Can someone please confirm this: I understand reservations are required on the Thalys train from Brussels to Paris, regardless of whether you hold a Eurail Pass or not. Eurail Passes are for 1st class travel. Do the reservations alone for 1st class travel for this train cost an additional $45 per person (in addition to the Eurail Pass for which you've already paid)? Thanks!

>Do the reservations alone for 1st class travel for this train cost an additional $45 per person (in addition to the Eurail Pass for which you've already paid)?

I can't imagine this. A reservation usually costs 3-4 Euro. Why do you quote it in $? Where do you have it from?

http://www.eurailinfo.com/info-thalys.htm

According to the railpass section at www.ricksteves.com, for Thalys trains passholders are required to pay a special passholder fare which indeed is much more than a reservation. The cost is $45 US for 1st class and $22 US for 2nd class. It's only a guess, but I think you can choose to pay the lower fare and sit in 2nd class.

Well, if something quotes a price in Europe in US$ it is already a reason to get suspicous of a possible rip-off (like Raileurope tickets).

Go to thalys.com or b-rail.be and try to get a reservation there.

The eurailinfo website is full of errors. For example there are NO "D" trains between Cologne and Brussels for at least 6-7 years any more; rather Thalys trains are running on this route, with a few German ICE trains in between. The Thalys are subject to mandatory reservation, while ICE aren't.

A TGV between Paris and Geneva isn't international; SNCF has an own platform in Geneva Cornavin. You cross the border when you leave the platform.

I am sure there are more errors that i don't recognize.

The $45 is USD. I received this info. from Rick Steves 2007 document entitled "Reservation Fees with RailPasses." According to this document, the reservation fee for 1st class passholders (e.g. Eurail Pass), is $45USD(or 25E) per person; $22USD (or 11E) for 2nd class passholders.

Thalys trains have special fares so, if you have a rail pass, you probably have to pay a supplement as well as the reservation fee. For Thalys trains, reservations are not optional, so there is no separate reservation fee; the Thalys fares are inclusive prices. Their pricing is similar to cross-channel Eurostar trains'.
To me, $45 seems a lot so it may be cheaper to buy the ticket in Belgium. From Brussels to Paris, trains run every half hour, so you don't really need to worry about booking in advance, unless you must catch a train at a specific time. If you can be flexible, book in Belgium a day or two before your journey.

Hi N,

If you have not already bought your railpasses, enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and click "only if it saves money".

If it says you don't need a pass, you can believe it.

If you already have your railpasses, you can get a partial refund.

Wow, now 22$ equal 11 EUR in Rick Steves mind!

Sorry, couldn't resist - have a look at www.xe.com to see the real rate.

Rick Steves (I learned of him through this forum actually) is a nice entertainer, but obviously not quite exact.

Yes, I know the conversion seemed strange to me too... I am capable of math. However, that's what his document said.

Thanks for helpful info.