sjj

My wife and I will need to buy train tickets from Schipol Airport to Centraal Station, Amsterdam, in early September. We'll have a Travelex chip and pin card loaded with Euros, American debit and credit cards, and more than enough Euros to cover the cost of two tickets. Can we buy our tickets at a machine using our Travelex card? If not, are there ticket machines that accept a) American debit or credits, or b) cash in the form of Euros?

PalenQ

Scdhiphol Airport apparently has the only ticketing machines in Hooland train stations that do accept American credit cards even without chips - the reason to use machines is I think you get a small discount - but you will not find really long lines at the manual ticket counter - be sure to get a train to Amsterdam C.S. -Centraal Station as there are other trains going to stations like Amsteram RAI or Amsterdam zuid-WTC - on lines that do not serve Amsterdam Central (C.S.) about every other train will have Amsterdam C.S. on the overhead monniker above the platform.

Everytime I take a train to Amsterdam Zuid-WTC I invariably see flummoxed tourist having gotten on the wrong train!

Mathieu

The machines take notes and coins and give you back change. I forget how much it was for me 2 years ago but it wasn't very expensive at all. You may find it the best and easiest option if you have the cash on hand.

29FEB

Here's the link to "Would you like to practise using the ticket machine?" on their website.

http://www.ns.nl/en/arrange-and-buy/...hasing-tickets

I found it useful a few years ago ~ good luck with your plans.

sjj

Thanks to PalenQ, Mathieu, and 29FEB for their help.

PalenQ

a return ticket can be bought to save having to buy another ticket later - and at Amsterdam C.S. I do not think most American credit cards work in machines and if you must wait in line there be prepared IME for a long long wait.

And do not forget to cancel your own ticket before getting on the train - many are on the honor system and if you do not cancel your ticket you may be considered to be riding without a valid ticket and fines plus pay the fare.

sjj

Thanks again, PalenQ.

Mademoiselle

It's really easy to buy tickets at the machines (they do take credit cards), a friend who arrived there was a bit confused while I was watching the screens for the train schedule and he figured it out just fine (I thought I would end up getting them for us to not stress him out).