cjbpjb

Hi-- Family of 4 arriving in AMS in late August. We are planning on taking the train from Schiphol to Centraal Station. 2 things-- do kids (ages 10 and 7) have to pay? I looked at the website and it was not that clear. I saw reference to the EUR 2.50 fare for kids but it's not obvious to me what ages that includes or whether it covers journeys from the airport.

Second thing-- we would like to purchase the OV Chipkaart for the time we are there. Can someone confirm that we can purchase this at the airport (but I don't think it would cover the trip from Schiphol to Centraal) from a live person (i.e., we don't have a chip & PIN credit card)? And is it required for children (7 and 10 years)?

Thanks so much in advance.

Dukey1

There are manned ticket windows at Schiphol which are located near the escalators down to the rail platforms. Those people can answer questions, sell tickets, etc. Simply follow the pictogram with the locomotive after you clear the baggage claim, etc.

hetismij2

Your children will travel for €2.50 a day, provided they are accompanied by an adult.
You can put that on an OV chipkaart, one for each child, or buy paper tickets.
If you want to travel by train with a chipkaart you need a minimum of €20 on it per train journey as that is the deposit. When you check out again the €20 minus the train fare is redeposited on your card.
Normally for tourists it is easier to just buy paper tickets for train journeys, as it is almost impossible to get money left on an anonymous card refunded.
You need one chipcard each, and need to decide if you really will get your money's worth out of them.
Otherwise buy cards from the GVB office in Amsterdam for use on the buses, trams and metro in Amsterdam. You can't use those on trains or Connexxion buses though.

http://en.gvb.nl/ovinmamsterdam/Pages/bestdeal.aspx

cjbpjb

Thanks for your replies

greg

The different ticket offices at Schiphol is somewhat confusing. I think hetismij2 probably can clarify. But this is how I have used different windows:

GVB: city transit - in city bus,tram,metro
NS: long distance train (one below the escalators mentioned above) - includes Schiphol-Centraal
VVV: general tourist office - sells both NS and GVB tickets and other passes.

While some thought magnetic only cards do work, I have never been able to use magnetic only CC cards at Schiphol. I always used cash.

For destinations around Leidseplein and Museumplein, I take a frequent Connexxion bus #197 from Schiphol instead. No need to buy tickets. Pay the bus driver in cash. This is less hassle than taking a NS train to Centraal then switch to a tram for traveling to this part of the city.