Paris to Amsterdam - include Belgium?
 

My husband and I are travelling in July with two kids - 10 & 13 and my sister from Paris to Amsterdam. (We're starting our trip in London for a total of 12 days.) Should we take the train which I'm told takes 4 hours or drive which takes 5 hours? If we drive, I'm assuming it will be cheaper than 5 trainfares. On one hand, we can stretch and walk around on the train but if we drive, we can stop along the way. We were thinking of stopping for a few hours each in Ghent and Antwerp. Both look terrific from an adult's perspective but with two kids, would you recommend driving or taking the train?

You absolutely should not drive between Paris and Amsterdam. The train takes less than 4 hours, and if you reserve tickets 90 days ahead of time, you can get deeply discounted fares - around 25 euros each, if I remember correctly. There may be additional discounts for the kids. Look at thalys.com for fares and schedules.

As for including Belgium, Ghent and Antwerp are both good destinations, but without knowing how much time you have, it's difficult to advise whether to include them or not. If you only have a day, I'd skip Belgium and head straight to Amsterdam.

Thanks, we will have 2-3 days in Amsterdam. If we take the train, we will just get to Amsterdam sooner and have more time there and we probably won't end up stopping in Belgium at all. We thought it might be an easy way to see one more country, but I definitely want feedback on the idea - it might just be too much.

If there are no international drop off fees for the car that would probably be cheaper. But if you drive you have the challenge of driving into Antwerp and Amsterdam. It is not sweet. The train is easy.

Antwerp has some great mussels restaurants around the Grote Markt (town square). Picky eaters might not appreciate a bucket of steamed mussels. I have introduced people to mussels at a later age and they loved them as I do. I would spend a night in Antwerp. 12 days in London is certainly a few days too many. Hurry up to Amsterdam.

If you're going to go to Belgium, between Paris and Amsterdam, you may want to consider Bruges for a night. You can stop in Antwerp for a few hours, on the way there.

It's really easy to get good discounts on Thalys fares between Amsterdam and Antwerp. There are discounts for children, so the prices shouldn't be bad.

Info on Amsterdam to Antwerp trains:
http://www.visitingeu.com/western-eu...o-antwerp.html

Antwerp has plenty to see and do, and can keep kids entertained, so you shouldn't worry about them not having enough to keep them busy.

We drove, with two kids then ages 2 and 4, from Paris to Amsterdam and back with no problem at all. Don't be scared off, the drive is easy as can be on great highways, just get yourself a good map. We spent a night in Bruges on the way to Amsterdam (spent 2 nights there) and spent a night in Brussels on the way back, with stops in Gouda, Breuklen, and Senlis along the way. Whatever you decide, have a great trip!

If you are returning to Paris, and are not staying in the centre of Amsterdam, then hire a car - it will give you the freedom to stop where you want with the kids. Though do remember that petrol costs a lot in Europe and will add considerably to your costs, as will parking for any length of time in any city.
If you are not returning to Paris, and/or are staying in the centre of Amsterdam take the train.

If you do not go back to Paris but fly out of Amsterdam, I would go by train , indeed cheap on Thalys.com if booked as early as possible. I'd stay a night (or 2) in Bruges and nowhere else in Belgium.