We're taking Thalys, any advice? How early should we arrive? Is it the same train from the city center AMS straight thru to Paris?<BR>We'd like to bring some of the legal &quot;coffee&quot; from the well known Amsterdam coffeehouses with us, I know it's not legal outside of the Netherlands but should I be worried about any security/police issues? Europe is sooo much more relaxed than US!

Arrive: 5 minutes before departure. Train is straight through from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Paris Nord. <BR>Don't bring drugs across borders, sometimes the police will check (they have drug sniffing dogs)

Yes, it's the same train from city center to city center. You'll have 3 or 4 stops between Amsterdam and Brussels, then it's non-stop from Brussels to Paris. <BR><BR>The train leaves from the far end of the Amsterdam station (Track/Spoor 13, IIRC), so it's a bit of a walk from the front entrance. I'd plan on being at the station at least 10 mins before departure. (If you go by taxi, you can save some time by asking the driver to leave you at the back entrance of the station, across from the ferry.)<BR><BR>Sjoerd is absolutely correct about the treats from A'dam's coffeeshops: do not take them with you. They are illegal in Belgium and France, and it is common to see DrugDogs greet Thalys passengers at the Paris station. (I recommend the Greenhouse coffeeshops -- there are 3 or 4 of them in town -- for pleasant atmosphere and great products.)

Hi irish,<BR> Consider what will happen to your vacation plans if you are caught with illegal drugs.

There were absolutely no security points anywhere on this line when I took it about a year ago. But I still wouldn't do it.

Why would you even consider taking that garbage across an international border? Haven't you seen Midnight Express?

Great point about a taxi dropping you at the back of the train station. I never even realized that was possible. It would be much better and closer. You will also find that a while before the train comes, they put up these little flags on the platform indicating where each numbered car will be, so know what car you will be in, and you can then go right to that spot.