Another Europe Train Question, sorry
Sep 13th, 2008, 05:44 AM
#1
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Another Europe Train Question, sorry
ThApologies in advance, begging for patience.
DH and I need to travel in October from Amsterdam to Delft and return, then Ams. to Brussels, Brussels to Paris.
Ams to Delft, Oct 18
Ams to Brussels, Oct 20
(maybe Brussels to Bruge and return, Oct. 23)
Brussels to Paris, Oct 24.
We are having trouble comparing prices and kinds of service. These are daytime trips, not looking for the fastest necessarily, but don't want to take forever.
We've looked at Benelux plus France, still having trouble figuring it out if it covers these or if we need to separate out parts of the trip to book individually.
Not sure if we quality for senior discount, 60 & 61.
Thanks to all who previously helped, and thanks to any and all who help this time around!
DH and I need to travel in October from Amsterdam to Delft and return, then Ams. to Brussels, Brussels to Paris.
Ams to Delft, Oct 18
Ams to Brussels, Oct 20
(maybe Brussels to Bruge and return, Oct. 23)
Brussels to Paris, Oct 24.
We are having trouble comparing prices and kinds of service. These are daytime trips, not looking for the fastest necessarily, but don't want to take forever.
We've looked at Benelux plus France, still having trouble figuring it out if it covers these or if we need to separate out parts of the trip to book individually.
Not sure if we quality for senior discount, 60 & 61.
Thanks to all who previously helped, and thanks to any and all who help this time around!
Sep 13th, 2008, 06:21 AM
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If it were me, I'd pick up a Benelux Tourrail pass for travel within Benelux and then do a separate hunt for discount tickets on Thalys.
FWIW, some rail pass sites seem to charge extra v. getting it in Benelux itself.
If you buy it in Benelux at a train station, the Tourrail pass is 139 euros.
http://www.b-rail.be/int/E/offers/benelux/index.php
Whereas the Eurail pass for essentially the same travel is 159 euros.
http://www.eurail.com/eurail_benelux_pass?currency=eur
Not all sites selling passes charge a supplement, but do check around. This site seems to charge the same as B-rail.
http://www.railkey.com/cart/orderfor...amp;pd_id=1086
FWIW, you don't need to rely on the Thalys to get between the Netherlands and Belgium. There are "regular" trains that don't take much longer.
I had a Tourrail pass in Belgium for a month and used it to zoom around, I just jumped on a train to any point that interested me.
FWIW, some rail pass sites seem to charge extra v. getting it in Benelux itself.
If you buy it in Benelux at a train station, the Tourrail pass is 139 euros.
http://www.b-rail.be/int/E/offers/benelux/index.php
Whereas the Eurail pass for essentially the same travel is 159 euros.
http://www.eurail.com/eurail_benelux_pass?currency=eur
Not all sites selling passes charge a supplement, but do check around. This site seems to charge the same as B-rail.
http://www.railkey.com/cart/orderfor...amp;pd_id=1086
FWIW, you don't need to rely on the Thalys to get between the Netherlands and Belgium. There are "regular" trains that don't take much longer.
I had a Tourrail pass in Belgium for a month and used it to zoom around, I just jumped on a train to any point that interested me.
Sep 14th, 2008, 09:59 AM
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Thanks to all for the help. I still have just ONE more little question. Nowhere on the sites do I see where it makes a difference if the tickets are purchased ahead. For example, we arrive in Amsterdam on Oct. 16. We leave for Brussels Oct. 20, then on to Paris Oct. 24. Since it seems easier to buy the tickets once we're in Amsterdam, I'd prefer doing that, less chance of me making a mistake. We could buy the tickets on Saturday when we take the train to Delft for the day.
So, to summarize, is there any benefit to buying online a month early, especially if we don't have any absolute time deadlines as to when we depart and arrive? We need those days, but not necessarily a particular time.
Thanks again.
So, to summarize, is there any benefit to buying online a month early, especially if we don't have any absolute time deadlines as to when we depart and arrive? We need those days, but not necessarily a particular time.
Thanks again.
Sep 14th, 2008, 11:16 AM
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For Amsterdam-Delft, Amsterdam-Brussels (on intercity trains) and Brussels-Brugge, there is no reason to buy in advance. The trains
have no seat reservations and tickets cost the same whenever you buy them.
For the Thalys train from Brussels to Paris, you should get a cheaper fare by booking in advance; these trains run every half hour so you don't need to worry that they'll all be fully booked, but the more popular times will sell out first.
have no seat reservations and tickets cost the same whenever you buy them.
For the Thalys train from Brussels to Paris, you should get a cheaper fare by booking in advance; these trains run every half hour so you don't need to worry that they'll all be fully booked, but the more popular times will sell out first.
