I got cheap (nearly free!) Ryan Air flights to Brussels. The plan is to arrive in Brussels and take the train to Amsterdam, spend 3 nights there and then return to Brussels for a day/night before flying home.
I%26#39;m going with my girlfriend who is 25 so considered a youth as far as fares go.
When I first checked train prices they were about 80 EURO return for both of us. Now for the life of me I cant find the same journey for less than about 140 EURO.
The bus is 30 EURO for both of us return but to get the bus we need to go from Charlerio %26gt; Brussels MIDI %26gt; Brussels North. Our flight gets in at 14:45 and the next bus is at 16:30. We probably wont make that so will have to get the 18:30 bus arriving in Amsterdam at 22:00. The train would have had us there a couple hours earlier than that.
So... does anyone know of a website where I can get cheaper train tickets? The Thalys website lists fares at 19 EURO each way if booked 30 days in advance but I cant find anywhere to book these on their site!
thalys.com/be/en/new-fares/Brussels/Amsterdam
Failing that is there a direct bus/train service to Brussels North station that would allow us to get the earlier bus. We only have hand luggage so would have 1hr 45mins from when the plane lands (if its on time) until the time we have to be at the bus.
Any help appreciated.
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Arriving at Charleroi Airport at 14:45, the first shuttle you can take (if it leaves on time: my experience is that it can sometimes hang around waiting is at 15:15, which COULD get you to Brussels for 16:00 (or 16:15 according to their own estimate). It is only about 10 minutes from Midi on the underground tram to Gare du Nord, but you would have to allow at least another 10 for walking to the metro station and buying tickets, and then you have to come up to level 0 and would have to already have your Eurolines ticket to be able to jump straight on the bus. Might be worth trying as long as there is no price penalty if you miss this bus and have to take the next one, because a) you can%26#39;t wait to buy the ticket just before departure and b) it%26#39;s cheaper in advance anyway.
There is no website for cheap train fares (other than e.g. e-bay for resales): if you don%26#39;t buy from Thalys you can only buy from one of the national rail companies, see http://www.b-rail.be/int/E/
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Thanks for the info. I think we%26#39;re going to be extremely pushed to make the first bus and as its promo fares I doubt the times are flexible. I suppose we could buy tickets for the 18:30 and if we%26#39;re there in time for the 16:30 see if they%26#39;ll let us on.
Are there plently of places to eat near both the North and South stations in Brussels?
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Also I%26#39;ve just checked the link to the rail site. Why is it not possible to book a ticket for an adult and a youth at the same time?
If I choose adult in the top box I only get children in the bottom and the same happens if I choose youth in the top box. I can add 1 adult, 1 youth!
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That should say CANT add 1 adult, 1 youth.
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