Brussels Travel Forum

I just purchased tickets from brussels to paris on line for May 16, 9 am. I need to retrieve them from an "ATM at a SNCF boutique". Is such a place located right at the Brussels Midi station? How far in advance of departure time should I do this? thank you

If you really do have to go to a SNCF boutique (= shop), there is only one in Brussels and it isn't right at Gare du Midi, it's a couple of stops way on the metro (to Louise) in the Galerie Louise.
However, I would guess that the reference is to the Thalys ticket machines right by the entrance to the Thalys platforms at Gare du Midi, around platform 4 (to the left of the Eurostar Terminal if you are facing this). In order to avoid problems, I would do it as far in advance of your train's departure as possible, e.g. on your first day in Brussels: if by any chance you can't get your ticket from the machine and do need to go to the SNCF boutique, you would of course need to know this with a couple of hours to spare (and when the shop is open - which is Mon-Sat no later than 18.30!).

I am going in the opposite direction, Paris Brussels and return. I have bought 2 tickets online and I have opted for the printing option. My question is, has anyone had any experience with tickets printed at home and how do you use them at the SNCF station?

As you would be starting in Paris (Gare du Nord), you might need to ask this question in the Paris forum - as regards any e-ticket used at any French railway station. However as far as I know, they work just like any other train ticket in France, which means you have to stamp them ("composter") in the orange machine at the entrance to the platform, before you get on the train. Unless by any chance there isn't such a machine at the entrance to the platform for Thalys trains, but I seem to remember doing this the last time I travelled that way.