We are traveling on the first Friday in May from Paris to Amsterdam. We are coordinating this with family so I was waiting on confirmation from their side to book the trip. As I've been waiting, I just see the rates going up on the Thalys site. At this point it looks like it will be 158 euros for 2 people. Our family isn't arriving in Amsterdam until 7pm, so we have all day to get there from Paris. On the Bahn site you have the option to have a layover in a city that the Thalys site doesn't seem to offer. I would like to stop in Brussels for a few hours since we have the time. But when booking the tickets, it seems that I would have to book a trip from Paris to Brussels and the Brussels to Amsterdam which costs more versus choosing a long layover. Just looking to see if there is a better way to book this trip that I don't know about. I was hoping to get 2 tickets for closer to 100 euros. Then my next challenge is getting from Amsterdam to Frankfurt on Sunday! That looks like I will have to pay full price or take 8 hours to get there. Ugh! Thanks,
Jennifer
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Which web site are you using for your tickets?
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Thalys is not the only option between Brussels and Amsterdam. You can also ride a slower IC train between them. It makes a few more stops, and if my memory is correct, it adds less than an hour longer than the Thalys option. There are no advanced discounts, so just buy the tickets on your day of travel. And I ask as well, what website are you using for the Amsterdam to Frankfurt route?
Posted by
OP
Indy area, IN
21 posts
I was using the Thalys.com site for the Paris to Amsterdam trip and the Bahn site for the Amsterdam to Frankfurt part on Sunday.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
Tom. With the new high-speed line used by Thalys, the travel time on the local ICs is 1h40 longer than Thalys.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
All seats on Thalys trains are reserved. You would have to book separate tickets at thalys.com for Paris-Brussels and Brussels-Amsterdam. Or do what Tom suggested and jump on the next available IC train to Amsterdam when you're ready to leave Brussels. As of a few minutes ago I found discount fares still available on 1 May for Paris-Amsterdam for certain departure times. €29 for 06:01 and 06:25. €39 for 09:25. €29 for 11:25. On Sunday morning discount fares are still available for the first Thalys train from Amsterdam to Brussels which departs at 08:16 and arrives at 10:10. You would just have enough time to connect to the 10:25 ICE train to Frankfurt for which discount fares also are still available on the DB site. You'll arrive in Frankfurt at 13:30.
Posted by
OP
Indy area, IN
21 posts
It's actually May 4th that we are traveling so even the 6am train is 70 euros right now. Midday trains are 158 euros. I like the fares on the 1st better! I hadn't thought of going back to Frankfurt through Brussels - I will look into that. I had been using the Bahn site which routed through Germany. What site do I use to check the IC trains? I assume those do not need advance tickets? What is the average fare for those trains? I did check some airlines and found a flight from Amsterdam to Frankfurt on the Sunday I need for $116 (US dollars). That is a roundtrip. The funny part is to book a one-way flight was $300 to $500 dollars! If I can't figure out a better way to get back to Frankfurt by train that may be the best route versus paying over 100 euros per person. Thanks again to all!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Oops! When you said "the first Friday in May" my brain registered "May 1st". Sorry! I just checked the Thalys site again for 4 May and found €29 fares for 06:01, 06:25, and 08:55. I found €39 fares for 07:25, 08:01, and 10:01. The 2nd class fare on IC trains from Brussels to Amsterdam is €40.40. Trains run once an hour. You'll find the timetables on the DB site and the Belgian Rail site.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Here's an even better deal for Amsterdam-Frankfurt. If you book on www.nshispeed.nl, you can get a discount fare of €39 for the direct ICE train from Amsterdam to Frankfurt on 6 May that departs at 09:41 and arrives at 14:30.