Should we fly or take the thalys train from Paris to Amsterdam?

Your best bet would be to fly into Paris and home to the US from Amsterdam. Both of those cities have tons on nonstop to the US.

Did you already buy your air tickets?? If you did then a little more information would be helpful on the train v plane issue. I would normally suggest taking the train between those cities, but if you need to be at the airport anyways....what time is the flight from Paris?

I would always pick the train over flying... so much easier! We did paris to amsterdam last summer and it was really easy, and short too if I remember, maybe only 2 hours? It was a nice trip. And you are city center to city center - can't beat that.

Get tickets in advance when they are cheaper. We bought them at opening (maybe 90 days out?)....

Kim

Thalys is a no-brainer for your first trip between the cities. Flying home from Amsterdam would make more sense than returning to Paris just to fly out, if you can still make that choice ("multi-city" option on airline website). Otherwise, if your second trip to Paris is just to the airport, then flying would probably be easier.

We often fly into Paris and out of Amsterdam as we really hate flying out of CDG, but at this late date I assume you have already booked the round trip into Paris. For future trips, fly open jaw; we have been doing this for over 30 years and it is no more expensive and saves time and money on backtracking.

If you have no choice though, at least plan your trip so you finish in Paris. Nothing harshes the mellow like having to rush back to a city of departure the day before your flight and then dealing with a one night hotel. I would book the THalys for the day of arrival giving yourself at least 5 hours after your ETA at CDG. You are too late for the cheap tickets; it is generally about 35 Euro booked 3 mos ahead and close to 3 times that at the last minute (each way) It is however fast - 3.5 hours- and city center to city center. I would spend 4 nights/3 full days in Amsterdam and the final 6/5 days in Paris. When you do it this way you save a full day as you use the generally wasted jet lag arrival day to get to your furthest point and you don't waste the day before your flight back rushing back.

Always be in the city of departure the day before your flight back at the latest. I was once on a train, the Thalys actually, that came into Paris 5 hours late causing most of the passengers to miss their flights. (I was also on a cross Atlantic flight that came in 5 hours late -- usually trains are more reliable than planes in this regard.)

If you're staying at a CDG airport hotel, then the fastest train connections are changing at Brussels from Thalys to a TGV that runs direct to CDG, total time 3h 35m.

I'm starting my trip in Amsterdam and then we are taking the train to Paris. Got a great rate 50 Euro for first class which I bought on-line. For my flight home I fly out of CDG. Thought of going back to AMS to fly home but it took time away from doing other things.

Thalys ,, city center to city center.. flying would entail commuting to and from airports.. what a waste of time and money.

Take the train .. and consider the suggest of the open jaw ticket.. flying into Paris and out of Amsterdam.. it makes sense.

There are a lot of ifs or maybes here, but unless the original poster returns with more specifics we are guessing.

With travel day just over a week away waiting is reducing the options, and the prices for those options are flying up into the stratosphere.