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Thalys train confusion!
Wed, 03/07/2007 - 15:44
desibabu
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After lot of analysis and help from Eurotrip discussion board I decided on Paris and Amsterdam.

I was searching for Thalys trains from Paris to Amsterdam, and found quite a confusing thing:
1) If I check tickets from tour websites they were costing around 160 EUROs
2) Same train ticket with everything same was costing me approx 72 EUROs from the thalys official web site!!

Now my questions are:
1) I am from India and staying in Finland for past couple of month, can I buy tickets from thalys website itself?
2) If yesthen why tickets from other websites are so costly?
3) If not pointers to buy tickets will be helpful
4) Any cheaper mode of transportation from Paris to Amsterdam?

Wed, 03/07/2007 - 17:12
#1
Wandrian
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What are your travel dates?

I have found the prices on http://www.railpass.com to be the same as on Thalys.com.

But I cannot find less than 101 euros ($137 USD) on several different dates.

Wed, 03/07/2007 - 17:15
#2
desibabu
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I am looking for 7 April late night or 8 April early morning. Most preferable 8 morning.

Wed, 03/07/2007 - 17:32
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Quote:
1) I am from India and staying in Finland for past couple of month, can I buy tickets from thalys website itself?
  Yes you should be able to buy tickets from the Thalys website.  If not, you can probably buy the tickets at any major train station in Europe for the same price.
Quote:
2) If yesthen why tickets from other websites are so costly?

The tour websites (I’m assuming you mean the sites that sell railpasses) generally charge about 35% more for train tickets than it costs to buy them in Europe.  There is little profit in selling railpasses, so point to point tickets and reservations are where these agencies make their profit.  Also, you’re getting a special price ftom the Thalys website.  That price isn’t necessarily available every day on every train.
Quote:
3) If not pointers to buy tickets will be helpful
4) Any cheaper mode of transportation from Paris to Amsterdam?
  For cheaper options, you can avoid the expensive Thalys trains by making some connections.  You need to make connections in Lille and Roosendahl.  You should be able to buy a youth ticket for around 70 euros or an adult ticket for about 90 euros.  You can also take a bus.  Check www.eurolines.com

Wed, 03/07/2007 - 17:46
#4
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I bought tickets from the Thalys site this way. I put France as my country, and English as my language, and then did the search and found my tickets. I chose the self-print option. Do not choose the mail option, because the system can’t handle mailling you a ticket outside the Thalys countries.