Can I make a reservation before I activate my Eurail Pass? I am flying into Amsterdam then on to Africa with a 3 hr layover. Two weeks later I am meeting my wife in Amsterdam and would like to have already purchased our reservation from Amsterdam to Paris. Our Eurail Pass will be activated just prior to traveling to Paris.
Thanks Dennis
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33847 posts
Are you saying that you will purchase an expensive pass just for a simple journey on one Thalys train journey? I don't understand the math.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
I'm sure he just didn't bother to mention that they are going on with the rail pass after Paris. I don't think they ask for anything like a pass number when selling reservations, so I don't think it even matter if you have one. But you can't use the reservation without the pass. If you use ICs of the national rail companies of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, you might not be required to have a reservation, but those trains are slow compared to Thalys. You probably want to take Thalys. I didn't do a thorough look, but I didn't see anywhere on Thalys' website where you could get passholder reservations (which include payment of a rather large supplement). They will sell you a full ticket online, which always includes a seat reservation, but I didn't see reservations only. Other than Rail Europe, you might have difficulty finding a place to get pass holder reservation.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Dennis, I'd probably just purchase a reservation at the time you activate the Railpass. There are MANY trains on the Amsterdam to Paris route every day, so it's highly doubtful that you wouldn't be able to get a seat. I'm assuming you'll be arriving back in Amsterdam a day or two prior to your trip to Paris? As you'll probably be near a rail station (perhaps at the airport) when you return from Africa, it should be easy to both activate the Pass and purchase a reservation at that time. Happy travels!
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
You can make some reservations where you buy your pass from, but the national railroad websites do not allow you to make reservations using a rail pass. You have to do it in person.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Douglas, I think that would be clearer if you said "the national railroad websites do not allow you to make pass holder reservations online. You have to do it in person." However, that is not entirely true. For reservable trains inside of Germany, the German Rail website has a radio button for "Seat reservation only (no ticket)". For some reason they won't sell "reservations only" for cross border trains. For instance, if you wanted to travel from Amsterdam to Frankfurt on ICE 123, they will sell you a ticket, with or without a seat reservation. But if you want a reservation only from Amsterdam, you can't buy it online from the Bahn. However, you can get a seat reservation from Oberhausen online from the Bahn.