Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris
Oct 11th, 2006, 01:31 AM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Travelnut ,
so I am checking the site www.voyages-sncf.com right now and I can see the option to print the tickets myseft, so have you done the same and it was o.k to board the train with this printed ticket?
so I am checking the site www.voyages-sncf.com right now and I can see the option to print the tickets myseft, so have you done the same and it was o.k to board the train with this printed ticket?
Oct 11th, 2006, 09:01 AM
#24
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone taking the Thalys with kids under 12 can get a Thalys Free Child Promotion thru RailEurope valid for travel thru Mar 29, 2007. The child gets a free 1st or 2nd class ticket in all the various fare categories (full fare thru Smilys).
Probably www.voyages-sncf.com offers the same but if it doesn't you may want to compare prices with www.raileurope.com
Probably www.voyages-sncf.com offers the same but if it doesn't you may want to compare prices with www.raileurope.com
Oct 11th, 2006, 10:07 AM
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have indeed printed my own tickets, and so have many others on this forum. You can use a standard (US) page of printer/copier paper (8.5x11"
and print in black/white - it works just fine and is readily accepted by the rail personnel. You just board with it and produce it when requested by the conductor, who will nearly always match it to your id.
and print in black/white - it works just fine and is readily accepted by the rail personnel. You just board with it and produce it when requested by the conductor, who will nearly always match it to your id.
Oct 16th, 2006, 10:31 AM
#27
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The railpass angle - though you'd have to be traveling a bit in France and or Benelux, the France-Benelux Eurailpass qualifies one for a passholder fare on Thalys - about $12-15 for the reservation/supplement in 2nd class and around $35 in 1st (where you get a full meal often included).
Thus if railing in France say down to Provence or Nice, etc. and back to Paris the pass could be a boon, especially if facing some only very high available Thalys fare - and you can usually easily book the passholder fare right up until the time of travel, so no advance booking, restrictions, etc.
Thus if railing in France say down to Provence or Nice, etc. and back to Paris the pass could be a boon, especially if facing some only very high available Thalys fare - and you can usually easily book the passholder fare right up until the time of travel, so no advance booking, restrictions, etc.
Oct 17th, 2006, 06:49 AM
#28
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
More on the France-Benelux Flexipass and Thalys:
Of course if you're only going between Amsterdam and Brussels and Paris or Cologne and Paris and that's all forget about the pass...but
If you will be doing day trips or other train travel in Benelux or France or taking the Eurostar to London, then look at the pass:
France-Benelux Flexi (out of 2 month period) - starts at 4 unlimited travel days - Saverpass = $225 p.p. in 2nd cl (extra days cost just $28/day (5-day pass $253, etc.) and $260 p.p. in 1st cl, extra days $32/day
Youth pass costs (those under 26) $198, extra days $23.
So start with the best available Thalys fare from whatever source for the day you wish to travel and then calculate other train travel planned- day trips from Amsterdam to Delft, or going between Amsterdam and Bruges/Brussles, etc. and in France - Normandy excrusion, Loire Valley, Burgundy, Provence, Nice ,etc.
with pass Thalys costs about $12-15 in supplements for Paris-Brussels/amsterdam/cologne; about $30-35 in 1st class where you get a decent meal with wine, etc.
then go to www.voyages-sncf.com for real prices for French trains - both for walkup fares and advanced internet specials like PREM's. Keep in mind that the pass provides full flexibility and can be used on any train any time - if you need this then compare with full, fully flexibile fares on sncf.
Eurostar angle - this pass also qualifies you for the passholder fare on Eurostar Brussels or Paris to London, as low as $77 - if that's a factor.
Pass would be best for folks going from Amsterdam to paris and then to Nice and onto Italy - covering all Benelux and French trains, dumping you in the land of dirt-cheap trains, Italy, where point to point is almost always better. But if traveling a lot in Italy then you may consider the Eurail Select Pass good in Benelux, France and Italy and still get the same passholder rates on Thalys and Eurostar 'Chunnel' trains.
France-Benelux pass is marketed by Raileurope in U.S. and not sold in Europe to my knowledge - www.raileurope.com - as usual i recommend BETS (800-441-2387) as explained in an above post on this thread.
Of course if you're only going between Amsterdam and Brussels and Paris or Cologne and Paris and that's all forget about the pass...but
If you will be doing day trips or other train travel in Benelux or France or taking the Eurostar to London, then look at the pass:
France-Benelux Flexi (out of 2 month period) - starts at 4 unlimited travel days - Saverpass = $225 p.p. in 2nd cl (extra days cost just $28/day (5-day pass $253, etc.) and $260 p.p. in 1st cl, extra days $32/day
Youth pass costs (those under 26) $198, extra days $23.
So start with the best available Thalys fare from whatever source for the day you wish to travel and then calculate other train travel planned- day trips from Amsterdam to Delft, or going between Amsterdam and Bruges/Brussles, etc. and in France - Normandy excrusion, Loire Valley, Burgundy, Provence, Nice ,etc.
with pass Thalys costs about $12-15 in supplements for Paris-Brussels/amsterdam/cologne; about $30-35 in 1st class where you get a decent meal with wine, etc.
then go to www.voyages-sncf.com for real prices for French trains - both for walkup fares and advanced internet specials like PREM's. Keep in mind that the pass provides full flexibility and can be used on any train any time - if you need this then compare with full, fully flexibile fares on sncf.
Eurostar angle - this pass also qualifies you for the passholder fare on Eurostar Brussels or Paris to London, as low as $77 - if that's a factor.
Pass would be best for folks going from Amsterdam to paris and then to Nice and onto Italy - covering all Benelux and French trains, dumping you in the land of dirt-cheap trains, Italy, where point to point is almost always better. But if traveling a lot in Italy then you may consider the Eurail Select Pass good in Benelux, France and Italy and still get the same passholder rates on Thalys and Eurostar 'Chunnel' trains.
France-Benelux pass is marketed by Raileurope in U.S. and not sold in Europe to my knowledge - www.raileurope.com - as usual i recommend BETS (800-441-2387) as explained in an above post on this thread.
Oct 17th, 2006, 11:36 AM
#29
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<b>Don't buy from raileurope.com - they're far too expensive!</b> Buying online directly from www.thalys.com (browse to 'the Netherlands' in the box 'Ticket issued or sent to') is the cheapest and it's easy. You can collect your ticket in the station in Amsterdam Centraal or even print it yourself (for certain fares).
A one way full-fare fully flexible ticket (called Librys) on Nov. 8 will cost 97.50 euro per person. The cheapest ticket (Smilys) where a return ticket is compulsory is only 65 euro <b>return</b>. You don't have to use the return part. Either throw it away or try to sell it. Keep in mind though that this type of ticket has some restrictions (non-refundable, non-changeable, etc.).
You may be lucky to find fully flexible tickets in the last minute sale. These offer a 50% reduction on the official price. Check out the website on a daily basis. In case there are no last minute tickets available, you can always book a Librys ticket.
A one way full-fare fully flexible ticket (called Librys) on Nov. 8 will cost 97.50 euro per person. The cheapest ticket (Smilys) where a return ticket is compulsory is only 65 euro <b>return</b>. You don't have to use the return part. Either throw it away or try to sell it. Keep in mind though that this type of ticket has some restrictions (non-refundable, non-changeable, etc.).
You may be lucky to find fully flexible tickets in the last minute sale. These offer a 50% reduction on the official price. Check out the website on a daily basis. In case there are no last minute tickets available, you can always book a Librys ticket.
Oct 17th, 2006, 11:52 AM
#30
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
About the site being in Dutch only ... browse to 'Belgium' in the 'Ticket issued or sent to' box and make a simulation of buying a ticket (until just before 'payment'). Print out the various stages of booking and you will be able to follow the steps on the Dutch site. The last step (after payment) is 'confirmation'. Don't forget that one!
Oct 22nd, 2006, 02:37 AM
#31
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,940
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We just got home from our first trip to Europe, which included a one-way Thalys trip from Amsterdam to Paris. We bought our tickets at Centraal station in Amsterdam while we were there. One way tickets for two were about $200. We bought them a couple of days ahead of time and we able to choose our times based on what how our schedule was going once we were actually there.
You can't buy these tickets from the machines in the station. You have to go upstairs to the Thalys office and talk to a live person to reserve.
For our needs, we felt we got the best value for our train trips buying at the point of departure, plus it gave us more flexibility.
You can't buy these tickets from the machines in the station. You have to go upstairs to the Thalys office and talk to a live person to reserve.
For our needs, we felt we got the best value for our train trips buying at the point of departure, plus it gave us more flexibility.
