PhillyFan

Should we make reservations for these routes? Do we need to? Thalys?

FrenchMystiqueTours

You need to buy tickets up to 3 months in advance for the cheapest prices. Use https://www.thalys.com/fr/en/ or www.capitainetrain.com to check schedules and prices and buy tickets.

PhillyFan

Thanks! What if our schedule changes slightly - do we lose the $$, or can we jump on a later train?

FrenchMystiqueTours

Look at the various types of tickets available. Some are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Those tickets that can be exchanged or refunded generally cost more.

Man_in_seat_61

Amsterdam-Ghant you have two choices, both easily bookable/checkable at www.b-europe.com with print-at-home tickets:

1) By regular hourly InterCity trains with change in Rotterdam & Antwerp. No reservation necessary, fixed-price, you can buy this on the day, and hop on any hourly departure, sitting where you like. Easy-peasy...

2) High-speed Thalys train Amsterdam-Antwerp then InterCity to Gent. Faster, more comfy, but reservation required, tickets are valid only on the specific train you book, variable airline-style pricing, cheap in advance, mega-bucks if you buy on the day.

Then use www.b-europe.com to book Ghent to Paris with a change in Brussels, all sensible options use Thalys, so book ahead.

PalenQ

Yup the easiest way is to just do the slower route Amsterdam to Gent - changing trains in Rotterdam and Antwerp - like Man above says flat fare so you can buy tickets once there and then use them on any of the IC trains involved. Forget Thalys and its need to book weeks in advance for cheapest tickets on this route.

For Gent to Paris you have two choices - either via Brussels or via Lille - the latter on a walk-up basis would be much cheaper - regional train to Lille Flndres then French TGV to Paris-MNord - www.voyages-sncf.com for discounted Lille to Paris tickets - or via Brussels - if you can get a cheap Thalys ticket to Paris from Brussels that would be the faster cheaper way but if not investigate the Lille routing.

For lots of great info on these trains check out not only Man in Seat 61 who posts above - his commercial site www.seat61.com but also www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com for lots of general info on Belgian and French trains.

PalenQ

With Thalys check to see if the ABS is available as it was for a long time - have not neard recently - All-Belgian-Stations - meaning for a few euros you can take any train from any Belgium station to your Thalys train for 24 hours or maybe 48 hours before the train - meaning you could stay over in Brussels even and get a really early Thalys train.

Maybe it is no longer available but always has been.

PalenQ

1) By regular hourly InterCity trains with change in Rotterdam & Antwerp. No reservation necessary, fixed-price, you can buy this on the day, and hop on any hourly departure, sitting where you like. Easy-peasy...>

Yes and for folks wishing to stop in Antwerp for a few hours en route to Gent flexibility is key - you can hop any of the at least hourly IC trains to Gent with that ticket - just hop on. Priceless in this case.

PalenQ

https://www.google.com/search?q=antw...=1591&bih=1040

If changing trains in Angtwerp be sure to take a look around one of Europe's grandest train sheds as well - from the inside and outside!

PhillyFan

I just commented about the Antwerp station today on Facebook.

There was a architecture photo contest, and one of the winners featured the Antwerp train station.

I have fun memories of that station – going off daily someplace new to explore, and then coming back to that beautiful station.