Paris to Rotterdam

[NDiddy]

Hi everyone,

Was looking for some sage advice from AFF about booking TGV from Paris Nord to Rotterdam.

SWMBO and I fly in to Paris, TG F with a scheduled arrival at 7:05am. We need to get to Rotterdam and thought we'd take the train from Paris Nord. The conundrum we're facing is whether we should get a 10:16am train or the 12:13pm train.

I was leaning towards a semi-flexible Comfort 1 class at 10:16am which leaves us 3 hours to clear immigration, get our bags and make our way to Terminal 2 to catch the 30ish min train to Paris Nord.

I'm hoping that we will make the 10:16 but with semi-flexible tickets in hand we should be able to monitor our depature in BKK and make the change if we are delayed in leaving.

Does anyone think we're cutting it too fine and should just opt for the midday train? TIA

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well the good thing about trains out of Paris (and I have caught the one you are taking) is that you can arrive extremely close to departure. Essentially as long as the train has not left you can still board.

Paris arrivals I have found quick. Catching the train into Paris easy.

The main problem with your schedule is if your flight is late. I would go with the noon one.


If tickets are fully refundable book both online, and if you look to be departing Bangkok on time cancel the noon one before you depart (if that meets cancelation t&c).

 

[NDiddy]

Well the good thing about trains out of Paris (and I have caught the one you are taking) is that you can arrive extremely close to departure. Essentially as long as the train has not left you can still board.

Paris arrivals I have found quick. Catching the train into Paris easy.

The main problem with your schedule is if your flight is late. I would go with the noon one.

Cheers lovetravellingoz - Yeah the risk averse person in me is thinking that's the smart thing to do but the "adventurer" in me is thinking I should try and Amazing Race this Appreciate your insight though. Was looking through the last 2 weeks of TG flight performance and noticed that the landing times are anywhere between 6.30am and 7.30 am :/

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Have you landed at CDG before?

You get an travellator from a central arrivals area which goes underground to pick up your bags. You then walk to a shuttle train that takes you to the main train line. Buy your ticket from a ticket machine (when I was there last time not all credit cards worked and so was handy to have several different types).

Catching the fast trains is simple at the Gare du Nord. Though you may have to walk upstairs to find it from arriving underground. You look at the departure board as which platfor it will be departing from is often only posted up not long before departure. Once your train is their you just find the carriage you are booked into and jump on. The ticket conductor will check later once underway.

It was on this train actually that we boarded to find that a party of Americans Backpackers were in the Private Salon that I had booked for my family of 4 and where refusing to budge despite my telling them that it was reserved seating, our reserved seating, and that it was not a section where they could just sit anywhere.

http://static-v3a.raileurope-world..../thalys_interior_salon_01_gallery_2-6d014.jpg

So I had to wait for the conductor to arrive to evict them.

 

[marki]

Interesting TR thanks lovestotravel

 

[NDiddy]

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses. Ended up finding some 49 euro flights from CDG to AMS so decided not to risk the train connection time. We get into Leiden a couple of hours earlier than we would have with the train so happy with the outcome

Thanks for all the insight - it is greatly appreciated.