May I ask kindly, if anyone could give me
directions on how to get to the central station: once in Brussels. I'll take the thalys train from Amsterdan which stops at Midi and from their need to go (by metro) to Le Meridien across from the Central Station.
thanks.

There are constant commuter trains running between Brussels-Midi and Central station so it's not a metro and with your Thalys ticket under the ABS fare (All Belgian Stations) you can go free from Midi to any Belgian station, including Centraal station, which is in the heart of town near the Grand' Place. But i don't really see why you're taking the Thalys which often costs much more than normal IC trains on this route and is only marginally faster. In first class on Thalys you do get a decent free food at your seat however.

Palq, hi! well the thalys was suggested
as faster to me and since we are short on time I did booked. we paid $80.00
ea.way. But I din't know anything a-bout food , is it like a snack type of
deal. Let me know. Thanks.

Food only in first class - an elaborate snack with wine - regular train would have cost about $40 in second class - Thalys is about 10 minutes faster than IC trains so poor information. Is a nicer train however. Thalys trains go faster, up to 186 mph only south of Brussels to Paris on a new highspeed line but north of Brussels highspeed lines not yet finished, will be in few years, so goes on old tracks at conventional speeds. Marginally faster because of fewer stops. Actually Thalys will be slower in your case as InterCity (IC) trains stop at Centraal station before they get to Midi, which would have been quicker than Thalys to Midi then backtracking to Centraal station!

Yes, you would have actually saved time by not taking the Thalys on this trip. But since you're going to Midi/Zuid and need to get to the central train station, when you arrive in Brussels, walk down from the new Thalys/TGV/Eurostar wing into the main part of the station (past the round info kiosk and Sam's cafe). Look for trains heading to Namur, Eupen, Leuven (Louvain), Aachen (or anywhere in Germany, as long as they're not Thalys or ICE trains), Antwerpen, Louvain la Neuve...do not take any trains going to Knokke/Blankenberge, Oostende, Ghent, Kortrijk, Deenderlieuw (sp)...those are heading the opposite way and will take you out of Brussels instead of toward the central station. The ride from Midi to Centrale takes only a couple of minutes at most and the train will only stop at the station for about a minute, so don't get too comfortable!

topping

That's too bad mile that you already bought your ticket. If you want to go to Brussels Central from Amsterdam the International Express is the train to take.

Wherever you're catching a train in Europe, it's worth checking schedules on www.bahn.de. In this case, it shows the direct intercity trains from Amsterdam Centraal to Brussels Central. Do not rely on recommendations from people who cannot possibly know all the details of the railways' schedules.

Thank you all! I won't think to much about it, I have already bough the tickets, I don't want to get sick. But
next time ,I'll ask you guys first!!!
I'll make sure I eat enough food in the train to make up for the $.LOLOLOL!
thanks, have a great day.

If your Thalys ticket is a full-fare ticket, you should be able to get a refund as long as you turn them in prior to the departure date/time.

Thalys is having a 50% off promo through sometime in August - thru RailEurope or their agents (800-441-2387)

right now if you travel thru Aug 28 it's significantly cheaper to buy your Thalys tickets thru RailEurope than for pick up in Europe (actually on www.thalys.com site you can print out your own ticket) but due to RailEurope's 50% off full price Thalys tickets currently you'll save lots by buying here:
Brussels-Paris sale price 2nd class $45; 1st class, meal and wine included at your seat, $70 one way
prices on www.thalys.com
1st class one way 112 euros or about $145! 2nd class 71.50 euros or about $95 - RailEurope does charge a $15 fee per order for mandatory reservations.

If anyone can find a cheaper fare on www.thalys.com that i'm missing let me know. similar savings on Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris route or Paris-Cologne. Plus with the ABS All Belgian Station fare you can take a free connection train (with RE tickets, this fare costs a few extra euros on www.thalys.com from the day before or until the day after your international Thalys arrival in Belgium.
The Thalys youth fare (under 26) at thalys.com is 39 euros or about $50 - RailEurope's is $45 (no sale price, constant fare; similarly senior fare (60 and over of 54 euros or $70 is more than RE's $59 regular senior fare.
So the advice that it's cheaper to buy Thalys tickets in Euros is not true as of now - even without the 50% off sale RE's corresponding fares are about $5 cheaper than those on thalys.com.
For the best service on Thalys tickets i always recommend BETS in the US - they are experts and don't charge RE's $15 mailing fee (800-441-9413) - i've dealt with them for years - they're a RailEurope agent.

How do you use Thalys.com?? They want to know where the tix will sent to or collected from and USA is not an option? I'm looking to go from Amsterdam to Paris and back in Sept.

Thanks!

It is too early to book for Sept - max is 60 days in advance. If you pay for a discounted fare (ie "Smilys&quot then you can choose to print the tickets yourself.
If you pay a full-fare ticket, you may be able to choose 'pick up at station'. I don't like using the www.Thalys.com website b/c it doesn't maintain English throughout the booking process.
I bought our AMS-PAR tickets using www.sncf.com and printed them on my own printer (discounted fares). If I had to buy full-fare, then it isn't allowed to print them, and I don't see a way for www.sncf.com to let me pick up in Amsterdam (since that is a French rail site).
Last option - buy upon arrival at Schiphol or at Centraal in Amsterdam.

Hi Irish

>How do you use Thalys.com?? They want to know where the tix will sent to or collected from and USA is not an option.<

Try purchasing 60 days in advance. If a discount fare is not available, have the tickets mailed to your hotel in Amsterdam.

Good idea Ira, but I'm renting an apartment, not hotel so I'm not sure if I can have mail directed there.

Hi Irish,

I would ask the rental agent if you could have your tickets sent to them.

Someone will have to meet you at the apt. They can bring your tickets.

I'm sure they'd be willing to do that Ira, but I think I can print them out from sncf.com after I've booked them.
If not I'm taking your suggestion!

Thanks for your help!