ssander

Hello...

Planning a Belgium-Netherlands trip for May (Brussels-Brugge-Amsterdam-Brussels). We already have our air tix. I've been looking at the train fares between Brugge and Amsterdam.

The Thalys has some great advance-sales prices. It looks like I can get a 35 Euro senior fare (age 63). Am I correct in concluding that it is cheaper (and not much longer) to go via Brussels? The fare between Brugge and Brussels is only about 12 Euro.

The "normal" routing (via Antwerp) looks like ~58 Euro. (Maybe I'm reading that wrong.)

Of course, we're not going till May, so the Thalys bargains may likely be gone...but if that fare holds up, would that be the best way to go?

We're locked into the trip, so there's not much risk in buying the train tickets well in advance.

SS

asd72

The Thalys is a special train that does not stop in Brugge. Only in Brussels, Antwerp, and then Dutch cities like Rotterdam (I believe) and Amsterdam. Certainly not Brugge.

You can only travel with regular trains from Brussel to Brugge, and then to catch the train to Amsterdam you have to have the regular train to Antwerp. There you can get the Thalys again. But personally, I don't see much difference between the Thalys and regular trains.

More info here: http://www.amsterdam-advisor.com/tra...amsterdam.html

ssander

Thanks for the information.

I know that the Thalys does not stop in Brugge. I was wondering if it was worth it to take the 1 hr train From Brugge to Brussels and transfer to the Thalys, INSTEAD of taking the regular intercity train from Brugge to Amsterdam, since it's pretty fast and they have some really low Thalys fares online right now. (The senior fare - I'm 63 - from Brussels to Amsterdam looks to be 35 Euro.)

I guess I'll wait till the fares for May appear on the Thalys website, and hope they are low enough to make my decision for me.

Thanks again.

SS

fmpden

We just did that trip in September via Antwerp. Without checking I think our fare was about 34 E from Amsterdam to Brugge via Antwerp. We didn't use Thaly just local trains about four hours.

hetismij

The Thalys will be at full speed next year, saving you some considerable time on the journey. It will take just 1 hour 12 minutes from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1 hour 53mins from Brussels.
They may be even better deals available than the senior ticket if you look around a bit, prices can be as low as €19.

You could get the Thalys in either Brussels or Antwerp. It then stops only in Rotterdam, before arriving in Amsterdam.

fmpden

Just had a second thought. Are you sure the "senior" ticket applies to you? We have found the senior discounts in Europe to be very uneven. Sometimes everyone qualifies, sometimes only EU seniors or seniors from that country, and sometime seniors with special cards.

hetismij

The Thalys site merely says the senior ticket is for over 60s. I don't think it specifies an EU citizenship requirement.
You wouldn't qualify on Dutch trains, or on the Intercities from Belgium though - then the age limit is 65 and you need a special pass.
You should also look at Any Belgian Station Thalys fares.

ssander

Thanks for all the great info, guys.

One more thing...does a low-tech (chipless) American credit card work on the Thalys website?

Several years ago, I bought e-tickets on the Italian railway site without any problem. A year ago, my son was unable to do so -- not sure why, but I suspected they wanted a chip card.

Thanks.
SS

hetismij

I can't see why they wouldn't accept a chipless card online. The chip is only used when physically present to pay for something after all. provided you card is a Visa or Mastercard you should be fine.
Even if you were to buy the ticket at the station they can still swipe your non chipped card.

The Italian website has a problem with US cards, but i don't think Thalys does.