We are doing the Best of Holland and Belgium in April this year and will be traveling to and from the States via Amsterdam.
Has anyone taken the train from the airport to Ghent where the tour begins? Any tips or suggestions? Would a car service (shared or exclusive) work better?
I haven't done exactly that trip, but train travel in the Benelux is easy. If you avoid the Thalys there is no need to buy the tickets in advance, you can just buy them in a ticket machine when you arrive and take the next train.
I hope you are planning to arrive the day before? It's just a lot of moving pieces to get you to the hotel in Ghent before the first meet up.
Normally you would have to change in Brussels, but there are many trains an hour to Ghent, no reservations needed or available. These are commuter trains, so some are double-decker, annoying with large suitcases. You can stand in the vestibule before the stairs if you are forced to. I would fly into BRU unless it is much more expensive.
You may be able to buy both tickets, or a through ticket in Amsterdam, which will eliminate the need to get in line in Brussels with your bags, for the local ticket. Some people want to visit Grand Place while in Brussels, but maybe that's on your tour anyway. I think Gent has two train stations, so find out which one is closer to your hotel. I think one of them has few trains that stop there.
I BELIEVE that Belgian local tickets are dated, so don't buy extra tickets on your arrival day.
Note that there are three "downtown Brussels" train stops, but all the trains to Ghent stop at all of them. I'd use Centraal because it's the biggest, and has the most services. Some "special" trains like Thalys only stop at the Brussel Zuid/Bruxelles Midi, and that's OK too.
https://visit.gent.be/en/good-know/practical-information/how-get-ghent/ghent-train
https://www.nsinternational.com/en?
You may need a local bus ride to your hotel. Google Maps is your friend. There should be a bus ticket machine outside the rail station, and signposts for the bus lines that stop there. Have euro coins and small bills ready.
A change in Brussels would be a detour. The fastest route is usually via Antwerpen.
Well, perhaps that's true. I have never traveled from Amsterdam to Gent because I would not use that itinerary.
But it's risky to buy a reservations-required ticket when arriving after an international flight. And I'm seeing 80 euro prices via Antwerp and 50 euro prices through Brussels. Of course, that's Thalys vs IC, which is not the same thing. Maybe a long-advance Thalys is a better price, but it's probably not changeable or refundable.
Badger is correct. We have done that run. Bought the ticket at the train station in Amsterdam but you can buy the ticket in the airport and get exact directions there. Personally I would go a day or two early just to adjust to jet lag on your time and not on the tour's time. Riding that train after an overnight flight will just put you to sleep.
We have a similar itinerary later this year, KLM thru Schipol with Bruges being our final destination. Given the options, we booked Thalys train connection (as part of KLM outbound) from AMS to Antwerp Central Stn [ZWE]; then a car service with company we've used before to get us to Bruges. The high-speed train saves a lot of time versus driving down from Schipol, and the last leg from Antwerp to Ghent or Bruges isn't that far. You could even take the local train from ZWE/Antwerp into Ghent, if you wanted to skip the car service.
I see €29 prices when bought in advance, so it appears it makes sense to buy the tickets in advance as international trips seems to be cheaper if bought in advance. But it also says that the tickets are valid for any IC brussels that day. And Belgian domestic tickets are valid on any train that day.
Done the trip several times, to both Ghent and Bruges. Many trains from Amsterdam also stop at Schiphol, best to change in Antwerp, then on to Ghent, to Bruges may require a change in Ghent as well.
The Thalys is fastest to Antwerp, but honestly, your not talking a great distance, so any intercity train would do as well. I have no problem waiting until I land to get tickets, I figure the time I save by taking the earliest train, beats the time wasted waiting for a "safe" train. Cost? the fast trains are cheaper bought ahead,, the intercity not as much, the regionals not really. I did find the various train apps helpful, you could look at the NS international app, buying on there even as you land, before you get off the plane.
Sidenote: you didn't ask, but once in Ghent, buy a Linj public transport pass, you will need it to get to the city center, you can get a 10 trip pass, you will use it in Ghent, but also good in Bruge and Antwerp.
If you're not spending any time in Ghent on the tour, I would try to get there a day or so early if possible. It's a beautiful and charming city and definitely worth seeing. I enjoyed it much more than Bruges and was glad I got to spend four days there.
