train paris to bruges advice

There are plenty of resources out there for this trip. I alwasy book directly with Thayls or the Oui app from SNCF.

https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Paris.htm#Paris-Bruges

This one is easy (really!) Look up the Thalys train. Straight shot from Paris to Bruges. You'll get your tickets in advance, with seat reservations. We did this a few years ago, and it was great.

You will buy an advance purchase discount (non-changeable, non-refundable) Thalys service from Paris Gare du Nord to Brugge, via either Antwerp or Brussels. In the Belgian station you and your self-lugged luggage get off the Thalys train and transfer to any unreserved local train to Brugge. (Train end destination is usually Ostend. About six per hour.)

See our host's Train Travel tips menu top left for a tutorial.

thank you very much to all replies!
do I buy a different ticket for the brussels to bruges train? If so, where and how?

I think Thalys will sell you a print at home ticket (with a barcode) that works all the way to Brugge. Worst case, buy the Any Belgian Station ABS option for more money. But you won't likely have to. You'll be putting Brugge into a "Destination" box when you buy the ticket.

Have passport and credit card used for purchase handy on the train in case the conductor asks you to prove it's your ticket. The Brussels-Brugge trip is NOT restricted to the very next local train.

One ticket, Paris to Brugge.
Two trains:
1) Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi. This is a Thalys (High Speed train). You ticket will be train-specific, it will give date, time, train ID and your seat number(s) on it. Ticket is only valid for those seats on that train.
2) Brussels Midi to Brugge. These trains run every half hour. Your ticket will be valid on any train on that date (that's the way Belgian Railways work). So no Stress at Brussels Midi.

If you buy online, you will get a self-print ticket which you have to print out before you leave home and bring with you.
Tickets are cheaper the earlier you buy.

All other info at the aforementioned "Man in Seat 61" website: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Paris.htm#Paris-Bruges

Yes, definitely look for the "ABS" ticket. It makes it much easier.

I'll add that while you are in Paris you should start to hoard some Euro change for the bathrooms in the Brussels Midi station. Make sure both of you have a variety of coins. Usually the pay toilettes are something like a Euro 50 cent piece but it seems like this one was maybe 60 Euro cents so you needed more coins. I may be wrong on that but it won't hurt to have change!

As the others mentioned, although your ABS train ticket will show a specific train from Brussels to Bruges you can take any train out of Brussels so don't feel you have to rush especially if you need a comfort stop.

again - thanks for the oh so helpful information! is it possible to choose a forward facing seat on paris to brussels train?

I don't remember if there is Seat Selection. The website says that you can call a human to be re-seated, but of course I wouldn't depend on that. I started a dummy purchase and was not offered a seat chart, however. I did find this interesting note:
QUOTE
To make your journey easier, choose the Any Belgian Station (ABS) option. This allows you, at low cost, to extend your Thalys journey with a connecting domestic journey on the Belgian network or conversely, to reach the departure station of your Thalys from any station in Belgium.

This offer is available until the 31/03/2020

The fare "Any Belgian Station (ABS)", which has been offered until now within the context of a collaboration with SNCB, will no longer be part of our fares as of 31 March 2020.

If, after 31 March, you wish to purchase a ticket for a domestic connection in Belgium in addition to your Thalys ticket, you must purchase both tickets on the SNCB website at the "Connection" fare.

ABS tickets purchased before 31 March will naturally remain valid regardless of the date of travel.
UNQUOTE

I don't have any explanation, and it doesn't mean that you can't do what they say. I went to the SNCB site and it seemed easy enough to specify Thalys and a Belgian ticket at the same time. But they only offered a PREFERENCE for a Window or Aisle seat, and I know that's not enough for you. I don't even remember if half the seats face the wrong way on Thalys coaches. Sorry.

In a nice way, are you going to have to find another person to do your internet purchase for you? I ask because of your OP mentioning "every step". To me, this mission isn't very hard, I do it almost once a year. But it may be intimidating for you. And we haven't even found out if your credit card company is going to block the transaction because it's an international charge!

Thanks for the additional info. Will go to the various sites suggested and continue the research. Would train be preferable to driving?

Would train be preferable to driving?

Definitely. High Speed train is a lot faster. Driving all you see is the autoroute, and on one stretch the High Speed trains running parallel overtaking you. You can sit and relax on the train, get up, walk around, eat and drink and go to the toilet. Nobody has to drive.
And a car is useless in Brugge, and a pain to drive out of Paris. And you would need to get the car back to France, or face a hefty international one-way charge

Since you're newcomers to train travel, do spend a few hours reading the Man In Seat 61 website. He really does have everything you need to know. I know it's intimidating at first, but you'll get the hang of it quickly once you're there.

Start with his Introduction to European Train Travel pages: https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-travel.htm

Thank you, once again, to everyone for taking the time to give me your suggestions, expertise, and information, which has been immensely helpful! I feel like I've had a college class in train travel, and it is fun to learn the ins and outs of making it happen.