Train from Paris to Amsterdam

The cheapest is to book discount non-nonrefundable/changeable tickets 90 days in advance at http://www.thalys.com. Tell the website that you live and are picking up your tickets in France...you'll still be be able to print your tickets out at home. Thalys is the high-speed train service which connects Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam.

We've taken that route a few times and have found it very easy and convenient. We took the high speed Thalys and the seats were comfortable and clean. We had first class tickets (not substantially more) and had a really nice 3 course meal (with wine) included with our ticket - very civilized! We didn't have a rail pass at the time, simply booked individual tickets. The first time we did it we used a travel agent because we hadn't done any European train travel before, but now I just book it directly myself. Have fun!

Thalys is the name of the high speed train running that route. A railpass is a prepaid, purchased in the US, train ticket that allows you to travel on about any trains at any times within the terms of the pass. There are a thousand and one different passes from two or three days and one country to 30 plus days in many countries. Generally a railpass is only cost effective IF doing a lot of long distance train travel frequently. For a one time trip to Amsterdam a rail pass would not be cost effective or even convenient.

We also took the Thayls from Paris to Brussels last month. We booked first class tickets about 90 days out and price wasn't bad at all. Between the cramped airline seats on the flight over, the week of crowded metros in Paris the first class seat and 3-course meal on the Thayls were worth every penny. We planned our train travel over the lunch hour to take advantage of the meal. The train itself was so fast and so quiet. It was a very nice way to unwind and transition from our Paris (big city) experience to our friend's small village outside Brussels.