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Benelux - France railpass - worth it?

Posted by (Mount Pleasant, SC) on

Hi!
My husband and I are traveling on Thursday to The Netherlands. We have a place to stay in Haarlem for three nights, then have 2 nights free, then 3 nights in Ghent, and then two nights free before flying out of Brussels. We were just going to do individual train tickets since we have a pretty fly by the seat of our pants itinerary; however, I'm now wondering if it makes sense to get a Benelux-France rail pass instead. Any advice on what is best - individual train tickets bought day-of, or the pass? does the pass allow you to go on local trains in the netherlands and belgium?

My husband's family is of French descent and he's never been to europe - if it only takes 2 hours to get to Paris, why not go? (i've been several times, so no advice needed regarding the city itself). Does it make sense to do the pass?

thanks!

Posted by
8700 posts

Individual tickets for sure. If you go to Paris, you will take Thalys trains. The passholder fare on those trains is not cheap and there is a limited number of seats allotted to passholders. At this late date it's likely that only regular tickets are left.

Posted by
16895 posts

Buy tickets as you go, or as soon as you're ready to commit to dates and times for a Thalys train roundtrip to Paris. As Tim said, pass holder reservations on Thalys are expensive, and are artificially limited. (For a Benelux-France pass to save money, you'd have to have some longer trips within France, also with reservations. To buy a railpass at this late date, you'd also have to pay for rush delivery.)

Posted by
25 posts

thanks! i figured so, but figured I'd ask since we'll be rail tripping in the netherlands and belgium, as well.

i appreciate the advice!

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