Amsterdam. Not all the links will be the same, so you can pick and choose what you might like most.

janisj

>> 30-40 Euros<<

Just not realistic. And many airbnb's in Amsterdam are illegal