Originally Posted by milepig
- is there a full ticket station at the airport, or do I need to go to the station in Brussels itself?) I figure I can buy the tix for Paris when I arrive in Strasbourg three days before the trip to Paris and again can buy the ticket for Paris to Brussels when I arrive in Paris. In any of these cases will I run into problems with fully booked trains or the inability to reserve a seat?
Yes, there is a rail ticket office at Brussels National Airport where you would be able to buy Belgian and international rail tickets. Or you can try
this, which is the official site for Belgian Rail.
For Paris-Brussels I recommend you book online and print your ticket - you may be able to take advantage of Last Minute tickets - these are only available online and offer a saving of 50% over the normal one-way fare.
Last Minute tickets are only available to purchase a maximum of 6 days in advance of departure so I would book as soon as tickets open for sale (every Tuesday for travel the following Monday thru Sunday). Only valid off-peak on selected trains and days and are non-changeable.
Seat reservations are compulsory on Thalys and included when you purchase your ticket.
http://www.thalys.com/fr/en/odm_vsc