I'm just starting to read up on this but can't figure it out. We wIll be in Amsterdam in 2 weeks with friends who won't be able to walk as easily as we do and anticipate using the trams a lot, something we've never done. Am I correct in assuming one passes the Tripkey card over a card reader on board the tram, when entering and exiting? I can't begin to guess how it works on the trains. All our journeys by train will originate and return to Amsterdam. In years past, we simply bought tickets from the staffed counter at Centraal with cash. With Tripkey, can we use the same counter to purchase tickets, or do you skip the counter and use the Tripkey on a platform reader? Upon boarding and exiting? Or present to a conductor? Or use a kiosk? I remember validating tickets on the platform in France and Italy, but don't remember whether we did the same in the Netherlands. I gather that for train trips it offers a rate lower than regularly purchased tickets. We could easily just buy tickets as needed, but the convenience and savings ?? sound attractive. Thanks for any clarification.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
From what I read it works like the regular OV Chipkaart in the Netherlands or the Oyster Card in London: hold it against the card reader at entering and leaving the tram (or bus or whatever form of public transport). At a railway station you do it at the gates or, when a station has no gates (such as Den Haag Centraal), at a yellow card reader positioned somewhere in the station hall or on the platform.
You have to pick it up at one of their collection points. There they can inform you about the practical details.
Posted by
2 posts
I actually just got through reading a lot of posts regarding Tripkey on another travel forum. A company representative was also responding to some of the inquiries. I will be in Amsterdam for 9 nights this summer and have been trying to figure out the most costs effective option for us. My husband is slightly disabled and I want to conserve his energy for sightseeing. From what I have gathered is that this is a convenience product and does not give any discounted rates. Also the pickup points at the hotels listed are only for hotel guests at this time. I had to read through about 5 pages of posts to finally get this information and it came from the company rep who was responding. We will not be arriving via the airport. You do swipe it at the kiosks like the OV cards but do not have to maintain a minimum balance. Hopefully I haven't given out any false information. I am still researching also.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
I used it last September. It works exactly like an OV-chipkaart. You need to pass it by the card reader when you enter and exit a tram or bus. At the train stations, pass it by the reader as you enter or exit.
I picked mine up at the Doubletree Hotel next to Amsterdam Centraal Station and I wasn't a guest. It's smart to reserve the card in advance, but you can also just walk up and get one.
Posted by
2 posts
Thank you T! Your info was helpful to me. Did you get discounted rates using the card like the OV or were you billed at full fare?
Posted by
OP
Columbus, OH, USA
2081 posts
Thank you to all who responded. It has been quite helpful. I appreciate the time people take to help out on this forum....thanks again.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
iscounted rates using the card like the OV
The OV Chipkaart only gives discounted fare (outside rush hours) if you've got an additional subscription at € 50 a year. It's hardly a good deal for the short-time visitors the Tripkey aimes at.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
If you use Tripkey or the OV-Chipkaart, you don't pay the full price of a single ticket. If I take a trip on a tram in Amsterdam and I buy a single ticket, I have to pay €2.90. If I use my Tripkey card and I'm only going a short distance, say from the train station to the Rijksmusem, I'll pay half that amount with the card. For trains, there is a €1 surcharge if you buy single tickets. So you save a lot of money quickly if you use Tripkey, especially for foreigners who don't have a Dutch bank account.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33818 posts
I considered using Tripkey for my trip just completed. After correspondence from the freelance PR person for them I learned that the VVV locations listed no longer handle them, and was advised to travel all the way from Utrecht to Schiphol Airport to get it from Hertz.
That wasn't acceptable to me, especially as I had no need to be at either the airport nor did I need a car.
I chose to let such a start-up get its feet under it and I bought OV-Chipkaart.