Originally Posted by
MareLuce
If you were traveling with family and luggage, would you choose:
Brugge ---> Paris NORD ---> Paris CDG
or
Brugge ---> Brussels ---> Paris CDG
Which path would you prefer and why?
Destination is a CDG airport hotel and then flight back to the states the next morning.
Take the second one.
In the first scenario you'd have to change trains at the Gare du Nord which can be very crowded and not easy if you aren't familiar with the station, and you'd be taking a commuter train out from the city centre to the airport.
If you change in Brussels (Zuid/Midi station), there aren't any stairs or anything to negotiate (one escalator up to the train to Paris), and the train from Brussels to Paris takes you straight inside the airport (next to where the commuter trains arrive from the city, in fact) and is a long-distance train with plenty of luggage space etc.
Just be careful that there aren't that many direct trains from Brussels to Paris-CDG - every couple of hours typically - so allow enough time at Brussels station to change. But there are some very good Belgian chocolate shops there :-) (and there aren't many direct trains from Brugge to Paris either)