Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ample, a ticket from Paris to Amsterdam on the Thalys high-speed train is $48 if purchased
far in advance, but the same ticket is $180 if purchased a few days before departure. Most tick-
ets are available for purchase about 90 days prior to departure.
The Eurostar train is the best way to travel from London to Paris, but book early because it can be very
expensive.
Eurostar tickets (the train that connects London and Paris) should be purchased as far in
advance as possible because the price skyrockets as the travel date, approaches. Tickets are
available six months before your travel date and you can save well over $200 by booking early.
In general, train tickets can be purchased between sixty and ninety days in advance so if
you have the ability to book early, you'll get the best deals. However, the prices for most of the
slower regional and commuter train routes that connect smaller towns and villages are fixed
so you simply pay for distance traveled. There is rarely any discount given for buying early, so
it's easiest to purchase a ticket at the ticket window or ticket machine.
Split ticketing.
Instead of purchasing a single ticket for a long journey, consider purchasing
two separate tickets for the same route. It's a little weird but sometimes it works. For example,
you want to go from Paris to Berlin. Along the route, the train will stop at Düsseldorf Station
so you would buy one ticket for Paris to Düsseldorf and then another for Düsseldorf to Berlin.
Just make sure you buy it for the same route. Sometimes, for whatever reason, this will greatly
reduce the cost even though it's the exact same train. It won't always work but it's worth trying.
However, be cautious if you need to change trains where you split the ticket because if your
first train is late, then you may be out of luck and miss your second train.
Higher prices for peak travel periods
. A lot of rail operators will charge a higher price for
the desirable morning and late afternoon travel periods. You can save a little money by choos-
ing a less desirable time.
Youth discounts
. Travelers under the age of 26 are often entitled to a fairly hefty discount
for train tickets. Indicate your age when booking in person or select your age when booking
online. Some countries sell special discount cards for young travelers that can be a good deal
if you travel within that country a few times. For example, France's rail service sells a
Carte
Jeune
discount card (50€) for travelers ages 18 to 27. This card, valid for a year, gives anywhere
from a 25% to 60% discount on train fare. It will usually pay for itself after two round-trip
tickets.
