I know the Thalys train is fast and direct but it costs $120 one way. Isn't there a cheaper train to Paris?
Between the Rail Europe and Deutsche Bahn websites I figured out I can get from Brussels to CDG Airport via TGV
for $46 ($72 later in the day). But then of course I have to get from the airport to the city, probably by RER/metro.
Is it worth saving $74 or is it a waste of time?
Wow...if you can find Brussels-Paris CDG for $46 one way, take it! The RER cost is 8.10 Euro ($11.50), altho the cars aren't as comfortable, and you'll have to hoist whatever luggage you have from one train to another at CDG....but both go to the same train station, Gare du Nord, and the RER runs every few minutes. RER might actually be better, getting you to a station closer to your destination before you have to shift to the Metro or a cab. It all depends on what sort of inconvenience you're willing to put up with. But make sure the $46 offer is exactly what you want....not to say it doesn't exist, but I couldn't find it on RailEurope. Another alternative might be SNCF, the French Rail network, which will get you a 54 Euro ($75 US) Smilys round trip ticket Brussels-Paris direct....just enter a fake return journey and throw away the return half.
Yes, there are several ways to travel more cheaply.
While the standard single fare on Thalys is €78, the Smilys fare is €54. It can only be booked online and is only sold as a return (roundtrip). Book an arbitrary return date and throw away the unused portion. Those tickets go fast so the only way to get one is to book as soon as the 90-day window opens.
Book the Bruxelles-CDG TGV up to 90 days in advance to get a PREM'S fare (as low as €30) rather than paying the standard fare (€65.70). Take the RER to Paris (€8.20).
Take regional trains from Bruxelles to Lille. Book a Lille-Paris TGV at sncf.com and get a PREM'S fare as low as €20.
Book Bruxelles-Lille on the Eurostar and Lille-Paris on the TGV all in one shot at sncf.com. (The SNCF site is haveing technical difficulties at the moment so I cna't quote the discount fare, but I know that booking this way is cheaper than a straight shot on Thalys.)
If saving money is of ultimate importance to you, you could take a Eurolines coach for €22. The trip takes four hours. See www.eurolines.com.
Thanks for the information, Norm and Tim. It was very helpful. Just wanted to post a followup.
I'm glad I waited to purchase because all of a sudden the Thalys fare I wanted went to 1/2 price - $60. I had seen mention on raileurope that there was a 1/2 price summer sale until 9/30 but everytime I searched all fares came up as $120. I guess they finally put it into effect for the day I wanted, which is actually Sunday 9/30, so I'm in luck!
Also the TGV to Paris CDG on 9/30 AM went up to $86/$72 so that wasn't looking good anymore.
I did investigate the Smilys rountrip fare on sncf and that looked great and I was about to do that. But that is good to know for the future anyway, I never heard of that one before.
I really didn't want to pay $120 for Thalys when I'm only paying $94 Eurostar from London to Brussels.
Btw for anyone reading this that's interested I see many days in September that have $60 one way fares on Thalys so take advantage of it.
