We will be leaving Brussels on October 3rd by train to Paris to meet the landlord of the apartment we have rented for a week. Do I need to make a train reservation now, can it wait until I arrive in Brussels on September 28th, or do I even need to worry about a reservation at all? I will need to let the landlord know when we are arriving so he can meet us at the apartment. Thank you for letting me pick your collective brains.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
No need for reservations . I have done this trip in summer peak season and no problems. Ck www.raileurope.com for the schedules so you have an idea of whats available and length of trip, cost and what station you will arrive at in Paris there are any.
Posted by
MONTREAL, CANADA
20 posts
JS I am doing the same thing,but in September. Can I just buy the ticket at the station the day before? around how much is the ticket?
Thanks
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Reservations are required on Thalys trains, but you can certainly wait until you get to Brussels to book your ticket. There will be plenty of seats available at the standard fare. A Librys single (one-way) 2nd class ticket is 78 EUR. A Smilys return (roundtrip) ticket is 54 EUR (only sold as a return but cheaper than a single). Book up to 90 days in advance at www.thalys.com, pick an arbitrary return date, and throw away the unused portion. Book as soon as the 90-day window opens to have any chance of getting a Smilys fare and print the ticket yourself.