train travel from amsterdam to belgium, paris and germany [closed]
Hi i was just wondering how can i travel by train from ams to belgium and at the same time stop from stations to stations. besides that regarding train tickets is it advisable for me to purchase them online or book at the station itself? I will be travelling on mid may.
trains children family ams
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
closed as unclear what you're asking by David Richerby, Giorgio, Rory Alsop, Mark Mayo♦ Mar 15 '17 at 6:49
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
Hi i was just wondering how can i travel by train from ams to belgium and at the same time stop from stations to stations. besides that regarding train tickets is it advisable for me to purchase them online or book at the station itself? I will be travelling on mid may.
trains children family ams
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
closed as unclear what you're asking by David Richerby, Giorgio, Rory Alsop, Mark Mayo♦ Mar 15 '17 at 6:49
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
So you want to stop at a train station, perhaps sleep there and then repeat and rinse. Are you 27 or younger when you start your trip? (No need to post your actual age.)
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 4:39
2
This is not WANTA, the question is poorly worded but I believe OP wants an EURail pass, was trying to ferret that out with my comment above.
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 10:52
@mts why take out the tags if the OP has included them and is not been back to tell they are not to the point? You have made my answer being 'off topic' for at least a part, while I answered based on the tags as were there.
– Willeke♦
Mar 12 '17 at 9:31
@Willeke please un-do my edit if you deem it unjust. I find context given in the form of tags insufficient and do not see how family and children come into play from reading the Q. I am also of the firm opinion that the Q should be closed as unclear, as mentioned in chat and above. OP is unregistered and has not come back to clarify which further reduces my sympathies for the Q. However I have now read your answer (+1) which is great and see how it misses context given my tag edit. Also, regional train (RB+RE) tickets in Germany are valid for any such train on the indicated itinerary.
– mts
Mar 12 '17 at 9:59
add a comment |
Hi i was just wondering how can i travel by train from ams to belgium and at the same time stop from stations to stations. besides that regarding train tickets is it advisable for me to purchase them online or book at the station itself? I will be travelling on mid may.
trains children family ams
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
Hi i was just wondering how can i travel by train from ams to belgium and at the same time stop from stations to stations. besides that regarding train tickets is it advisable for me to purchase them online or book at the station itself? I will be travelling on mid may.
trains children family ams
trains children family ams
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:04
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
30.6k1086162
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
asked Mar 7 '17 at 3:15
kaamini
191
191
closed as unclear what you're asking by David Richerby, Giorgio, Rory Alsop, Mark Mayo♦ Mar 15 '17 at 6:49
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as unclear what you're asking by David Richerby, Giorgio, Rory Alsop, Mark Mayo♦ Mar 15 '17 at 6:49
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
So you want to stop at a train station, perhaps sleep there and then repeat and rinse. Are you 27 or younger when you start your trip? (No need to post your actual age.)
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 4:39
2
This is not WANTA, the question is poorly worded but I believe OP wants an EURail pass, was trying to ferret that out with my comment above.
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 10:52
@mts why take out the tags if the OP has included them and is not been back to tell they are not to the point? You have made my answer being 'off topic' for at least a part, while I answered based on the tags as were there.
– Willeke♦
Mar 12 '17 at 9:31
@Willeke please un-do my edit if you deem it unjust. I find context given in the form of tags insufficient and do not see how family and children come into play from reading the Q. I am also of the firm opinion that the Q should be closed as unclear, as mentioned in chat and above. OP is unregistered and has not come back to clarify which further reduces my sympathies for the Q. However I have now read your answer (+1) which is great and see how it misses context given my tag edit. Also, regional train (RB+RE) tickets in Germany are valid for any such train on the indicated itinerary.
– mts
Mar 12 '17 at 9:59
add a comment |
1
So you want to stop at a train station, perhaps sleep there and then repeat and rinse. Are you 27 or younger when you start your trip? (No need to post your actual age.)
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 4:39
2
This is not WANTA, the question is poorly worded but I believe OP wants an EURail pass, was trying to ferret that out with my comment above.
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 10:52
@mts why take out the tags if the OP has included them and is not been back to tell they are not to the point? You have made my answer being 'off topic' for at least a part, while I answered based on the tags as were there.
– Willeke♦
Mar 12 '17 at 9:31
@Willeke please un-do my edit if you deem it unjust. I find context given in the form of tags insufficient and do not see how family and children come into play from reading the Q. I am also of the firm opinion that the Q should be closed as unclear, as mentioned in chat and above. OP is unregistered and has not come back to clarify which further reduces my sympathies for the Q. However I have now read your answer (+1) which is great and see how it misses context given my tag edit. Also, regional train (RB+RE) tickets in Germany are valid for any such train on the indicated itinerary.
– mts
Mar 12 '17 at 9:59
1
1
So you want to stop at a train station, perhaps sleep there and then repeat and rinse. Are you 27 or younger when you start your trip? (No need to post your actual age.)
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 4:39
So you want to stop at a train station, perhaps sleep there and then repeat and rinse. Are you 27 or younger when you start your trip? (No need to post your actual age.)
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 4:39
2
2
This is not WANTA, the question is poorly worded but I believe OP wants an EURail pass, was trying to ferret that out with my comment above.
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 10:52
This is not WANTA, the question is poorly worded but I believe OP wants an EURail pass, was trying to ferret that out with my comment above.
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 10:52
@mts why take out the tags if the OP has included them and is not been back to tell they are not to the point? You have made my answer being 'off topic' for at least a part, while I answered based on the tags as were there.
– Willeke♦
Mar 12 '17 at 9:31
@mts why take out the tags if the OP has included them and is not been back to tell they are not to the point? You have made my answer being 'off topic' for at least a part, while I answered based on the tags as were there.
– Willeke♦
Mar 12 '17 at 9:31
@Willeke please un-do my edit if you deem it unjust. I find context given in the form of tags insufficient and do not see how family and children come into play from reading the Q. I am also of the firm opinion that the Q should be closed as unclear, as mentioned in chat and above. OP is unregistered and has not come back to clarify which further reduces my sympathies for the Q. However I have now read your answer (+1) which is great and see how it misses context given my tag edit. Also, regional train (RB+RE) tickets in Germany are valid for any such train on the indicated itinerary.
– mts
Mar 12 '17 at 9:59
@Willeke please un-do my edit if you deem it unjust. I find context given in the form of tags insufficient and do not see how family and children come into play from reading the Q. I am also of the firm opinion that the Q should be closed as unclear, as mentioned in chat and above. OP is unregistered and has not come back to clarify which further reduces my sympathies for the Q. However I have now read your answer (+1) which is great and see how it misses context given my tag edit. Also, regional train (RB+RE) tickets in Germany are valid for any such train on the indicated itinerary.
– mts
Mar 12 '17 at 9:59
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Dutch/Belgium normal tickets (so not high speed) are valid for any train on the route on the day.
So if you buy those tickets you can stop off as long and as often as you want as long as finish your travel on the same day.
If you want overnight stops, buy a ticket to the place you want to stop or consider a rail pass.
Within the Netherlands you do not pay extra on the day but you do pay extra (€0.50) when you buy at the window in the station and you pay extra for a paper ticket(€1). And there is also a €0.50 charge for credit cards.
The Belgium railways do not seem to want those extra charges.
Both websites also have international versions, as do the French site. The German site is just international and local.
Traveling with children in the trains is very well possible, it is even often done. Avoid the peak hours if you can, (that is the mornings till about 9 AM and do not start between 4 and 6 PM if you can avoid it.) It can be very busy in those trains, standing only for most people and at times packed in like sardines in a tin.
Tickets for children are cheaper but the age limit for the cheap tickets is quite low compared to other countries. In the Netherlands children 4 up 11 (included) travel for €2.50 per day. It is called 'Rail runner'.
As far as I understand children in Belgium pay even less, under conditions. Children up to 3 (included) travel for free in both countries. Again, France and Germany will have like rules, cheaper for children, but you best check out the websites I linked to above.
Older 'children' up to 25 years of age might be able to get cheaper tickets for some international trains. If booking online, fill out the age part of the travelers information. When buying tickets at a station, mention ages when asking for the tickets.
The fast trains in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, Thalys, Eurstar, TGV, ICE, do not allow you to stop and take a later train. With these trains you buy a ticket with a seat reservation and you need to be on that train to make use of it. The only exceptions for the fast trains to and in France are if your connecting train is delayed (get proof of the delay if possible) or when the whole of the network is disturbed as with strikes and storms and even then there are restrictions on some of the trains.
The ICE system seems to allow more 'hop on with a valid ticket and a surcharge ticket' but do check as not all are included in that system.
In France the 'normal' trains for long distances have disappeared but the TGV has taken over the role. You need to have a reservation for one particular TGV but there are several options for 'easy to exchange for an other train' and 'if you have missed your train have come to the window (or staff on a train) and ask for how to go on'.
Local trains are still 'all trains on the day' or even 'buy a ticket and validate it on the day you want to use it, on that day it is valid on all trains on the route, so stop off is possible.'
The disadvantage of the local trains in France is that they are often very local and depending on the local needs, may not run often.
In Germany the tickets for the local and regional trains as well as some rare long distance trains which are not high speed are valid for all trains on the day.
If you have missed your train for which you have a reserved seat, non high speed, you can just take the next without a reservation, you stand a good chance to find a free seat but non is guarantied.
Thanks to @Relaxed and @mts for information on the French and German railways, see comments on Q and this A.
A railpass might work out for you, but most people find that when you mostly travel in Belgium and the Netherlands your rail pass is more expensive than the tickets would be.
In France you can get such good deals of the fast trains if you book ahead and are a bit flexible, rail passes might work out but your best use of the pass is using the slow trains which are not as expensive close to the day.
Germany is in the same league, you might get your money's worth, it is rather likely that you will not, it all depends on how far in advance you are willing to book your tickets and how much you will travel.
Eurail is the pass for people from outside Europe, InterRail the pass for people who are European or are resident there.
And read what the Man in Seat 61 has to say about it.
Especially the "Eurail pass versus point-to-point tickets - read before buying a pass!" fourth item on his list. Or the InterRail version.
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
TGV are the new normal in France. There are relatively few other long-distance trains left at this point. You can still use local trains (“TER”, i.e. “regional” trains) to travel longer distance by chaining them together but you should not think of the TGV as an unusual train like the Thalys might be in the Netherlands.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 16:52
@Relaxed, am I right in that you can not just hop on any TGV, that you need a ticket for the one train?
– Willeke♦
Mar 8 '17 at 16:53
1
Yes, that's right, with the caveat that some tickets can be changed relatively easily even after the train has left. But you can't buy an open ticket or hop on the train, you have to have a seat booked (“réservation obligatoire”) and in some station there is personnel filtering access to the platform. And you are right about the local trains too. It's just that there is no “normal” trains left between those two, the TGV gradually replaced most of the former long-distance train network.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 20:57
add a comment |
The question is somewhat unclear bu here are a few pointers
- Amsterdam to Belgium by train is easy and (often) affordable. You can book this directly and conveniently at https://www.nsinternational.nl/en AMS to Brussels is as cheap as 20 Euro in April or 30 Euro in May
- Booking online at least a month ahead is considerable cheaper than buying at the station
- Whether you can do intermediate stops depends on the specific fare. If stops are allowed, the ticket tends to be a bit more expensive. Check the fare rules
- Germany and France are NOT on the way. This would require considerably longer travel and a different approach. If you want to do multiple countries on multiple days with multiple stops consider something like this http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Dutch/Belgium normal tickets (so not high speed) are valid for any train on the route on the day.
So if you buy those tickets you can stop off as long and as often as you want as long as finish your travel on the same day.
If you want overnight stops, buy a ticket to the place you want to stop or consider a rail pass.
Within the Netherlands you do not pay extra on the day but you do pay extra (€0.50) when you buy at the window in the station and you pay extra for a paper ticket(€1). And there is also a €0.50 charge for credit cards.
The Belgium railways do not seem to want those extra charges.
Both websites also have international versions, as do the French site. The German site is just international and local.
Traveling with children in the trains is very well possible, it is even often done. Avoid the peak hours if you can, (that is the mornings till about 9 AM and do not start between 4 and 6 PM if you can avoid it.) It can be very busy in those trains, standing only for most people and at times packed in like sardines in a tin.
Tickets for children are cheaper but the age limit for the cheap tickets is quite low compared to other countries. In the Netherlands children 4 up 11 (included) travel for €2.50 per day. It is called 'Rail runner'.
As far as I understand children in Belgium pay even less, under conditions. Children up to 3 (included) travel for free in both countries. Again, France and Germany will have like rules, cheaper for children, but you best check out the websites I linked to above.
Older 'children' up to 25 years of age might be able to get cheaper tickets for some international trains. If booking online, fill out the age part of the travelers information. When buying tickets at a station, mention ages when asking for the tickets.
The fast trains in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, Thalys, Eurstar, TGV, ICE, do not allow you to stop and take a later train. With these trains you buy a ticket with a seat reservation and you need to be on that train to make use of it. The only exceptions for the fast trains to and in France are if your connecting train is delayed (get proof of the delay if possible) or when the whole of the network is disturbed as with strikes and storms and even then there are restrictions on some of the trains.
The ICE system seems to allow more 'hop on with a valid ticket and a surcharge ticket' but do check as not all are included in that system.
In France the 'normal' trains for long distances have disappeared but the TGV has taken over the role. You need to have a reservation for one particular TGV but there are several options for 'easy to exchange for an other train' and 'if you have missed your train have come to the window (or staff on a train) and ask for how to go on'.
Local trains are still 'all trains on the day' or even 'buy a ticket and validate it on the day you want to use it, on that day it is valid on all trains on the route, so stop off is possible.'
The disadvantage of the local trains in France is that they are often very local and depending on the local needs, may not run often.
In Germany the tickets for the local and regional trains as well as some rare long distance trains which are not high speed are valid for all trains on the day.
If you have missed your train for which you have a reserved seat, non high speed, you can just take the next without a reservation, you stand a good chance to find a free seat but non is guarantied.
Thanks to @Relaxed and @mts for information on the French and German railways, see comments on Q and this A.
A railpass might work out for you, but most people find that when you mostly travel in Belgium and the Netherlands your rail pass is more expensive than the tickets would be.
In France you can get such good deals of the fast trains if you book ahead and are a bit flexible, rail passes might work out but your best use of the pass is using the slow trains which are not as expensive close to the day.
Germany is in the same league, you might get your money's worth, it is rather likely that you will not, it all depends on how far in advance you are willing to book your tickets and how much you will travel.
Eurail is the pass for people from outside Europe, InterRail the pass for people who are European or are resident there.
And read what the Man in Seat 61 has to say about it.
Especially the "Eurail pass versus point-to-point tickets - read before buying a pass!" fourth item on his list. Or the InterRail version.
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
TGV are the new normal in France. There are relatively few other long-distance trains left at this point. You can still use local trains (“TER”, i.e. “regional” trains) to travel longer distance by chaining them together but you should not think of the TGV as an unusual train like the Thalys might be in the Netherlands.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 16:52
@Relaxed, am I right in that you can not just hop on any TGV, that you need a ticket for the one train?
– Willeke♦
Mar 8 '17 at 16:53
1
Yes, that's right, with the caveat that some tickets can be changed relatively easily even after the train has left. But you can't buy an open ticket or hop on the train, you have to have a seat booked (“réservation obligatoire”) and in some station there is personnel filtering access to the platform. And you are right about the local trains too. It's just that there is no “normal” trains left between those two, the TGV gradually replaced most of the former long-distance train network.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 20:57
add a comment |
Dutch/Belgium normal tickets (so not high speed) are valid for any train on the route on the day.
So if you buy those tickets you can stop off as long and as often as you want as long as finish your travel on the same day.
If you want overnight stops, buy a ticket to the place you want to stop or consider a rail pass.
Within the Netherlands you do not pay extra on the day but you do pay extra (€0.50) when you buy at the window in the station and you pay extra for a paper ticket(€1). And there is also a €0.50 charge for credit cards.
The Belgium railways do not seem to want those extra charges.
Both websites also have international versions, as do the French site. The German site is just international and local.
Traveling with children in the trains is very well possible, it is even often done. Avoid the peak hours if you can, (that is the mornings till about 9 AM and do not start between 4 and 6 PM if you can avoid it.) It can be very busy in those trains, standing only for most people and at times packed in like sardines in a tin.
Tickets for children are cheaper but the age limit for the cheap tickets is quite low compared to other countries. In the Netherlands children 4 up 11 (included) travel for €2.50 per day. It is called 'Rail runner'.
As far as I understand children in Belgium pay even less, under conditions. Children up to 3 (included) travel for free in both countries. Again, France and Germany will have like rules, cheaper for children, but you best check out the websites I linked to above.
Older 'children' up to 25 years of age might be able to get cheaper tickets for some international trains. If booking online, fill out the age part of the travelers information. When buying tickets at a station, mention ages when asking for the tickets.
The fast trains in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, Thalys, Eurstar, TGV, ICE, do not allow you to stop and take a later train. With these trains you buy a ticket with a seat reservation and you need to be on that train to make use of it. The only exceptions for the fast trains to and in France are if your connecting train is delayed (get proof of the delay if possible) or when the whole of the network is disturbed as with strikes and storms and even then there are restrictions on some of the trains.
The ICE system seems to allow more 'hop on with a valid ticket and a surcharge ticket' but do check as not all are included in that system.
In France the 'normal' trains for long distances have disappeared but the TGV has taken over the role. You need to have a reservation for one particular TGV but there are several options for 'easy to exchange for an other train' and 'if you have missed your train have come to the window (or staff on a train) and ask for how to go on'.
Local trains are still 'all trains on the day' or even 'buy a ticket and validate it on the day you want to use it, on that day it is valid on all trains on the route, so stop off is possible.'
The disadvantage of the local trains in France is that they are often very local and depending on the local needs, may not run often.
In Germany the tickets for the local and regional trains as well as some rare long distance trains which are not high speed are valid for all trains on the day.
If you have missed your train for which you have a reserved seat, non high speed, you can just take the next without a reservation, you stand a good chance to find a free seat but non is guarantied.
Thanks to @Relaxed and @mts for information on the French and German railways, see comments on Q and this A.
A railpass might work out for you, but most people find that when you mostly travel in Belgium and the Netherlands your rail pass is more expensive than the tickets would be.
In France you can get such good deals of the fast trains if you book ahead and are a bit flexible, rail passes might work out but your best use of the pass is using the slow trains which are not as expensive close to the day.
Germany is in the same league, you might get your money's worth, it is rather likely that you will not, it all depends on how far in advance you are willing to book your tickets and how much you will travel.
Eurail is the pass for people from outside Europe, InterRail the pass for people who are European or are resident there.
And read what the Man in Seat 61 has to say about it.
Especially the "Eurail pass versus point-to-point tickets - read before buying a pass!" fourth item on his list. Or the InterRail version.
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
TGV are the new normal in France. There are relatively few other long-distance trains left at this point. You can still use local trains (“TER”, i.e. “regional” trains) to travel longer distance by chaining them together but you should not think of the TGV as an unusual train like the Thalys might be in the Netherlands.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 16:52
@Relaxed, am I right in that you can not just hop on any TGV, that you need a ticket for the one train?
– Willeke♦
Mar 8 '17 at 16:53
1
Yes, that's right, with the caveat that some tickets can be changed relatively easily even after the train has left. But you can't buy an open ticket or hop on the train, you have to have a seat booked (“réservation obligatoire”) and in some station there is personnel filtering access to the platform. And you are right about the local trains too. It's just that there is no “normal” trains left between those two, the TGV gradually replaced most of the former long-distance train network.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 20:57
add a comment |
Dutch/Belgium normal tickets (so not high speed) are valid for any train on the route on the day.
So if you buy those tickets you can stop off as long and as often as you want as long as finish your travel on the same day.
If you want overnight stops, buy a ticket to the place you want to stop or consider a rail pass.
Within the Netherlands you do not pay extra on the day but you do pay extra (€0.50) when you buy at the window in the station and you pay extra for a paper ticket(€1). And there is also a €0.50 charge for credit cards.
The Belgium railways do not seem to want those extra charges.
Both websites also have international versions, as do the French site. The German site is just international and local.
Traveling with children in the trains is very well possible, it is even often done. Avoid the peak hours if you can, (that is the mornings till about 9 AM and do not start between 4 and 6 PM if you can avoid it.) It can be very busy in those trains, standing only for most people and at times packed in like sardines in a tin.
Tickets for children are cheaper but the age limit for the cheap tickets is quite low compared to other countries. In the Netherlands children 4 up 11 (included) travel for €2.50 per day. It is called 'Rail runner'.
As far as I understand children in Belgium pay even less, under conditions. Children up to 3 (included) travel for free in both countries. Again, France and Germany will have like rules, cheaper for children, but you best check out the websites I linked to above.
Older 'children' up to 25 years of age might be able to get cheaper tickets for some international trains. If booking online, fill out the age part of the travelers information. When buying tickets at a station, mention ages when asking for the tickets.
The fast trains in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, Thalys, Eurstar, TGV, ICE, do not allow you to stop and take a later train. With these trains you buy a ticket with a seat reservation and you need to be on that train to make use of it. The only exceptions for the fast trains to and in France are if your connecting train is delayed (get proof of the delay if possible) or when the whole of the network is disturbed as with strikes and storms and even then there are restrictions on some of the trains.
The ICE system seems to allow more 'hop on with a valid ticket and a surcharge ticket' but do check as not all are included in that system.
In France the 'normal' trains for long distances have disappeared but the TGV has taken over the role. You need to have a reservation for one particular TGV but there are several options for 'easy to exchange for an other train' and 'if you have missed your train have come to the window (or staff on a train) and ask for how to go on'.
Local trains are still 'all trains on the day' or even 'buy a ticket and validate it on the day you want to use it, on that day it is valid on all trains on the route, so stop off is possible.'
The disadvantage of the local trains in France is that they are often very local and depending on the local needs, may not run often.
In Germany the tickets for the local and regional trains as well as some rare long distance trains which are not high speed are valid for all trains on the day.
If you have missed your train for which you have a reserved seat, non high speed, you can just take the next without a reservation, you stand a good chance to find a free seat but non is guarantied.
Thanks to @Relaxed and @mts for information on the French and German railways, see comments on Q and this A.
A railpass might work out for you, but most people find that when you mostly travel in Belgium and the Netherlands your rail pass is more expensive than the tickets would be.
In France you can get such good deals of the fast trains if you book ahead and are a bit flexible, rail passes might work out but your best use of the pass is using the slow trains which are not as expensive close to the day.
Germany is in the same league, you might get your money's worth, it is rather likely that you will not, it all depends on how far in advance you are willing to book your tickets and how much you will travel.
Eurail is the pass for people from outside Europe, InterRail the pass for people who are European or are resident there.
And read what the Man in Seat 61 has to say about it.
Especially the "Eurail pass versus point-to-point tickets - read before buying a pass!" fourth item on his list. Or the InterRail version.
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
Dutch/Belgium normal tickets (so not high speed) are valid for any train on the route on the day.
So if you buy those tickets you can stop off as long and as often as you want as long as finish your travel on the same day.
If you want overnight stops, buy a ticket to the place you want to stop or consider a rail pass.
Within the Netherlands you do not pay extra on the day but you do pay extra (€0.50) when you buy at the window in the station and you pay extra for a paper ticket(€1). And there is also a €0.50 charge for credit cards.
The Belgium railways do not seem to want those extra charges.
Both websites also have international versions, as do the French site. The German site is just international and local.
Traveling with children in the trains is very well possible, it is even often done. Avoid the peak hours if you can, (that is the mornings till about 9 AM and do not start between 4 and 6 PM if you can avoid it.) It can be very busy in those trains, standing only for most people and at times packed in like sardines in a tin.
Tickets for children are cheaper but the age limit for the cheap tickets is quite low compared to other countries. In the Netherlands children 4 up 11 (included) travel for €2.50 per day. It is called 'Rail runner'.
As far as I understand children in Belgium pay even less, under conditions. Children up to 3 (included) travel for free in both countries. Again, France and Germany will have like rules, cheaper for children, but you best check out the websites I linked to above.
Older 'children' up to 25 years of age might be able to get cheaper tickets for some international trains. If booking online, fill out the age part of the travelers information. When buying tickets at a station, mention ages when asking for the tickets.
The fast trains in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France, Thalys, Eurstar, TGV, ICE, do not allow you to stop and take a later train. With these trains you buy a ticket with a seat reservation and you need to be on that train to make use of it. The only exceptions for the fast trains to and in France are if your connecting train is delayed (get proof of the delay if possible) or when the whole of the network is disturbed as with strikes and storms and even then there are restrictions on some of the trains.
The ICE system seems to allow more 'hop on with a valid ticket and a surcharge ticket' but do check as not all are included in that system.
In France the 'normal' trains for long distances have disappeared but the TGV has taken over the role. You need to have a reservation for one particular TGV but there are several options for 'easy to exchange for an other train' and 'if you have missed your train have come to the window (or staff on a train) and ask for how to go on'.
Local trains are still 'all trains on the day' or even 'buy a ticket and validate it on the day you want to use it, on that day it is valid on all trains on the route, so stop off is possible.'
The disadvantage of the local trains in France is that they are often very local and depending on the local needs, may not run often.
In Germany the tickets for the local and regional trains as well as some rare long distance trains which are not high speed are valid for all trains on the day.
If you have missed your train for which you have a reserved seat, non high speed, you can just take the next without a reservation, you stand a good chance to find a free seat but non is guarantied.
Thanks to @Relaxed and @mts for information on the French and German railways, see comments on Q and this A.
A railpass might work out for you, but most people find that when you mostly travel in Belgium and the Netherlands your rail pass is more expensive than the tickets would be.
In France you can get such good deals of the fast trains if you book ahead and are a bit flexible, rail passes might work out but your best use of the pass is using the slow trains which are not as expensive close to the day.
Germany is in the same league, you might get your money's worth, it is rather likely that you will not, it all depends on how far in advance you are willing to book your tickets and how much you will travel.
Eurail is the pass for people from outside Europe, InterRail the pass for people who are European or are resident there.
And read what the Man in Seat 61 has to say about it.
Especially the "Eurail pass versus point-to-point tickets - read before buying a pass!" fourth item on his list. Or the InterRail version.
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:18
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
answered Mar 7 '17 at 19:03
Willeke♦
30.6k1086162
30.6k1086162
TGV are the new normal in France. There are relatively few other long-distance trains left at this point. You can still use local trains (“TER”, i.e. “regional” trains) to travel longer distance by chaining them together but you should not think of the TGV as an unusual train like the Thalys might be in the Netherlands.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 16:52
@Relaxed, am I right in that you can not just hop on any TGV, that you need a ticket for the one train?
– Willeke♦
Mar 8 '17 at 16:53
1
Yes, that's right, with the caveat that some tickets can be changed relatively easily even after the train has left. But you can't buy an open ticket or hop on the train, you have to have a seat booked (“réservation obligatoire”) and in some station there is personnel filtering access to the platform. And you are right about the local trains too. It's just that there is no “normal” trains left between those two, the TGV gradually replaced most of the former long-distance train network.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 20:57
add a comment |
TGV are the new normal in France. There are relatively few other long-distance trains left at this point. You can still use local trains (“TER”, i.e. “regional” trains) to travel longer distance by chaining them together but you should not think of the TGV as an unusual train like the Thalys might be in the Netherlands.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 16:52
@Relaxed, am I right in that you can not just hop on any TGV, that you need a ticket for the one train?
– Willeke♦
Mar 8 '17 at 16:53
1
Yes, that's right, with the caveat that some tickets can be changed relatively easily even after the train has left. But you can't buy an open ticket or hop on the train, you have to have a seat booked (“réservation obligatoire”) and in some station there is personnel filtering access to the platform. And you are right about the local trains too. It's just that there is no “normal” trains left between those two, the TGV gradually replaced most of the former long-distance train network.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 20:57
TGV are the new normal in France. There are relatively few other long-distance trains left at this point. You can still use local trains (“TER”, i.e. “regional” trains) to travel longer distance by chaining them together but you should not think of the TGV as an unusual train like the Thalys might be in the Netherlands.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 16:52
TGV are the new normal in France. There are relatively few other long-distance trains left at this point. You can still use local trains (“TER”, i.e. “regional” trains) to travel longer distance by chaining them together but you should not think of the TGV as an unusual train like the Thalys might be in the Netherlands.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 16:52
@Relaxed, am I right in that you can not just hop on any TGV, that you need a ticket for the one train?
– Willeke♦
Mar 8 '17 at 16:53
@Relaxed, am I right in that you can not just hop on any TGV, that you need a ticket for the one train?
– Willeke♦
Mar 8 '17 at 16:53
1
1
Yes, that's right, with the caveat that some tickets can be changed relatively easily even after the train has left. But you can't buy an open ticket or hop on the train, you have to have a seat booked (“réservation obligatoire”) and in some station there is personnel filtering access to the platform. And you are right about the local trains too. It's just that there is no “normal” trains left between those two, the TGV gradually replaced most of the former long-distance train network.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 20:57
Yes, that's right, with the caveat that some tickets can be changed relatively easily even after the train has left. But you can't buy an open ticket or hop on the train, you have to have a seat booked (“réservation obligatoire”) and in some station there is personnel filtering access to the platform. And you are right about the local trains too. It's just that there is no “normal” trains left between those two, the TGV gradually replaced most of the former long-distance train network.
– Relaxed
Mar 8 '17 at 20:57
add a comment |
The question is somewhat unclear bu here are a few pointers
- Amsterdam to Belgium by train is easy and (often) affordable. You can book this directly and conveniently at https://www.nsinternational.nl/en AMS to Brussels is as cheap as 20 Euro in April or 30 Euro in May
- Booking online at least a month ahead is considerable cheaper than buying at the station
- Whether you can do intermediate stops depends on the specific fare. If stops are allowed, the ticket tends to be a bit more expensive. Check the fare rules
- Germany and France are NOT on the way. This would require considerably longer travel and a different approach. If you want to do multiple countries on multiple days with multiple stops consider something like this http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
add a comment |
The question is somewhat unclear bu here are a few pointers
- Amsterdam to Belgium by train is easy and (often) affordable. You can book this directly and conveniently at https://www.nsinternational.nl/en AMS to Brussels is as cheap as 20 Euro in April or 30 Euro in May
- Booking online at least a month ahead is considerable cheaper than buying at the station
- Whether you can do intermediate stops depends on the specific fare. If stops are allowed, the ticket tends to be a bit more expensive. Check the fare rules
- Germany and France are NOT on the way. This would require considerably longer travel and a different approach. If you want to do multiple countries on multiple days with multiple stops consider something like this http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
add a comment |
The question is somewhat unclear bu here are a few pointers
- Amsterdam to Belgium by train is easy and (often) affordable. You can book this directly and conveniently at https://www.nsinternational.nl/en AMS to Brussels is as cheap as 20 Euro in April or 30 Euro in May
- Booking online at least a month ahead is considerable cheaper than buying at the station
- Whether you can do intermediate stops depends on the specific fare. If stops are allowed, the ticket tends to be a bit more expensive. Check the fare rules
- Germany and France are NOT on the way. This would require considerably longer travel and a different approach. If you want to do multiple countries on multiple days with multiple stops consider something like this http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
The question is somewhat unclear bu here are a few pointers
- Amsterdam to Belgium by train is easy and (often) affordable. You can book this directly and conveniently at https://www.nsinternational.nl/en AMS to Brussels is as cheap as 20 Euro in April or 30 Euro in May
- Booking online at least a month ahead is considerable cheaper than buying at the station
- Whether you can do intermediate stops depends on the specific fare. If stops are allowed, the ticket tends to be a bit more expensive. Check the fare rules
- Germany and France are NOT on the way. This would require considerably longer travel and a different approach. If you want to do multiple countries on multiple days with multiple stops consider something like this http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
answered Mar 7 '17 at 17:44
Hilmar
19.8k13164
19.8k13164
add a comment |
add a comment |
1
So you want to stop at a train station, perhaps sleep there and then repeat and rinse. Are you 27 or younger when you start your trip? (No need to post your actual age.)
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 4:39
2
This is not WANTA, the question is poorly worded but I believe OP wants an EURail pass, was trying to ferret that out with my comment above.
– chx
Mar 7 '17 at 10:52
@mts why take out the tags if the OP has included them and is not been back to tell they are not to the point? You have made my answer being 'off topic' for at least a part, while I answered based on the tags as were there.
– Willeke♦
Mar 12 '17 at 9:31
@Willeke please un-do my edit if you deem it unjust. I find context given in the form of tags insufficient and do not see how family and children come into play from reading the Q. I am also of the firm opinion that the Q should be closed as unclear, as mentioned in chat and above. OP is unregistered and has not come back to clarify which further reduces my sympathies for the Q. However I have now read your answer (+1) which is great and see how it misses context given my tag edit. Also, regional train (RB+RE) tickets in Germany are valid for any such train on the indicated itinerary.
– mts
Mar 12 '17 at 9:59