Is it cheaper to book Dutch train tickets online in advance compared to paying on the day?
I am going to the Netherlands and might need to get a train. (Between Eindhoven and Amsterdam). On www.ns.nl (the large train operator that does that route), they list the price as €17.90ish. That's for booking it online.
However, I'm not sure what price it'd be if I were to turn up on the day and buy a ticket for the next train going that way.
Here in Ireland if you book train tickets online in advance, it's much cheaper than if you arrive in the train station and want to buy a ticket for the next train. (e.g. €20 online vs. €60 last minute in some cases). Is this the same in the Netherlands with NS or is it the same price regardless of when you book?
Update I don't care what sort of train to take, I just want to get from Eindhoven to Amsterdam.
Money isn't too much of an issue, I just don't want to be asked to pay €50 per ticket when I could have got it for <€20 had I only booked online!
Best Answer
No. The fares are fixed. You can get cheapers fares if you buy a reductioncard, where you will be entitled to a reduction of 40 % if traveling during off peak hours.
EDIT: @nsn makes a valid point. Fares are not influenced by booking earlier, but it is cheaper if you buy your tickets at the automatic vending machines. When you buy your tickets at the counter, you pay an employee fee.
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Is it cheaper to buy train tickets in advance or on the day?
Advance tickets are usually the cheapest way to travel by train, and generally go on sale 12 weeks before your date of travel. You have to travel on the train you're booked on, but you get a much cheaper price by foregoing flexible travel times.Is it cheaper to buy train tickets in advance or last minute?
Book 12+ weeks ahead for the cheapest fares Most people know if you book early, you can get cheaper train tickets, yet often these vanish quicker than empty seats on a peak-time journey. To ensure a bargain, the key is to start looking for tickets about 12 weeks before you want to travel.Do train tickets get cheaper closer to the date?
Most train companies release cheap advance tickets about 12 weeks before the date of travel, and they almost always go up in price over time. To get the best fare, it makes sense to book an advance ticket as soon as you can confirm the date and time you want to travel.What is the cheapest day to buy a train ticket?
Much like the airlines, train travel is cheapest if you travel between Tuesday and Friday. As a bonus, frequently check Railserve.com, which has Amtrak coupons on the regular.How To Buy Cheap Train Tickets - MY TOP SIX TIPS!
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