My husband and I are planning a trip to Brussels, Bruges and Amsterdam. If anyone has done this trip, we'd like your opinion on whether it's better to fly in and out of Brussels or fly into Brussels and out of Amsterdam. If we fly in and out of Brussels, we're concerned about the time we'd be giving up by taking the train back from Amsterdam.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
334 posts
I would suggest doing open jaw (into Brussels, out of Amsterdam), but check your prices. It doesn't really take very long (but not a cheap train) to get to Brussels from Amsterdam, but you have to transfer to get the airport train (this train is a snap from downtown Brussels to the airport and back - we did a trip downtown on a 6hr layover and it worked great). However, it would definitely take a travel day (and most likely an overnight) and you would probably be better off using that day to day-trip out of Amsterdam, or something similar. I doubt if you would save money with the train fare, since Amsterdam is generally one of the lower priced gateways.
Posted by
Powell River, Canada
359 posts
Marcy, I'd start by comparing your flight costs which will probably result in same airport in/out being the cheapest (and Schiphol is hard to beat). Lived in The Hague for 3 years, seemed I lived at Schiphol, and the point-to-point rail in cost and time between Brussels/Antwerp/Brugge is minimal (my favourite weekend 'unwind' was in Brugge). If you're concerned about time, the Thalys will get you Amsterdam/Brussels in the blink of an eye and booked in advance is not that expensive; do it one way slow, one way fast and see a bit of the Bel/NL countryside.