Paris Train Experts I am going to need help
 

I want to go from Paris to Bruges Sept 7 leaving at 7 or 8 in the morning and come back the same day around 5 pm. I was notified the fares are up today. I can get there with many choices but not back to Paris. It shows the trains but no fares or way to book. Perhaps I have missed something and I am using the wrong site? I keep getting directed to Rail Europe. I tried Thalys site and it is impossible on that site I guess because Thalys only goes to Brusels. Any suggestions?

Did you check off round trip on the Rail Europe site? Had no problem finding schedules for you. Leave Gare Nord on Sept 7 @ 7:25 am Thalys # 9309, arrive Bruxelles Midi 8:47 am return to Gare Nord leaving Bruxrlless Midi @ 3:43 pm arriving Paris 5:05 pm Thalys # 9546. Rd trip fare $92 US

I am trying to go to Bruges, not Brussels. I am requesting round trip. It just will not show anything but the trains on the return so I can not book this trip. I was so hoping to do this train trip. By the time the fares show it will likely only be available at high prices I sure do understand why people are so frustrated with the Europe train sites. Funny, I played with Brussels and found trains and fares both ways. This is strange to me

I just tried your criteria on tgv-europe.com and found both legs between Paris and Bruges with prices. It allowed me to proceed to the payment process. If you use this site, be sure to uncheck the Direct Routes Only box. This will give you more choices of schedules.

Good luck.

What website are you using? To avoid RailEurope, select Antartica as your country.

You can book at either www.tgv-europe.com/en or www.thalys.com

If you use tgv-europe.com you MUST NOT select 'United States as search results automatically open on Ral Europe with higher prices and fees. Instead, select Antarctic or Afghanistan, and read any pop-ups carefully, DO NOT let them divert you, click the link to 'Continue to TGV-europe.com'.

But I'd use Thalys, and select the destination 'Brussels ABS'. ABS = Any Belgian Station = a Thalys ticket to Brussels with reserved seat on a specific train plus open ticket for an onward train to anywhere in Belgium, in your case Bruges. It's valid on any Brussels-Bruges train in the 24 hours after arrival at Brussels, and on the return in the 24 hour before departure from Brussels. No seat reservations possible or necessary for this bit.

I didn't have any trouble at all being able to book that ticket on www.voyages-sncf.com, it cost around 143 euro roundtrip (no great discounts, especially on return). That was second class. So I don't know what you are doing wrong but there's nothing wrong with the website showing you possibilities for that date. YOu have to check that you will pick up the tickets at a gare in France, of course, as you won't be able to have them mailed abroad and I suspect you won't be able to get them from the automatic machine unless you have a card with a chip, of course. Still, you can easily buy them online. SNCF charges you a 9 euro admin fee because the second train comes from Belgium.

Hi hp,

Go to www.voyages-sncf.com
Leave the menu in French,
You will "depart" from "Paris (Toutes gares intramuros)"
You will "arrivee" at "Bruges (Belgique)"
Choose 19/07/2012 under "Aller le" 06:00 and "retour le" 17:00
Click "Rechercher"
Choose either the 06:25 or the 07:25.
They are down to the last few seats for the latter.

Enjoy your day in Bruges.

((I))

I didn't have any trouble at all being able to book that ticket on www.voyages-sncf.com, it cost around 143 euro roundtrip (no great discounts, especially on return).>

If having to pay 143 euros for one day then by all means investigate the Germany-Benelux railpass (well if taking some other trains that is - you could with the pass go via Lille on TGV and pay just 6 euros I believe for the seat reservations. Not sure how much the pass costs but 143 euros may be a big chunk of it. And you could then have total flexibility as it is not hard to get railpass seats on the Paris to Lille route as there are so so many trains and relatively few tourists using that route.

Transfer in Lille to a regional train to Bruges - no reservations even possible.

For lots on trains in those countries I always highlight not only Man in seat 61 (who posts above) - his commercial site www.seat61.com but also two other sites that I think stand out above those mainly selling stuff with prices and little other info - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

If not taking any other trains then yes do whatever route is cheaper - Thalys via Brussels with the ABS thing or Paris-Lille-Bruges - both routes take about exactly the same time - Thalys to get the cheapest fare you should book months in advance - Lille route can do once in Paris at an affordable fee if you do not book online discounts on that one as well.

Tant pis you cannot at least stay the night in Bruges, after the tourist hoards have gone and the city becomes much much more romantic -- the canals and old humpbacked bridges being sublimely illuminated, etc.

oops,

Choose the train you want and then "Choisissez"
On the next page, choose your return train and choisissez.

You will see your ticket displayed - a Thalys train to Brussels and a regional train to Bruges.
For an additional 5.5E you can buy refund insurance.

Next "Valider votre reservation".

OK?

((I))

Don't buy insurance when you can't read what you are buying or know what it covers or if it is even valid for you (I suspect not, I think it is legally only for EU residents).

I think the fare is so high because that date is not a particularly low period (a Friday in early September). So there are some discounts if you agree to non-refundable, but not deep ones. Also, I think Thalys tends to be more expensive than some French TGV trains that might be comparable distance. It's around 65 euro each way. And coming back at 5 pm on a Friday is probably the equivalent of train rush hour.

I have tried TVG and can get round trip ticket for 134 euros. That seems very high to me. I just went back to Rail Europe and again the same thing. Booking an outbound train is fine and no way to book a return. Maybe this link will work to show what I am talking about.
http://www.raileurope.com/us/point_t...1&eventId=next

This really makes me curious. btw, I tried a different browser, that is not the problem

Re: Rail Europe. Hmmmm, I just had an idea, I tried it and it worked. I thought what about 2 separate 1 way tickets. It works! Round trip would be $151 USD. about $10.00 less than the TVG site. Perhaps there is something about booking round trip on the same day that is causing this?

The fare still seems high. In 2009 I traveled on Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris for about $42.00, that was a 1 way. Is the price worth it? Then they had a funny named special fare

Hey HP
>Perhaps there is something about booking round trip on the same day that is causing this? <

Could crossing a national border have something to do with it?

((I))

>>>fare still seems high. In 2009 I traveled on Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris for about $42.00, that was a 1 way. Is the price worth it?<<<

You can book discounts on Thalys if you want to book Paris/Brussels (some one way tickets are 29€).

On SNCF, I get a round trip price of 114€ (selecting the cheapest trains).

there are very very few 29 euro tickets available - book months early to get them.

Could crossing a national border have something to do with it?>

not on a direct train like Thalys

but if trying to book Paris-Brussels or Lille to Bruges then the connecting train may not be able to be booked on the French sncf website and there is no need to book those trains as they are, from Lille and Brussels to Bruges trains that do not accept reservations anyway and have a flat fee with walk up fare the same as advance booking I believe.

And keep in mind the ABS fare Man in Seat 61 talks about but only available in conjunction with a Thalys ticket.

I think you have unrealistic ideas of what that fare should be, that's all. Fares vary a lot based on the date, day of the week and time of day. YOu don't get big discounted fares during periods that are busy on the trains, and I suspect that time and are one of them.

The best you can do is go out at 6:25 am for 52.50 euros and come home leaving around 8 pm for 62.50 euros. But if you can come back early morning on the 8th, you can gt back for 29 euros.

Forget using Eurail. It's a lot more expensive than booking directly with SNCF.

I would take a cheap TGV to Lille and just transfer to the local commuter train to Bruges.

You can get a round trip Paris-Lille-Paris for 40€ on September 7. The bad news is that Lille-Bruges costs almost as much because the one way fare is 18.60€.

Forget using Eurail. It's a lot more expensive than booking directly with SNCF.>

Yes for only one trip a pass is not good - but if taking several trips than it can save money - consider what one poster above had to pay via SNCF site:

<I didn't have any trouble at all being able to book that ticket on www.voyages-sncf.com, it cost around 143 euro roundtrip (no great discounts, especially on return).>

It is nice to ballyhoo these cheap 29 euro fares, etc but it should be said they unlike some imply they are not routinely available - the 62.50 euro fare each way may well not be available when you want to do and do you really want to get up at 5am just to be able to get to the Paris station by 6:25am?

Thanks, all for the advice. I am Almost ready to bite the bullet and do 2 one way. I understand about the pricing better now. But what I am most interested in is why I can not book a round trip Paris Nord-Bruges-Paris Nord on the same day (Sept 7th)on the same reservation. I can only book the return back to Paris if I purchase 2 separate tickets. I tried another date and same thing happens. 2 one way fine, RT same day, No Go. Maybe this link will work to show what I am talking about. This just seems strange.
http://www.raileurope.com/us/point_t...1&eventId=next

As you will see the trains come up, but now way to purchase. Hasn't anyone encountered this?, or I am doing an unusual day trip?

You can't book return (roundtrip) tickets because they don't exist. Buy two single (one-way) tickets.

The Thalys website has a morning train departure from Paris Nord on Saturdays. I've been following their schedule since I plan to take a day trip to Bruges in October.

Are you able to change your date to Saturday, Sept 8th? It's a 2 1/2 hour train ride to Bruges. You'd get there at 10:36am and leave Bruges appx 6:00pm. The price ranges from 82 euros to 118 euros round trip (depending on 1st or 2nd class, no-flex or semi-flex tkts).

i think I'd really have to want to go to Bruges for that price.

have you thought about hiring a car for the day?

I am closely monitoring fares & availability on Thalys. Prices aren't yet available for the October date I'm looking for, however, the week prior shows round trip fares at 58 euros. That seems pretty good to me.

As you will see the trains come up, but now way to purchase. Hasn't anyone encountered this?, or I am doing an unusual day trip?>
well if you are asking questions about Rail Europe and how to buy then I suggest calling Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com - I have dealt with him for years buying railpasses and he will IME patiently answer questions like that - try calling RE and you get some phone jockey who may know less than you! But again investigate buying direct from SNCF or Thalys sites if you can save money.

the week prior shows round trip fares at 58 euros. That seems pretty good to me.>

me too - jump on any fare like that as they do not last long!

After providing some travel advice on this thread, now I'm the one who needs help! I've been monitoring fares from Paris to Bruges in October. Thalys fares on their website are available for the next few months but where is my direct train from Paris Nord to Bruges on October 6th??? The week prior, there's a direct train for 58 euros roundtrip! I'm hoping schedules aren't yet available for my date.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but since there are some pretty knowledgeable people already answering here, I figured I'd continue the questions. Thanks!

~Roberta

Roberta,

A quick check of the timetables shows that the 18:25 direct Thalys train from Paris to Bruges only runs on weekdays.

Thanks Tim. When I checked the timetables from Paris to Bruges for Saturday, October 6th, there's a morning train going and a late evening train returning the same day. This would be perfect for me but no info is available to book it.

Roberta,

I just checked the Thalys site and the German Rail site again and found the 08:01 direct train to Bruges listed for 22 September and 29 September, but not for any Saturday in October. Since booking is possible up to 26 October for Paris-Brussels or Paris-Amsterdam, I'm guessing that the direct Paris-Bruge 08:01 train will be discontinued after 29 September.

Thanks, Tim. I think it's discontinued as well. Doesn't seem difficult to book a train to Brussels, and then switch to a local train (which doesn't require reservations).

And again get the ABS fare with the Thalys ticket as it lets you take any train to Bruges after getting off the Thalys in Brussels - cheaper than paying for a return ticket - ABS works in reverse of course too - hop any train back to Midi (zuid or South) station in Brussels to get your Thalys back to Paris. I think you have to request ABS tickets - do not come automatically but I'm not sure of that.

ABS=All Belgian Stations

Thanks, Tim. I think it's discontinued as well. Doesn't seem difficult to book a train to Brussels, and then switch to a local train (which doesn't require reservations)>

Dittto to Lille Flandres station from Paris and then change to locala train to Bruges - so you have two options that take exactly about the same time to chose from and I believe your chances of getting a low-cost fare to Lille may be better than to Brussels - but then the ABS fare does not apply to TGVs to Lille, another factor.

Sounds great that you can switch trains so easily and not worry about an extra ticket. Thanks for the tips! And thanks to hpeabody for starting this thread.

'switch trains so easily' - yes IMe in either case - you can buy the local ticket Lille-Flandres to Bruges once you get off the train or I suspect buy it at any train station in France since the train originates in France and yes that ticket - buy a return one - should be valid on any train anytime.

With the ABS via Thalys, which if you could get a cheap Thalys ticket to Brussels-Midi, you simply hop on any of the 2 at least per hours trains to Bruges - changing from the Thalys pat of the station to the regular station - simply done and well marked and in Belgium most folks speak good English IME.

either way it should be no problem. Not sure that was your exact question but in either case straight forward.