Background:
I needed to get from Amsterdam Airport to Cologne to meet a friend for a visit. There are direct trains from Amsterdam, but they are very few and were either too early before I landed in Amsterdam, or way in the evening. So, I had to research some with connections, and the seemingly most comfortable and cost-efficient would be to book in advance on the high-speed trains with Thalys. One leg from Amsterdam Airport to Brussels, and the second leg from Brussels to Cologne. I booked Thalys Standard and Premium Class tickets and got to try out each for one leg.
First Leg: Standard (2nd Class)
I booked a standard (2nd Class) ticket from Amsterdam Schipol Airport to Brussels which was EUR 19 for the cheapest standard “Youth” fare, which is for those under 26. I purchased this ticket about a month in advance. Tickets can go up to EUR 89 on the day of departure, so if your travel schedule permits, it can be helpful to book ahead. The standard cheapest ticket is exchangeable and refundable without a fee until 7 days before the departure. The ticket is exchangeable with a EUR 15 fee until the departure time and refundable without a fee until 7 days before the departure.
Thalys Train
Someone was in my seat when I got on the train so I just went to another empty row. Unfortunately at the next stop, someone was assigned to the seat I took so I just bounced around again.
The seats are cushioned in red cloth, and contain Type C power plugs (make sure to bring an adapter if you use different power plugs). If you have the normal seats, there will be a tray table you can pull down to work on your laptop, or there are also seats that face each other with a table in between. When I booked my tickets on the Thalys website, they didn’t really let me choose my seats, but rather they assigned me a seat. Seats are comfortable and in a 2-2 configuration.
Thalys Standard Class (Seats that face each other)
Thalys Standard Class Seats
There was also Wi-Fi onboard and it was fairly easy to connect to and the internet worked throughout the ride.
Overall, a quick and easy way to get from Amsterdam to Brussels. No complaints here, and it was essentially the same experience I had when I took Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris back in 2019.
Second Leg: Premium (First Class)
The youth fare for premium (1st class) had a solid special for first class, and it was EUR 57. It was only EUR 12 more than the lowest Standard (second class) ticket at the time. The refundable Premium (first class) ticket can be changed or refunded until 1 hour after the train’s departure. There is another class, in between Standard and Premium called Comfort. Essentially, Comfort is a cabin that provides the Premium Class seat but no lounge access or food included. I wouldn’t mind Comfort, but for some reason, it was more expensive than Premium when I was booking.
Thalys Lounge at Brussels Midi:
I had about an hour to spare with my connection, and in Brussels, there is a Thalys Lounge. It’s right across the alley/street from the actual station.
Thalys Lounge Brussels
Outside of Thalys Brussels Lounge
It’s a very basic lounge, but much nicer than waiting at the station itself. Tea, coffee and water are available. The tea bags were provided by Palais Des Thés, which surprised me as that is a tea brand served at luxury hotels. There are also clean restrooms in the lounge which is a major plus. The lounge was quite empty during my noon visit on a Wednesday.
The Premium Seats are in a 1-2 configuration and offer more legroom than the standard seats. There are normal seats with a tray table that folds out from the seat behind you and those that face each other with a table.
Seats also recline and have power plugs.
Thalys Premium Class Seat
Premium Class Seating
After boarding, a meal service commenced which was a nice touch with Premium. The train from Brussels to Cologne is only 1 hour and 50 minutes but on Thalys, any international journey over 50 minutes has a meal service included.
Depending on the length of your ride, you are offered a bit different choices. The guy in front of me joined over an hour earlier from Paris and had larger plates to choose from. Those from Brussels, got smaller plates to choose from. Our choices were a broccoli pesto sandwich or a sweet pear pastry. These came with tea, juice and a soft drink. I opted for the broccoli pesto sandwich and it was actually pretty decent. I was also kind of hungry at the time, so most snacks would have been good for me to be honest.
Premium Class Meal Service (Brussels to Cologne)
Overall, I thought the meal service, plus 1-2 configuration with larger seats could definitely be worth it on crowded trains and if the upgrade fee is minimal. I’m happy I paid the extra 12 EUR.
The Verdict:
Thalys Standard and Premium Class were both comfortable ways to travel from Amsterdam, Brussels and Cologne. I would not hesitate to take them again for my future travels.
Have you been on the trains with Thalys Standard and Premium Class before? How was your experience? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
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As a frequent traveler, I always look for a comfortable and hassle-free experience, which is exactly what I found with Thalys Standard and Premium Class. The seats were spacious, the onboard amenities were top-notch, and the staff was friendly and attentive. The journey from Amsterdam to Brussels to Cologne was made even better with the help of the onboard storytelling session, which kept us engaged and entertained throughout the trip. I highly recommend Thalys to anyone looking for a smooth and enjoyable train ride with a touch of storytelling.