Ten teachers are going to Belgium in March. We'll be based out of Brussels and I'm looking for some sort of rail pass to get us to Amsterdam, Yper, and Brugge. We're not under 26 years old and not over 65 and, for the life of me, I can't find a basic rail pass that would cover those trips as well as the trip from the Brussels airport into the city. Anyone have some ideas?
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
There may not be one. You could get a Eurail Benelux pass Saver, which is good for 5 days of travel within 1 month, but it would still cost 135 euros or $200 each even with the group discount. I doubt that'd be a savings over just showing up at the train station and just buying your tickets. The train from the Brussels airport into the city is only like 3 euros each way, no need for a pass. Brussels to Brugge was 12 euros each way when I was there in August, if it's gone up I don't imagine much, and the train from Brussels to Amsterdam was 24.60 euros one way. It's entirely possible I'm missing something here, but I think just buying point-to-point tickets at the station the day you want to travel might be your least expensive option!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
You can buy a ticket for multiple trips, although it won't cover the trip to Amsterdam. Hold on, I'll ask my (Flemish) fiancee for more details...
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
For your trips a railpass will not be cost effective. Be sure you take an IC train rather than a Thalys train from Brussels to Amsterdam and return. Just as fast as Thalys, much cheaper, and no reservation required.
There are special deals within Belgium that can get you a return (roundtrip) ticket for little more than a single (one-way) ticket. See here: www.ricksteves.com/rail/germany.htm#benelux.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
OK, I'm back after conferring with my fiancee. In general, rail tickets in Belgium are very cheap by Western European standards. If you use Brussels as your home-base, you are unlikely to pay much more than about 10-15 euro per ride to any destination within Belgium. We bought a multi-trip ticket, good for 8 trips between any two destinations in Belgium for only 50 euro. You can buy this ticket at any train station. Skip the rail pass in Belgium, it probably isn't worth it.
Posted by
Powell River, Canada
359 posts
Three years living/working in Den Haag; took lots of trips within Holland/Belgium every weekend playing tourist and always used point-to-point tickets bought last minute or 'special deals' available locally. The distances are so short, tickets so cheap, a railpass or ticket on the Thalys, in my view, would be wasting money. After you de-jetlag in Brussels, stop by the train station the next day,check the deals with the ticket agent/tourist office, and plan the rest of your trip in Belg/NL. Brussels/Brugge are great but don't miss Antwerp. It's worth a quick visit and a great walk from Central Station to the old town square with lots of sidewalk cafes to quench your thirst on the way.