Does anyone know if I can place a train reservation on line for train from London to Brussels and from Brussels to Amsterdam. If so, will appreciate if you can post the website. Thanks.

You can book with any of these three:<BR>Euraide, offices in Florida and Germany: http://www.euraide.de/. Telephone in USA 1 941-480-1555. Fax 1 941-480-1522. E-mail [email protected]<BR>Trainseurope Ltd, of Cambridgeshire and London, take credit card bookings by phone and mail tickets to any address. Have the widest access in Britain to rail systems and tickets. http://www.trainseurope.co.uk/ - E-mail [email protected]. Phone 00 44 900 195 0101 - calls from Britain cost 60p per minute, maximum &pound;5, but if the enquiry results in a booking, the cost of the call is deducted from the final invoice.<BR>German Rail UK: www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk/ Phone : 00 44 870 243 53 63 Fax : 00 44 20 8339 4700. E-mail : [email protected] <BR><BR>For a fifty percent (or more) surcharge you can book with RailEurope.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR>

Thanks a lot Ben, that's what I've trying to avoid the surcharge because of limited budget. I know you're very knowledgeable of London and beyond but can you recommend a decent hotel for $100 double? Thanks again.

Celeste,<BR><BR>Why don't you look at:<BR>www.britainexpress.com<BR><BR>

A hundred dollars double is tight, but to the e-mail copy of this message I am attaching a note on the Royal Albany, the Travellers Inn County Hall, and to copy what Fodors forum readers said two years ago about cheap hotels near Victoria. Beyond that, if you use the forum search software, at the top of this page, for London hotels I think you will much to help you.<BR><BR>I also have on disc notes on cheap and free places in London, and on cheap meals in pubs and elsewhere: shall I copy them to you ?<BR><BR>Ben Haines<BR>

Thanks again, Ben. It seems your attachment re hotels did not come through. Please resend.

For Celeste: My software failed to deliver to your e-mail address. Would you please e-mail me, and I shall attach the notes to my reply ? Shall I send also notes on cheap and free places in London, and on cheap meals in pubs and elsewhere ?<BR><BR>Ben Haines

If you take the non-Thalys train to Amsterdam, there is no need for a reservation. In fact, you can't reserve a seat on the non-Thalys (i.e., regular) train. You can buy your ticket with no surcharge right at the Brussels Gare du Midi station when you get off the Eurostar. The non-Thalys train is cheaper (unless you're able to get one of the very limited number of "mini" tickets). Also, the Thalys is not much faster than the regular train on the route from Brussels to Amsterdam. It does not go at the same speed as on the non-stop ride from Brussels to Paris.<BR>BTilke (Brussels)