Dave . US

I'm going to Belgium on holiday in 3 weeks and would like advice on
the easiest way to obtain a B-Tourrail rail pass. As I understand it,
the pass gives me 5 days of unlimited rail travel within Belgium in a
month and the days need not be consecutive. I'm going to be traveling
from the U.S. through Paris and taking the Thalys to Brussels. Should
I get the pass before I leave the U.S. or is it available in the
stations in Belgium?

Thanks in advance!
Dave

Also, are there reasonably priced calling cards available to call back
to the U.S. from Belgium? Again, should I get that in Belgium or
before I leave the U.S.?

Freda

Wouldnt the Eurail pass be better?
This would only need a reservation supplement
(so long as you have France as one of your countries)
for your Thalys trip. Or does the B-Tourrail also give same to you.
look at
http://www.acpmarketing.net/eurail-acprail.htm
and
http://www.railpass.com/new/order/
and
http://www.railpass.com/EURAIL/PASSES/erselectDrive.htm
and
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail.htm
and
http://www.budgettravel.com/eurorail.htm
for various bits of information on types available etc.
Online ordering can be done on railpass.com above


--
Please reply to the list as my email address is a fake
"Dave.US" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'm going to Belgium on holiday in 3 weeks and would like advice on
    > the easiest way to obtain a B-Tourrail rail pass. As I understand it,
    > the pass gives me 5 days of unlimited rail travel within Belgium in a
    > month and the days need not be consecutive. I'm going to be traveling
    > from the U.S. through Paris and taking the Thalys to Brussels. Should
    > I get the pass before I leave the U.S. or is it available in the
    > stations in Belgium?
    > Thanks in advance!
    > Dave
    > Also, are there reasonably priced calling cards available to call back
    > to the U.S. from Belgium? Again, should I get that in Belgium or
    > before I leave the U.S.?

/<Rist

Freda wrote:
    > Wouldnt the Eurail pass be better?

If you're only visiting one country? I seriously doubt it.

The B-Tourrail Rail Pass does not exist anymore. The NMBS has been reducing
its available tickets and passes. There does exist an good alternative though,
if all you want is making day trips and do not intend to randomly rove around
the country.

The NMBS offers a product called the "Rail Pass". It costs 65 EURO and is
valid for ten single journeys between any two Belgian stations. The pass has
ten lines on it, and before starting your trip you just fill out the date and
your origin and destination on one of the lines. (You're supposed to use them
in order though). You can even travel with several persons on one pass. Just
fill out one line on it for each person.

So one pass will give you ten single trips, or five return trips, or one
return trip for a group of five persons... Combine it as you please.

If daytrips from Brussels is what you want to do this would be the thing to buy.

Krist

Dave . US

Thanks for the information. The rail pass would work well for me
since most of what I'll be doing will be either day trips or going
between one city to another for a quick overnight stay.

What is the best way to get a rail pass? Just buy it at the station
in Belgium upon arrival?

Thanks again!
Dave


"/<rist" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Freda wrote:
    >> Wouldnt the Eurail pass be better?
    >If you're only visiting one country? I seriously doubt it.
    >The B-Tourrail Rail Pass does not exist anymore. The NMBS has been reducing
    >its available tickets and passes. There does exist an good alternative though,
    >if all you want is making day trips and do not intend to randomly rove around
    >the country.
    >The NMBS offers a product called the "Rail Pass". It costs 65 EURO and is
    >valid for ten single journeys between any two Belgian stations. The pass has
    >ten lines on it, and before starting your trip you just fill out the date and
    >your origin and destination on one of the lines. (You're supposed to use them
    >in order though). You can even travel with several persons on one pass. Just
    >fill out one line on it for each person.
    >So one pass will give you ten single trips, or five return trips, or one
    >return trip for a group of five persons... Combine it as you please.
    >If daytrips from Brussels is what you want to do this would be the thing to buy.
    >Krist

/<Rist

Dave.US wrote:
    > Thanks for the information. The rail pass would work well for me
    > since most of what I'll be doing will be either day trips or going
    > between one city to another for a quick overnight stay.
    >
    > What is the best way to get a rail pass? Just buy it at the station
    > in Belgium upon arrival?

Just buy it at any ticket counter. If I'm not mistaken you can also get it
from ticket vending machines...

Krist

/<Rist

/<rist wrote:
    > Dave.US wrote:
    >
    >> Thanks for the information. The rail pass would work well for me
    >> since most of what I'll be doing will be either day trips or going
    >> between one city to another for a quick overnight stay.
    >> What is the best way to get a rail pass? Just buy it at the station
    >> in Belgium upon arrival?
    >
    >
    > Just buy it at any ticket counter. If I'm not mistaken you can also get
    > it from ticket vending machines...

Also, don't forget that we write the date differently in Europe when filling
out the pass...

Krist

Dave . US

;)
Thanks again


"/<rist" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >/<rist wrote:
    >> Dave.US wrote:
    >>
    >>> Thanks for the information. The rail pass would work well for me
    >>> since most of what I'll be doing will be either day trips or going
    >>> between one city to another for a quick overnight stay.
    >>> What is the best way to get a rail pass? Just buy it at the station
    >>> in Belgium upon arrival?
    >>
    >>
    >> Just buy it at any ticket counter. If I'm not mistaken you can also get
    >> it from ticket vending machines...
    >Also, don't forget that we write the date differently in Europe when filling
    >out the pass...
    >Krist

Lennart Petersen

"Dave.US" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    >>>> Thanks for the information. The rail pass would work well for me
    >>>> since most of what I'll be doing will be either day trips or going
    >>>> between one city to another for a quick overnight stay.
    >>>> What is the best way to get a rail pass? Just buy it at the station
    >>>> in Belgium upon arrival?
    >>> Just buy it at any ticket counter. If I'm not mistaken you can also get
    >>> it from ticket vending machines...
    >>Also, don't forget that we write the date differently in Europe when
    >>filling
    >>out the pass...
    >>Krist
If you want to extend your trips to the entire BeNeLux there's the Benelux
Pass available from ticket windows in Belgium ,Luxemburg(but for some reason
not in netherlands.
5day 1cl : Eu 189,2cl Eu 126. Also Thalys with a supplement.
For people residing in Europe there's also the EuroDomino, 3 days for
Belgium is at Eu 53 extra day is at Eu 8