+1 Agree.matty223 wrote:i would take 2 night off of Paris and add them to Amsterdam
The reason I was in France for 3 nights was because one was day trip to Normandy beaches.
Otherwise it looks like a nice trip! My advice......NEVER EVER PAY FOR SEAT RESERVATION WHEN YOU HAVE EURAIL GLOBAL PASS!!!!!!!!!!!! The conductor (guy who checks tickets) has the ability (carries CC machine) to make you pay on site if you do not have a seat reservation when they are mandatory.
Why is this useful information? Sounds like i am paying either way?
MAYBE!!.... depending on how full the train is, the conductor very well may just hand you back your EURAIL GLOBAL depending if he wants to dick around to make you pay for seat. We think it happened to us twice but can't be certain. After I paid 180 EURO for 2 seat reservations from AMS-to-France I lost it and never got another one!! Some countries have lower seat reservation prices than others. Italy was only 10 euro per person.
Regular trains AND HIGH-SPEED Trains do NOT fill up, and on the VERY rare chance they do there is standing room. I know everything says "Seat reservations mandatory" for high speed and a few others (disregard this advice for overnight train as you need a bed to sleep) but since im telling you they can make you pay for the seat reservation on the train, just dont waste your time or possibly money doing it! You will still get where you need to go once your on the train!
Further more i dont trust the people at the windows selling reservations like i trust the conductor. Are they getting a service charge for the "convince" ???? One conductor did tell us there is a 5 euro penalty for boarding without reservation, but i didnt care because i think we got away with it a few times playing the dumb tourist.
My girl is great, she didn't fear having to stand, because she was confident there were always open seats. The train system in Europe is really a modern marvel in my eyes. Moves everyone so efficiently. Amazing trip. Can't wait to go back.....if Amsterdam shuts down ill just make a stop by Uncle Ron's farm!