European Rail Travel - Eurorail Pass vs buying individual tickets for CDG-Lille-Brussels-Brugge-Brussels-CDG

Now that I have decided which trains to take (see link to thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/european-rail-travel/1229822-can-one-paris-airport-train-go-luxembourg-then-go-brussels.html). my questions relate to how best to buy the tickets, and whether to reserve seats on certain trains in advance.

To reiterate:


There are 2 of us.




We will be arriving at CDG from Paris in about 2+ weeks - on a Wed. (around 10 AM).




We will then want to go to Lille, and stop there overnight.




We will go from Lille to Brussels on Thursday and stay there over 3 nights.




We will one to take a return trip to Brugges on one of the days we are staying in Brussels.




We come back from Brussels to CDG on Sunday.




We therefore will be on the train for 4 days - CDG airport to Lille; Lille to Brussels, Brussels to Brugges to Brussels, and finally Brussels to CDG.




I am interested in the Eurorail pass - the France-Benelux pass for 2 people, covering 4 days of travel (over 5 actual days we are there). It seems that the Eurorail pass for first class (for 2 people) is not that much more expensive than that for second class (ie US$379 per person for first class, and US$329 for second class) - so I am interested in the first class ticket option.




How does the price compare with buying (perhaps first class tickets) for the individual segments, while in Europe?




I am still learning about the issue about reserving specific departure times for TGV trains, if I have already bought the Eurorail pass. I have no issues reserving for all segments (for particular times of the departure) in advance, except for the initial CDG to Lille train. Sometimes, the transatlantic flight arrival can be quite late (a week ago, I went from YUL to GVA - the flight arrived 2 hrs late). So, for that first train, depending upon the arrival time of the plane - and the time to go through customs and immigration, and the time to pick up our bags - I can only go on the train once these steps are completed; therefore, the departure time can not be fixed in advance.




Will we get a reservation for 2 easily (ie at the last moment) on the CDG to Lille train segement, and in first class.




Thanks.

All TGV trains require reservations. At one time if you had a Eurailpass, you could reserve any available seat, and just pay the reservation fee. The TGV and Thayls trains now have a limited number of seats available for pass holders. If you want to just purchase tickets, the reservations are in general for a specific train and time, especially if it is a special "reduced" price ticket. You might try pricing tickets at http://www.sncf.com/, if they ask for a location, say you are in France, otherwise you will probably get directed to raileurope the official vendor for North America--they are known to charge much higher fees etc.

Where do you see these prices? The lowest I have been able to find was $434/$385 per person for first/second-class, 4-day France/Benelux passes (+ shipping - this was on Raileurope) and $425 per person for a first-class, 5-day, 3-country select saver pass on Eurail.

Where do you see these prices? The lowest I have been able to find was $434/$385 per person for first/second-class, 4-day France/Benelux passes (+ shipping - this was on Raileurope) and $425 per person for a first-class, 5-day, 3-country select saver pass on Eurail.

See this link:

the prices are slightly discounted (per person), if one buys at the "group" rate (ie tickets are purchased for a minimum of 2 people):

http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes/regional-pass/benelux-france

First of all, you probably do not need to travel first class. European trains are not like airplanes where the first class is treated like royalty and the economy class like serfs.

Looking at the TGV, you can go from CDG (Roissy) to Lille and then to Brussel for €56.50 return per person. This is a discount rate if you travel on a weekend. The normal price is €75 return per person. From Brussel to Brugge, there is a summer fare of €15 return per person on the weekend or €26 return per person other times.

So, all trains would cost for two people €143 on the weekend or €202 during the week.

First of all, you probably do not need to travel first class. European trains are not like airplanes where the first class is treated like royalty and the economy class like serfs.

Looking at the TGV, you can go from CDG (Roissy) to Lille and then to Brussel for €56.50 return per person. This is a discount rate if you travel on a weekend. The normal price is €75 return per person. From Brussel to Brugge, there is a summer fare of €15 return per person on the weekend or €26 return per person other times.

So, all trains would cost for two people €143 on the weekend or €202 during the week.

I can go from Brussels to Brugge return on Saturday - so I would pay 15 euros return.

I can come back from Brussels to CDG (Roissy) on Sunday - so I would get a discount rate there.

However, I would go on the train from CDG (Roissy) to Lille on Wed, and Lille to Brussels on Thurs - so no weekend discount there.

I presume your fares are second class fares (I have learned that the intra-Belgium trains only offer second class)?

Last fall, my wife and I went on a train from Milan to Lake Como in second class. The next day, we went on the same train from Milan to Lugano in first class. The first class section was much less crowded than the second class section - I think we would have an impossible time trying to place our 2 pieces of baggage (that we had brought over from Canada) in the second class compartment - there were no problems finding space to put the luggage in the first class compartment. If the TGV trains are similar to that train that we went on, these are the reasons we want to go on in the first class section of the train.

What is the advantage of the Eurorail pass, if the prices are more expensive by buying the pass, rather than the tickets for the trains individually?

I can go from Brussels to Brugge return on Saturday - so I would pay 15 euros return.

I can come back from Brussels to CDG (Roissy) on Sunday - so I would get a discount rate there.

However, I would go on the train from CDG (Roissy) to Lille on Wed, and Lille to Brussels on Thurs - so no weekend discount there.


Yes, just be sure to specify the dates of travel when you buy your tickets.


I presume your fares are second class fares (I have learned that the intra-Belgium trains only offer second class)?

I ride on Belgian trains a lot and to be honest, I've never even noticed if there is a first class.


Last fall, my wife and I went on a train from Milan to Lake Como in second class. The next day, we went on the same train from Milan to Lugano in first class. The first class section was much less crowded than the second class section - I think we would have an impossible time trying to place our 2 pieces of baggage (that we had brought over from Canada) in the second class compartment - there were no problems finding space to put the luggage in the first class compartment. If the TGV trains are similar to that train that we went on, these are the reasons we want to go on in the first class section of the train.

The availability of seats is the main reason for travelling first class. However, weekend travel there should be no problem with seats in second class. For your weekday travel, try to buy a seat in second class and if you can't get one, then you'll have to buy first class for that part of the trip.

What is the advantage of the Eurorail pass, if the prices are more expensive by buying the pass, rather than the tickets for the trains individually?

I'm not really sure. I guess convenience is the main reason.

Sorry, I just noticed I made a mistake on the Brussel-Brugge fare - the discount is available except on the weekend. So, you will need to pay €26 instead of €15 each. Sorry.

Last fall, my wife and I went on a train from Milan to Lake Como in second class. The next day, we went on the same train from Milan to Lugano in first class. The first class section was much less crowded than the second class section - I think we would have an impossible time trying to place our 2 pieces of baggage (that we had brought over from Canada) in the second class compartment - there were no problems finding space to put the luggage in the first class compartment. If the TGV trains are similar to that train that we went on, these are the reasons we want to go on in the first class section of the train.

TGV trains are not like regional trains shifting passengers around Milano. You can always reserve a seat on TGV and you are OBLIGED to do so if you intend to use a pass anyway. So there is no need to buy 1st class tickets on your routes.

What is the advantage of the Eurorail pass, if the prices are more expensive by buying the pass, rather than the tickets for the trains individually?

Eurorail makes a lot of money on the decades-long image they have built about train travel in Europe. Nowadays, virtually all international and high-speed trains require reservation.

Nowadays, virtually all international and high-speed trains require reservation.

For passholders, this is an over-generalisation since it very much depends on the country.

For example:
Germany - and international trains between Germany and Belgium/Netherlands/Denmark/Switzerland/Austria - hardly any trains require reservation.

Austria/Switzerland - hardly any trains require reservation.

France/Italy/Spain - all long-distance trains (and some others) require reservation.