Has anyone been on the Eurostar train to Paris from london?

Question

Do you need to book months in advance to get a decent price?

Would you recommend it?

Answer 1

Yes. It's a good way to get to Paris, especially Eurodisney. here is some info about prices//

Information based on our recent experience. We discovered that the cheapest Eurostar fares of £29.50 each way are not always available on the day booking opens.

For example, we needed to use the 13.41 train from Waterloo to Lille for our journey from north-west England to the south of France but were happy to travel on June 11, 12 or 13. When booking opened for these dates in mid-February, the outward journey cost £44.50 and this remained the case when our return journey became available, so we booked a return departing on June 11.

A few days ago I noticed that tickets were available at £29.50 for this train on all these dates. We queried this with staff at the Eurostar terminal in Brussels on a recent visit and were told that the higher starting prices were due to large group bookings being made as soon as booking opens. We were also told that sometimes the tour operators hand back unsold seats and so the best price can fall back to £29.50.

Gill Charlton replies

Eurostar confirms this experience: "On exceptionally rare occasions, this does happen. Eurostar sells tickets to the general public and also provides large amounts in block bookings to tour operators for onward sale. On occasion, these seats are not sold in their entirety and the tour operator will release them back to Eurostar. This sudden availability can result in a reduction in selling price for a small number of seats."

There is a new booking "tool" on Eurostar's website (www.eurostar.com) to help customers find services in the next 120 days that still have tickets for sale at £29.50. To access this, click the "Latest Deals" button on the Eurostar home page, then click the "On a Budget" box that comes up and work through the monthly calendars showing days when £29.50 seats are still available.

Answer 2

yes i went and thought i was an awesome experience, highly recommend it

Answer 3

Yes, no - you get ripped off on the day too. Its only in Summer when they are busy that the silly deals appear.

Answer 4

Yea if been in it. And yes its best to order some months in advance, I think 2 months in advance is half the price (thought it is 80€ then).

Its a great way to travel, if you aren't alone, because once inside the tunnel there is nothing to see anymore :p

Answer 5

Yep, I agree with david...first class is very good!! Book online at least 2weeks before departure and it can be very cheap ,also the eurostar goes direct to the alps and avignon.

Answer 6

I would reccomend it.

I have been to Paris first class and to Brussels second class.

Book a few weeks ahead as the number of seats at each of the cheaper tarrifs is limited.

If you can, take one of the first class tarrifs (the ones that include the 3 course meal). We paid an extra £20 each way for the first class and enjoyed a superb meal both ways. Choose the right train, as some have 'light' meals only.

I am looking forward to Nov 15 when St Pancras terminal opens, as I live 100 miles north of London, on the midland main line.

Answer 7

I would book as far from the travel date as possible for the best rate. I booked the eurostar about 3 months in advance and it only cost approx $90.

Answer 8

Just as an example, in June 2007 I took a trip from London to Paris on the Eurostar and bought our tickets 30 minutes before the train left.  They cost 300 pounds (~$600) for two people!!  OUCH!!  But we had to catch up with our tour group so it was very necessary!!

The Eurostar is yummy though.  Very comfortable, clean and relaxing!  Not to mention -- FAST!!