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.