When is the best time to buy a Eurail ticket?

[L. A. McDaniel]

I have been given conflicting information as to when it is best to buy a Eurail ticket; in the states or after getting to the European country. We will need to buy a ticket from Belgium to Rotterdam to board our cruise ship and need to know if it is best to buy while still in the U.S. or to wait. I am told there is a surcharge for buying via the net. Does anyone have the answer to this question?

[Tesla]

Just save yourself the hassle I recommend buying a Eurorail ticket while in the states but you also have to do a reservation with the ticket. So buying the ticket by itself will not get you on the train you must also make and pay for a reservation. So I recommend buy the ticket in the US and make the reservation a day or two in advance before your planned departure.

[Globaliser]

I don't think you're looking for a Eurail (or Eurorail) ticket, anyway. It sounds like you just want a standard Belgian one-way ticket.

 

The website of the Belgian railway company (SNCB) is here. It'll be worth your while having a look to see whether you can buy online if you're outside Belgium, and how much extra (if anything) it would cost to do so.

 

Ine and HeinBloed may also have some better information about this.

[HeinBloed]

There are two types of trains from Belgium to the Netherlands:

 

1. THALYS (High-Speed-Train)

 

http://www.thalys.com

 

Reservation is mandatory. Sometimes LOCAL specials on their website if YOU are flexible.

 

or

 

2. InterCity (International Long-Distance-Service)

 

between Belgium and Netherlands you do not need a reservation as the trains are going every hour.

 

So you just buy the ticket at the station and board the train and look for a vacant seat or online:

 

http://www.b-rail.com

http://www.nshispeed.nl

 

Regards,

HeinBloed