• Home
   
• Site map
  
• Buy train tickets
   
• Buy ferry tickets
   
• Book a hotel
   
• Railpasses
   
• Links
   
• News
   
• About me
   
• Contact
   
• Guestbook
 
• Privacy & cookies
  

2nd class seats on Thalys...  Panorama photo		A Thalys at Brussels...

Thalys cafe-bar...    Panorama photo		1st class seats on Thalys...    Panorama photo

Tips for travelling with Thalys...

• All Thalys trains have 1st & 2nd class seats and café-bar.  On Thalys, 1st class is marketed as Comfort 1, 2nd class as Comfort 2.

• Fares & ticketing:  How to buy tickets.  Like Eurostar, reservation is compulsory and all tickets include a seat reservation on a specific train.  If you want to stop off, that means two separate tickets.  Booking usually opens 92 days before departure.  Thalys fares work like air fares, rising as the cheaper tickets are sold.  For example, Paris to Amsterdam starts at €35 booked well in advance and rises to €130 for a fully-flexible ticket, so book as far ahead as you can!

• Boarding:  As with most European trains, there's no check-in, you just walk into the station, look at the indicator boards to find your train and get on, any time before it leaves.

• Luggage: You take your bags with you and put them on any suitable luggage rack near your seat.  If you can carry it you can take it, as within reason there are no baggage limits.  However, all luggage must be labelled with your name. 

• Seat numbering plan for Thalys:  Click here.

• Food & drink included in 1st class:  Comfort 1 fares include a complimentary meal served at your seat between Paris & Brussels, or drinks & snacks served at your seat between Brussels & Amsterdam or Cologne.

• Power sockets:  There are power sockets for laptops & mobiles (2-pin, 220v) at all seats in both Comfort 1 & Comfort 2.

• WiFi for laptops & smartphones is available on all Thalys trains, free of charge in Comfort 1, in Comfort 2 it costs €6.50 for 60 minutes or €13 for your whole journey.  You can log on and pay on board, or buy a card in the bar car.

• Baby changing facilities are available in cars 7, 17 & 27.  There are special family areas in cars 6 & 7.  Children under 12 are no longer allowed to travel alone on Thalys trains.

• Bikes:  Folding bicycles and bikes in zip-up bike bags no bigger than 120cm x 90cm are carried, but not undismantled bikes.  There's more detailed information at www.thalys.com.  For information on taking bikes by train in Europe, see the bike by train page.

• Dogs & pets:  Small dogs & pets in carriers no bigger than 55 x 30 x 30cm travel free, but larger dogs require a special ticket (not bookable online), see www.thalys.com for more details.  UK travellers should remember that Eurostar doesn't take dogs, see the Taking your dog by train page for alternatives.  Guide dogs go free on both Eurostar & Thalys.

• Wheelchair spaces are provided in cars 1, 11 & 21, together with wheelchair-accessible toilets.  There's more information for travellers with disabilities at www.thalys.com.

• Railpass holders must pay a special fare costing a whopping €39 in 2nd class, €62 in 1st class, if your pass covers all the countries you will pass through.  This is actually €3 more than the cheapest €35 fare you can get without a pass at www.thalys.com, so if you can pre-book it may be cheaper to buy a point-to-point ticket even if you have already bought a pass!  You cannot make passholder bookings at thalys.com, but you can make them (with a fee) online at www.raileurope.co.uk (UK residents), www.raileurope.com (USA), www.raileurope.ca (Canada) www.raileurope.com.au (Australia) or www.raileurope-world.com (residents of any other countries, select your country at top right).  See advice on railpasses.

• First class lounges at Amsterdam, Schiphol, Rotterdam & Cologne:  Anyone with a 1st class international ticket can use the elegant first class lounges at Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol, Rotterdam Central & Cologne Hbf, with complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks and beer.  In the Netherlands, look for signs to the 'NS HiSpeed lounge'.  In Germany, look for signs to the 'DB Lounge'.  First class railpass holders are admitted to the Dutch lounges, but not the German ones.

• First class lounges at Paris & Brussels:  Only holders of special frequent traveller cards can use the Thalys first class lounge at Brussels Midi (located in the Couloir Sud) and the Grand Voyageur lounge at Paris Gare du Nord.  If you want to use these lounges, go to www.thalysthecard.com and apply online for a free 'Thalys TheCard' before buying your Thalys ticket.  Then buy your 1st class Thalys tickets at www.thalys.com using your TheCard number.  Only after you make the first booking using your TheCard number will the card actually be sent to you by post.  Then you can then access the lounges in Brussels or Paris by showing both your Thalys TheCard and a 1st class Thalys ticket for that day.

A Thalys arrived at Paris Gare du Nord...		Cafe-bar car:  All passengers may use the Thalys cafe-bar car...		First class food:  An at-seat meal or snack is included in 1st class.

1st class lounges:  1st class travellers may use the lounges in Amsterdam, Rotterdam & Cologne.		An at-seat meal or snack is included in the 1st class fare.  This is an afternoon snack with wine...		Seating tip:  If you're a couple in 1st class, book a 'Club Duo' table-for-two, far nicer than 'Duo' side-by-side seats.

Thalys timetables, fares & how to buy tickets...

• You can buy Thalys tickets or check Thalys train times & fares at the Thalys website, www.thalys.com.  You print out your own ticket.  If you have any problems using www.thalys.com, try www.b-europe.com

• If you are travelling by Eurostar+Thalys from London to Amsterdam or London to Cologne, you can buy through tickets at either www.eurostar.com or www.b-europe.com.  You print out your own ticket.

• Passholder bookings cannot be made at Thalys.com, only from one of the Rail Europe agencies, see the passholder advice above.

Sponsored links...

Back to 'Rail travel to Europe' general page

Back to home page