Is the Benelux pass worth the money?
 

My husband (with a disability) and I plan to spend four nights in Brussels taking a couple of day trips by train and then four nights in Rotterdam doing the same. Looking at the Benelux pass I wonder if, for example, a trip from Brussels to Ghent and back, which costs $18.00 per person (seniors) each way for a total of $72.00 makes more sense than the pass? If I take the 5 day pass I can use the train pass to go from Brussels to Rotterdam. Then from Rotterdam to Venlo for the Floriade exhibits returning to Rotterdam to our hotel. We also want to take some shorter trips like Brussels to Bruges and Rotterdam to The Hague.

Some questions please:
Is it worth using the pass for short trips?
Are the passes considered discounted fares?
Is it easier to store our luggage travelling 1st class or is it the same for second class?
Are buying tickets an inconvenience and having the Pass a big help?

Thanks for the help.

Marsha

The Rick Steves website does a great job comparing passes to point-to-point tickets (and the fist sentence on the Benelux page notes that the Benelux pass is usually not worth it). Take a look here:
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/benelux.cfm

dfourh,

Thank you. Is 1st class more convenient for carrying baggage? We don't need the frills of 1st class but if storing a couple of bags is better it might be worth the cost. Also, do the trains at Brussels and Rotterdam offer baggage carts?

Your help is much appreciated.
Marsha

dfourh,

Sorry, I meant do the train stations offer the carts?

I think your best bargain in Belgium would be the senior fares for those over 65. I am having a little trouble with your fares converted to dollars, but the senior pass is 5,30 euros per return trip in second class, 12 euros in first class.

http://www.b-rail.be/nat/E/tarifs/ti...iors/index.php

There are some time restrictions for travel

There is also a 10 ride ticket in Belgium for 74 euros which both you and your husband can use.