I will be traveling next week from AMS Cntl to Antwerp, then from Ghent to Bruxell MIDI to catch a TGV which I already have reservation. Is there any advantage in buying the IC train ticket in advance (via RailEurope App which charged a fee) or buy tickets at the train station? Thanks for sharing you experience.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Phil, its usually best to buy the ticket directly with the rail operator, not with a third party like Rail Europe. Try going on their website or see if they have an app.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14716 posts
I would download the app for the NS trains instead of using the 3rd party rail europe app. YOu can also book this on the app for the Belgium National Trains.
The Netherlands train app is called NS Travel Planner. I have not used this app for travel.
The Belgium train app is SNCB International. I've used this one for trains from Paris to Gent.
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
The two international journies will have discounts for advance purchase, though you may have already missed that window.
Amsterdam to Antwerp can be done on NS- the Dutch railway (slightly slower, well cheaper), or Thalys—probably the same train you're taking from Brussels (faster and more expensive and with reserved seats)
The Antwerp-Ghent-Brussels tickets can certainly be bought at the stations. No discount for advance purchase.)
Posted by
Wengen
2488 posts
Best place to buy tickets is with the national railway of the country where the trip starts. So in the case of trips starting in the Netherlands go to their site:
On that site you can buy tickets from anywhere in the Netherlands to anywhere in Belgium, and you can compare prices. Tickets are offered there both for the slower IC service and the faster Thalys service. And you can book direct through to Gent if that is your destination.
Tickets for the IC are flexible, which may be advantageous when coming directly off a flight, as you can just hop on the next train and do not need to plan a buffer, which is what you would need to do with Thalys.
For Gent - Brussel you can just buy that at the station.