Compare fares online. You'll be able to check schedules and compare fares for different classes of service and apply any applicable discounts.
Consider purchasing a rail pass if you will be continuing your travel by train. The Eurail Benelux-France Pass offers unlimited travel in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France for a two-month period. The starting price for the two-country Eurail pass is comparable to one round-trip ticket. See the Resources section for a link to Eurail. You can also book train travel from Belgium to Paris by calling Rail Europe at (888) 382-RAIL or by visiting the link below.
Splurge for a first-class ticket if you want more privacy and access to the station lounge. Sometimes these extra conveniences are worth the extra $100 or so.
Bring your bike. Check to make sure your specific train has bike racks before booking your ticket. Unfortunately, you cannot make reservations for the racks.
Pick up your tickets at the station. This is the easiest way to get your tickets and you lessen the chance of losing them before you make it to Belgium.
Be prepared to make friends. Traveling on European trains is not as isolated as in the United States. Seats face each other and even sleeping berths are shared. Expect someone to strike up a conversation.
Plan to arrive at the Paris Station, Gare de Nord, from Brussels. The station is a tourist attraction in itself, but it offers easy access to transportation to your final destination.
Expect to cover the 200 miles from Brussels, Belgium, to Paris in just under an hour and a half. The trip will be quick, but bring a magazine or book to pass the time if you are traveling alone.
Keep watch on your luggage. You'll carry on your bags and either store them at the end of the car or overhead, depending on the train. On crowded trains, thieves find it easy to rummage through bags, so make sure they are secure before you wander around the train.
