Eurostar from london - paris?
 

Anyone done this trip? Any comments on the wherefores and the whys of making the trip.......

Any info would be greatly appreciated....thanks

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

You get on the train in london and get off at paris. It's more convenient than flying if you are based in central london.

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

Its very quick and convenient. However I prefer joining at Maidstone and taking the car with us, then you can run over the French on the wrongside of the road but more importantly you can travel easier

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

Have flown, Eurostar and ferried over to France from the UK and can truly say that the Eurostar is THE best way.

Make sure you stay close to Gard duNord train station and you can get anywhere in Paris

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

I treated my hubby to a romantic trip to Paris via the Eurostar. He gets travel sick, so sickness tablets were taken, our assigned seats were facing backwards, there were delays, I think it took 4 hours to get to Paris. To cut a long story short, the train was again delayed on the return journey, train staff said they would assist those with ongoing connections. They didn't, they didn't give a doggy chocolate. We legged it to Kings Cross to see our final train home leaving the station. The only other train heading our way was going as far as Welwyn Garden City, we decided a taxi from there would be cheaper than from London so jumped on that train.

Luck was on our side, we pulled into Welwyn and there was a train sitting there, someone had pulled the emergency cord - yep, you guessed it, it was our train!

So would I travel by Eurostar again? Yep probably but I wouldn't expect any customer service as there isn't any, I also wouldn't bother with a timetabled day and I'd only go if the tickets were on a really good offer. I'd also make sure I was sitting on seats facing the way the train was going - even I got travel sick, and as a rule travel sickness isn't my thing.

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

I've done this trip 5 times. Once was peasant class the rest were carying degrees of business and first. I love the trip. There are often special offers on where you only pay a little more to travel business class. This is worth it as you get breakfast and dinner including booze. This saves on restuarant prices or take out.

Its a great experience. Now its in St Pancras I would think it's even better as ST Pancras terminal is wonderful. It's all a bit shabby at the Paris end but that's Paris for you. The restaurant opposite Gare du Nord is fine. Brasserie du Nord or somesuch if you are travelling steerage

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

It's fab, and very quick, but it is more expensive than ferries or flights (budget airlines booked far in advance).

We're flying to France in October for a long weekend to stay with friends and it's only costing us £38 for all of us (2 adults and 2 children), including taxes.

If we'd gone Eurostar, it would have been around £80-100 each, so far more expensive but probably easier all in all.

:)

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

I used to travel to Paris frequently with work (once a week for about a year and once a month for 2 years) and always flew from Heathrow mainly because of the convenience. When we pop to Paris for a day or weekend we tend to use the Eurostar.

I find the overall travel time is very similar either way so that's not an issue. Cost-wise i found to be very similar too unless you take the train from CDG into Paris then it's usually cheaper to fly.

The huge benefit of Eurostar is the fact that you jump on the train and get off right in the centre of Paris (horrible area but a short walk or can ride gets you to the nicer parts.

So the bottom line is, if you have easy access to St Pancras then Eurostar is the way to go. If you have easy access to the airport, then fly.

All in my opinion of course.

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

I have taken the Eurostar Waterloo to DisneyParis and Waterloo to Belgium; each trip was easy and hassle free. We also took the Eurostar on a coach trip UK - Paris and it was cheap and easy.

I was surprised a got a little motion sick and had to try really hard not to think too much about the reality of a tunnel but loved it.

Try moneysavingexpert.com for current deals.

TG

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

Thank you everyone, especially those that left detailed messages. It will be a great help in deciding whether to fly (again) or take the eurostar to paris (if that is where we end up).

Karma sent to everyone.....

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

My granddaughter I took Eurostar from Ashford to Gare du Nord. We stayed near there. Hotel was not fancy, but we were only staying one night and it was perfectly clean and the breakfast was just fine. We took the Open bus tour which was in a little street opposite Gare du Nord.

We ate in a little restaurant near to that Brasserie that someone mentioned. They were very nice a friendly and my granddaughter wanted familiar food, which was just fine with me.

I guess the area round Gare Du Nord is not the best. There are lots of Arabs/ North Africans -- not sure what but they seemed fine to me. I would not hesitate to stay there again, but probably only for one or two days. My granddaughter thought the Montmartre was not very nice.

Next time we are staying at the Hotel de Crillon, but we have to save up the $14,000 a night or whatever for the best suite!!

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

I've never taken the Eurostar from Waterloo International to Paris, but am planning on doing so when back in the UK as the OH has never been to Paris.

I have made the trip from Ashford over to Calais a few times and it's a very swift and pleasant experience, or at least it wad for me.

Makes a nice change from taking the Ferry over.

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

It now departs from St Pancras (Kings Cross).

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

So what's the point of Waterloo International now then?

If I recall, there is some new station somewhere in Essex, near Lakeside I think. It's got some odd name, that I do know. Has the move to Kings Cross been to enable travel to this new station, whereas on the other route it would not have been possible?

One of the reasons I'd never taken the Eurostar from Waterloo was that it was a bit of a pain. I'd have to get the train up to Waterloo East, change to Waterloo International. Seemed more direct to simply cut out the middle bit and drive down to Ashford.

Re: Eurostar from london - paris?
 

I take it you mean Folkestone, rather than Maidstone? I suppose that it depends whether you want to take a car or not. For visiting Paris itself, I would go for Eurostar, and use the Metro/RER etc to get around the city.