bus, tram, metro in Rotterdam

What do mean by differences? All connect you from point A to B within the city, some above ground some underground, but all operated by the same agency. The ov-chipkaart can be used on all modes of public transport in Holland: intra-city & intercity; the disposable OV card can only be used within Rotterdam. The reusable card can be purchased at train stations, and at the various city transit offices. Disposable cards are sold, by tram/bus drivers or at machines at the Metro stations. The website for Rotterdam Transit is http://www.ret.nl/. It has maps, explains how to use the OV card, and has a travel planner which will tell you the most efficient route to get from place to place.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Rotterdam

Hi Michael,
Thanks for the reply and website. Is the metro a subway?
Thanks,
Fred

You're welcome. Yeah, metro/subway is the same thing. But I didn't find the Rotterdam Metro be very user friendly. Stations are not signed very well and the layouts are very confusing. For most journeys the trams are more useful.

The chip card can be used on all three but it is being phased out in favor of a RFD card. There is a ticket office on the southside of the train station just to your left - near the tram tracks. Ticket offices will have system maps and they do there. Tickets also sold at the TI in the airport. The tram area at the railroad station is a bit of a zoo BUT they have uniform starters so just tell them where you want to go and they will point out the correct line.

What the local transportation is called is more a function of what the locals call it. Tram would be light rail in Denver, street car somewhere else, but basically a tracked vehicle running on rails. I am sure there is a specific description but it is just surface transportation same as buses. Buses are buses but may have heard electric buses being called trams. I found the Rotterdam trams to be about average for signage.

Frank, the OV-Chip (both the re-loadable and disposable) card and the RFD card are the same thing. The paper strip tickets were discontinued.

How about taking luggage onboard? I'll have a 21 inch rollerbag and a small duffle. Which would be easier to navigate with luggage....tram or metro?
Thanks,
Fred

Michael, you are correct. I was thinking of the strip card. The tram works fine with luggage. There are local transportation crowded with all types of people and things. You just crowd on with your luggage. And, of course, the usual precaution to pack as light as you can. We had two carryon size back pack style of bags and one carryon rolling bag and it was not a problem. And, Fred, you really do not have a choice of tram or metro. It is the tram if you want to get to the Holland Am HQ.

Thanks Frank...it's nice to hear from someone who has "been there and done that". Tram it is!