I'm not sure what I need to purchase. We plan on using the train for our primary transportation in the Netherlands & Belgium & Paris.
This is my itinerary: arriving in Amsterdam. While there we want to take
2 day train trips to multiple cities. Train to Antwerp with one or two stops. A possible day trip from Antwerp. On to Bruges with a possible day trip to several cities. From Bruges to Paris with one or two day trips. Fly from Paris home to the US. Please advise what my options are and when and where should I purchase.
We will need to be flexible on our day trips. The only absolutes are the days we leave a city to depart to the next location.
It is kind of confusing
You need to clarify the cities where you will be based and take daytrips from
Your question is indeed not very clear. What do you mean by »trips to multiple cities«? What is your intention with »one or two stops« en route to Antwerpen?
And I wonder why you would stay both in Antwerpen and in Brugge, while you can have Gent as a base with both cities within easy reach.
WIll be in Amsterdam 4 nights. We want to do 2 day trips from Amsterdam. Ex day one Haarlem, Delft, The Hague, returning to Amsterdam same day. Would this b done daily as a point to point ticket.
For this you can buy a day return ticket to Delft, with which you can break your journey in Haarlem and The Hague.
And what about your plans to Antwerpen with »one or two stops«?
I did something similar (except to London, not Paris) two years ago. You can do most of that travel just by buying train tickets as you need them, which will give you maximum flexibility.
The exception would be Bruges to Paris; you'd probably want to take the Thalys high-speed train to go from Brussels to Paris (after taking an intercity train from Bruges to Brussels that you wouldn't need to book in advance). For more about getting from Bruges to Paris, see http://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Bruges.htm.
Thank you Melissa. That's very helpful. Looks like it's cheaper to book the Thalys early.