MarePete

We will be flying into Brussels on a Friday in May and need to get from there to Bruges. Can we take a train directly, or do we need to change at one of the Brussels stations? Can we get tickets at the stations, or do we need reservations so we don't miss a train?

Then we travel from Bruges to Amsterdam on Sunday. Again, can we get tickets when we get to the station. It looks like the trains leave hourly and we have to change in Antwerp or Brussels.
Thanks.

PalenQ

There are no reservations I believe on the trains you are talking about except if you take the Thalys train from Antwerp to Amsterdam (after taking an IC non-reservable train from Bruges to Antwerp) - but I would avoid the Thalys and spend the extra hour taking a regular IC train that cannot be reserved from Antwerp to Amsterdam (run hourly) - they will be cheaper if you buy your tickets as you go - Thalys can cost a lot lot more than the flat-fare or about IC trains.

From Zaventem airport you may get a direct train to Bruges via Brussels Midi or you may well have to change in Brussels Midi and that should not worry you at all - probably two trains an hour Brussels Midi (a k a Brussels Zuid or South Station) and again not possible to reserve seats and tickets should be good on any train that day - for lots of great info on trains in those two countries I always spotlight these great sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com - for schedules I always use the Wunderbar IME German Railways all European trains schedule site - www.bahn.de - easy to use IME (there is a nice link to the English schedule page of bahn.de at www.budgeteuropetravel.com I list above - on the home page click on link 'best online train timetable' or some such wording and it brings you to the English schedule page - I reference this home page link because it also gives you several useful tips to fully use bahn.de that may not be apparent at first encounter.

But have no worry about tickets - just buy as you go along - you can always board those regional and IC trains - and avoid the Thalys trains Antwerp-Amsterdam to save a lot of money.

MarePete

Thanks, What is the difference between first and second class?

PalenQ

1st class and 2nd class - well on these trains - IC and regional trains in Belgium and Holland the basic difference IME is that in first class you will always have ample empty seats to sit in but in 2nd class you never know - especially if around rush hours on the basically commuter trains - I am always glad I have a first-class railpass and have empty seats around me rather than risk of folks standing all over as I have often seen in Holland.

Thus there is more room for luggage - I always can put my luggage on an empty seat by me in first class - 2nd class have to wedge it in somewhere sometime.

If it is a slack time then the difference between classes is not huge - three seats in the space of 4 in 2nd class so seats are bigger and in first class slightly more comfy.

I would have to know the price difference before I would really make a recommendation and how long the train ride is.

ssander

Hi...

I'm pretty sure you have to change trains in the city when going from the airport to Bruges (at least we did last May).

But it's really easy -- we changed at Burssels Nord.

We got tickets at the Belgian Rail website before we left.

I know I also have a post about getting tickets for Bruges to Amsterdam (we took IC to Antwerp; then Thayls) using the "Any Belgian Station" option (which is a little cheaper). I'll see if I can find it and give it to you.

SS

ssander

Hi, again...it took me awhile but I found the deescription of how we bought the "Any Belgian Station" tickets...it was in my trip report. This was last year, so I can't guarantee that the website hasn't changed.

This is the link I used to buy tickets for Any belgian Station:

http://www.thalys.com/fr/en/frequent...elgian-station

Where it says On Sale In, I clicked the Belgian link (I think some of these do NOT do PDF tickets).

On the left where you pick your stations, Any Belgian Station is at the very bottom of the drop-down list.

Pick your stations and click Book.

At this point you will have to enter WHICH station in Belgium and confirm your date and time (All Thalys seats are reserved).

At the bottom, click Belgium for where you will collect your ticket (even though you want a paper ticket)...then click Book A Paper Ticket.

You will be shown the available times and fares.

NOTE: These fares can vary alot...if you are flexible and book well in advance, you can get often cheaper fares.

NOTE: If your credit card is rejected, first be sure your bank knows about your intended purchase...if that still doesn't work, try loging out and starting over. Overseas web sites are finicky with US credit cards sometimes.

After than you will be able to save/print out a PDF of your ticket. Be sure to save the file and print lots of copies.


SS

PalenQ

The ABS All Belgian Stations angle - applicable I think only to Thalys tickets and not the normal IC trains Antwerp to Amsterdam could make a Thalys ticket Antwerp to Amsterdam a great deal but only IF you act far in advance and score one of the limited in number SMOOV type fares deep discounts - then you could use the cheap ABS angle to go on any train Bruges to Antwerp in conjunction with the Thalys ticket.

If however you cannot get a good discount then Thalys all in all could cost a whole lot more than just a Bruges-via Antwerp to Amsterdam ticket.

ssander

PalenQ...

I believe you are correct that ABS only applies to Thalys. When we did it, we took a regular IC train to Antwerp (beautiful station!!), and connected to Thalys there.

SS

PalenQ

ssander - is not that Antwerp Centraal train station something to behold - one of the finest in Europe for sure - a Beaux-Arts/Art Nouveau extravaganza built in Antwerp's heady days when it was one of the world's most important ports and towns.

One good thing about having to change trains in Antwrp is to see this station - and go outside and see its exterior and also the grand main hall - some trains now only use the new underground part of the station so if on one of those trains be sure to go up and see this grandiose train shed.

MarePete

Would it work to get a Benelux Eurail pass?

spaarne

Ditto PalenQ. See http://tinyurl.com/cr935m.

PalenQ

Would it work to get a Benelux Eurail pass?>

No not for the few train trips you are taking and unless you are doing several other rail journeys you will be much better off just buying tickets as you go along.

MarePete

Thanks, PalenQ. I found out that the pass would be more expensive than getting individual tickets. After your post about Antwerp, we're going to stop there for a couple of hours to see the station and maybe get some local lunch on our way from Bruges to Amsterdam. We'll have our rolling carry-on bags, so won't wander much in Antwerp, but I would think there might be somewhere interesting to have lunch near or in the station. Any suggestions, anyone? Also, do the stations have lockers for luggage?

ssander

MarePete...

Antwerpen-Centraal appears to have self-serve luggage lockers (but not staffed service). You can check out the entire description of the station facilities at:

http://hari.b-rail.be/infsta/InfoSta...1000037&lang=3

SS

Emro2

You could choose one of the brasseries on the 'De Keyserlei' just outside the Central station. E.g. Gran Duca on n°28.

Or take a line 2 metro in the Diamant metro station, direction 'Linkeroever', get off after 5 minutes at 'Groenplaats' near the Cathedral.
The Hilton hotel (you can't miss it) on the Groenplaats has a very good brasserie called Terrace Café.
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hote...hotel/index.do

PalenQ

Try to spend a few hours in Antwerp if possible - the grand train shed is right in the heart of downtown with its classic Flemish squares and intriguing sea (river-?) front lined by the old wrought-iron warehouse sheds extant from the era before the hectic port action moved out of the town center a few kms.

Antwerp to me is a city with a unique look and feel all itself and is thus really unique. It also has a classic Amsterdam-like Red-Light disttrict if the ribal attractions stir your interest!

TrainRider2011

www.nshispeed.nl/en for the cheapest fares. Avoid using eurail passes.. as they have a tendency to rip off international tourists and you have to pay for seat reservations also.. you could also try sncf.com or tgv-europe.com

PalenQ

Avoid using eurail passes.. as they have a tendency to rip off international tourists and you have to pay for seat reservations also -

well reservations for passholders on French trains seem to cost a fairly uniform 3 euros (maybe 4 now?) - I would not call that a rip-off - about $5 - a fairly normal for Europe seat reservation charge though it is mandatory.

No trains in Holland except for Thalys trains and a few trains on the Amsterdam to Rotterdam new high speed line even take reservations - cannot make them if you wanted to.

spaarne

Agree with PalenQ. While the premium trains require seat reservations most trains throughout Europe do not. You can jump on board and go any time to any place. Also, rail pass holders normally do not pay the supplements - exceptions Thalys and bunks on night trains, where supplements are also paid by ticket holders.