Paris to Brussels - best way
 

Arriving into CDG airport and will continue to Brussels (Brugge in particular) the same day - returning to Paris several days later for an extended stay. I'm sure someone else has already discovered the best way to do this; will you share the best/least expensive route to take with me? Flying directly into Brussels added another $176 to our flight (x 4 people), and we still had to return to Paris. Thanks for any - and all - ideas.

If that problem were mine, we would take the train -- city-center to city-center, no matter the weather or the traffic. Save you tons of money, blood pressure, and time. Look up the French National Railways web site (SNCF) and see what they can do for you. Or use your computer to reach RailEurope at: <BR>www.raileurope.com -- they are at 500 Mamaroneck Ave., Harrison, NY 10528 or use their toll-free number: 1-800-438-7245

There is a TGV train that goes from CDG to mid-town Brussels in less than two hours. R/T is about $90 per person in second class if you go as a "minigroupe" (2-5 people travelling together). The trains are new, fast, comfortable, and equipped with a pretty good snack bar. Check with either the Belgian rail or French rail (your travel agent can do it, or on the internet sites). R/T to Bruges is about $12 (there's probably a discount for groups or off hours so that's the maximum)and takes about an hour. There are several trains a day both ways.

Have done this circuit a couple of times but in different directions. With four people, I would recommend renting a car at CDG and driving directly to Bruge, spend your time there, drive to Brussels and spend your time there, then drive back to CDG and turn in the car there. If you aren't afraid to drive in Paris, you could drive to your hotel, drop off three people, and then have the driver drop off the car at CDG. Would save paying for four trips from CDG to your hotel and schlepping your luggage. <BR>

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. Table 11 has the times you want. High Speed Trains leave the C D G railway station at 0834, 1121, 1217, 1645, and 1839, and take an hour to Lille Europe station and two hours to Brussels. Lille Europe to Lille Flanders is ten minutes walk, and there's a metro. From Lille Flanders trains leave at 1009, 1109, 1208, 1408, 1608, 1805, 2015, and with a change in Ghent take an hour and forty minutes to Bruges (Brugge). <BR> <BR>Through trains to Bruges leave Lille Flanders at 0905, 1305, 1708, and 2106, and take the same journey time, but offer poor connections with the trains from CDG. On the other hand, you can lunch well near Lille Flanders station. <BR> <BR>If you're not travelling on a Friday afternoon, you need not book in advance, but can book the seat on your high speed train to Lille in the airport or station at CDG. <BR> <BR>Fares are shown under "point2Point" on http://www.railpass.com. <BR> <BR>Please write again if I can help further. Welcome to Europe. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London. <BR> <BR>

Thank you all. I like having a sense of confidence whenever I maneuver from point A to point B in an unknown place. Your suggestions are very helpful. Happy holiday season. <BR>