Travel through Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels
 

Hi fellow travelers,

I'm looking for some help on the following itinerary. First time to Paris/Amsterdam/Brussels.

I will be taking a train from Amsterdam to Paris on May 4 - can i book this in advance on Thalys web site?
I will stay in Paris from May 4-May 7th night (looking for hotels within $100 per night). I want to either stay walking distance to the Louvre and other first-time attractions or stay close to a metro of course. It would be nice to have cafes/restaurants nearby as well.

On May 8th, I'd like to train to Brussels - Thalys again?
8th night in Brussels
9th night in Brussels
Alternatively, can I head to Brugges? I've heard a lot about it. Can I just land in Brussels via train and immediately take a train to Brugges or better to halt in Brussels and grab the train on the 9th to Brugges for a day trip?

10th morning head to Amsterdam.
11th - day trip to Rotterdam via train
12th - Amsterdam and spend overnight in Amsterdam.

Pls let me know if you have any hotel suggestions for Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam within $100.

Thank you so much.

Amsterdam: http://www.bicyclehotel.com/

Small but clean, breakfast included

Are you traveling alone? Anything within $100 will probably be considered a "budget hotel" - but here are many options out there.

with another friend - so two of us.

I checked thalys.com and eurostar.com and both show no trains for the 4rth. wow. I did check TGV and it has non direct trains so that' s a possibility.

Is there a euro pass you would recommend or is it better to do ams-paris-brussels-ams one way each?

Thx for the bicyclehotel reco!

Is there a euro pass you would recommend or is it better to do ams-paris-brussels-ams one way each?>

Yes there is a France-Benelux Pass but it would not be practical for you because Thalys trains charge an obscenely high surcharge for railpass holders to get seats - the deep discounted tickets you can score at www.thalys.com or going to Brussels www.voyages-sncf.com are actually sometimes cheaper than the railpass holder supplement!

eurostar.com is for Chunnel trains London to Paris/Brussels but not for Thalys trains.

Trains may not be loaded yet for May but you can normally buy 120 days in advance I believe on Thalys trains.

And yes you can avoid the Thalys trains by taking a TGV from Paris' CDG Airport to Brussels then IC normal trains to Amsterdam from there. But this is more a hassle and a lot longer than direct Thalys trains - it is hard to believe there are no trains for May 4 however at times due to trackwork trains could be scrubbed for a day I guess

anyway check out these fine fine sites IMO for lots about those trains - www.seat61.com (good info on deep discounted Thalys tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

As far as trains, this site / info has helped me a LOT - http://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-tickets.htm

Also, you may want to post a new thread with your train question in the title. Many folks here are super train experts who are very helpful and will be happy to assist.

Meanwhile, check out the site above.

Ah ha! PalenQ beat me to it! PalenQ is one of Fodor's resident rain experts :)

As a 'rain expert' I will say that having been going to Amsterdam for decades now be sure to pack good rain gear - even in summer can be cool and rainy and windy - layering is great as when the sun pops out the temps leap up - when the rain starts they get cool. Rain gear a necessity for Amsterdam and Germany and northern Europe in general even in the dead of summer.

Ooops, sorry PQ! : ) Great rain advice though!

This is one of the simplest non-problematic itineraries and requests that I have ever seen here. In fact the resolution of all the questions is so simple that posting here was probably a mistake because people are now just going to "muddy the water."

There is a train every 30-60 minutes from Paris to Brussels, so it is impossible not to find a train to go there. www.thalys.com

Brussels-Bruges is just a commuter train. No problem to go there at all. It's like taking the subway.

This is one of the simplest non-problematic itineraries and requests that I have ever seen here. In fact the resolution of all the questions is so simple that posting here was probably a mistake because people are now just going to "muddy the water.>

a simplistic answer that completely ignores what for many may be the just as quick route and often a lot cheaper routing via Lille, not Brussels - kerouac may not even know about that route to make such a misinformed statement as he/she did.

Two routes - two fare structures - not an incredibly easy thing to decide - lots of factors - purchase tickets far in advance and Thalys route via Brussels may be best bet - not far in advance or walk-up fares the Bruges-Lille-Paris route will be much cheaper.