Anna1013

I have a bunch of threads already going regarding this issue, and I had already made the decision to take a plane from LHR-CDG. However, one of our traveling companions asked if we should use the Eurostar - I initally rejected the idea thinking a plane would be easier, but since there are alot of issues, I want to get advice from others who may have used the route.

1. Here is our original itinerary:

We arrive into LHR, fly to Paris, spend a week in Paris, take a flight from CDG to Manchester, and eventually return to London for flight home.

On a Air France flight, LHR-CDG-MAN(all one-ways) would be $171 dollars(per person), which at the time seemed like a really good deal.

However, we arrive into LHR Terminal 3 at 10:05 am, and have to transfer to Terminal 2 for our AF flight that leaves at 2pm, which puts us into Paris at 4pm. After going through customs/baggage claim, we would be hopefully leaving CDG around 5:30pm, and now we will be in a shuttle for the total cost of 70 euros for 3 people, which will probably take 90 min to get us into Paris.

Total cost:

Flight from LHR-CDG: around $85
Shuttle from CDG-Paris: 25 euros
Shuttle from Paris-CDG: 25 euros
Flight from CDG-MAN: around $85

The major problem with flying would be transferring between Terminals, and having to be in rush hour traffic to get into Paris.

So, when my friend suggested the Eurostar, I thought because of all the transferring we need to do(along with being stuck in rush hour getting to Paris), perhaps the Eurostar would be a better option.

2. So, here is the suggested itinerary if we use the Eurostar:

Arrive LHR at 10am Terminal 3 and take either Heathrow Express/Tube to Waterloo station - I am correct in stating that neither of these options offer direct transfer from LHR-Waterloo?

After arriving at Waterloo, take the 1:40pm train to Paris, which arrives at 5:30pm - if we arrive into LHR at 10am, will we have enough time to get to Waterloo before 1:40pm train? Arrive at Gare de Nord and take a taxi to Paris apartment.

Total Cost:

Heathrow Express to Waterloo: 14 pounds?
or Tube to Waterloo: 4 pounds

Eurostar from London-Paris: $140rt on US site or 59 pounds rt on UK site - I've seen discussions on a better rate with the same day return, but don't know the price for this.

Taxi from Gare Nord to Aparment: 10-15 euros

Shuttle from Apartment to CDG: 25 euros

Flight from CDG-MAN: around $85


So, which option seems the best? Option 1 costs $220, and Option 2 costs around $279. Cost is an issue, but because the price difference isn't that extreme, the bigger issue is which option would be easier for us to handle?


Even if we buy a rt ticket, is it legal to just use it one-way? I see people being told to go to Eurostar.com and use UK as your home country, but could U.S. citizens still purchase those tickets?

travelhorizons

Why don't you fly directly from your U.S. gateway to CDG? Heathrow is a madhouse, well worth avoiding at any cost. It would probably cost less to fly directly to CDG than to take a separate flight from LHR-CDG.

Then, buy a CDG-MAN ticket (but check to see if the round-trip costs less than the one way! If so, just don't show up for the return flight)

Finally, fly back to the U.S. from Manchester. I think Continental Airlines flies to and from CDG and MAN. (Or, take your return flight back to Paris and fly home from CDG).

flybob

Stick with your original plan, less hassle and ok you will be sitting for the transfer into central paris- so what.

Anna1013

travelhorizons,

We can't fly straight into CDG since we have mileage tickets, and the only thing avaliable was LHR

travelhorizons

Congratulations on getting the award tickets!

I think you're better off flying from LHR to CDG... Check the price of a 3-leg "multiple destination flight": LHR-CDG-MAN-LHR. That might save you money.

Also, you could check prices/schedules flying into ORY instead of CDG.

janisj

There is no easy/simple/fast way to get from LHR to Waterloo. If one is staying in London I always recommend the Eurostar. But when you are arriving at LHR and need to get directly to Paris it doesn't make that much sense.

Now, you would have a long surface trip at one end or the other - either LHR to Waterloo, or CDG to central Paris. But the CDG into Paris is easier than the LHR to Waterloo.

I know from your other threads you don't want to use the RER - but hopefully you can convince your traveling companions that it makes the most sense.

The fastest, most sensible and economical route would be LHR > CDG > RER > St Michel.

Anna1013

Janisj,

Thanks for your reply - I just wanted to make sure that flying would be the best option.

If we did travel via Eurostar, do you think we would make it in time for a 1:40pm train to Paris?

nona1

You get there around the same time so the usual advantage of Eurostar (speedier when you are already in London) is lost.

You might as well save the money and hassle and fly as you are already at Heathrow.

alanRow

If you are already at Heathrow, then fly from Heathrow, any other option will involve a great deal of expense both monetary & timewise.

If possible I'd arrange my onward connection with the same airline that's taking me to Heathrow - you show be able to have the luggage checked through saving you a couple of hours going through immigration / collecting luggage / rechecking luggage & you should be able to get all the boarding passes at your departure point.

It also means that IF THINGS GO WRONG and you miss your onward flight that you can get a later flight at no (or little) cost

BTW if you are staying in London on your return DON'T fly from Manchester to London, just get the train - see the Virgintrains website & book 4-6 weeks in advance to get the cheapest tickets

W9London

If you have lots of luggage, flying LHR-CDG is less of a hassle. Both Paddington and Waterloo are big stations, and there will be stairs to manage. If your plane lands on time, you'll be queueing at passport control by 10:30, let's say clear the customs by 11:00-11:30 latest. By the time you get to Paddington, it will be after 12:00, then you need to walk across the concourse, go down to Bakerloo Line, buy the ticket and take the train to Waterloo (the ride itself is about 15min), get off at Waterloo, walk across to Eurostar hall, then pick up the ticket (you can do it on machine), and need to check in 30-45min before the train departure. You should have enough time to make it to 13:40 train, but it is a lot of schlepping IMHO.

Lori

You are at the airport - stay there and continue with your flight plans. It makes no sense to go into London from LHR. If you were already in London proper it would be ok, but from Heathrow just fly on over to Paris. Trust me dragging luggage on and off trains, taxi's, up and down stairs/escalators/whatever is NOT fun either. Keep your original plans.

Sue_xx_yy

One reason for keeping related questions in one thread is that you don't need to keep reminding people of the details of your itinerary. As I recall you're travelling on an award ticket, and flying to LHR was an option in that regard whereas flying to CDG was not.

This means that any ticket onward from LHR to CDG will be a separate ticket, ergo, no consideration given if your flight into LHR is late, etc.

Here's what I would do, particularly as you are coming all the way from Maui, according to your other threads: stay overnight in London and commute into Paris the next morning. You will have a chance to rest up from your long flight, as opposed to schlepping around first Heathrow, and then CDG when you are tired. This is supposed to be a vacation! It also provides a built-in buffer for late flight arrivals, etc.

As to whether you fly or take Eurostar, that depends on total cost. Flying means staying the night near LHR instead of in town, and also involves commuting to/from CDG, so you might want to consider the Eurostar (plus, on the return, a roundtrip rail ticket London-Manchester.)

Anna1013

Sue,

I totally understand keeping things in one topic, but sometimes another question will get lost since people are responding to the original topic.

Also, we can't spend a night in LHR since we already made our Paris acc., and hopefully the flight won't be as bad as Maui-LHR since we are stopping over in New York, so the flight we be from LGA-LHR.

suze

I would definitely suck it up and just make the one more plane trip, just make sure you have it booked also out of Heathrow (not Gatwick).

Robespierre

I would rather take the Airbus to Feltham, bus to Waterloo and settle in for the ride to Gare du Nord. I'm sipping my first beer by the time the air travelers get patted down, and I arrive in central Paris refreshed, not beaten up by airport bureaucrats.

W9London

I'd change my mind and vote for Sue's excellent suggestion!

alanRow

<<< just make sure you have it booked also out of Heathrow (not Gatwick). >>>

Unlikely - you can't fly to Paris from Gatwick

Sue_xx_yy

LOL Anna, you are a fine student of human nature, at least as it exists on this board.

That said, I personally would be wary of taking advice - especially advice about logistics - from people who have already demonstrated that they don't bother to read things carefully before taking action!

Glad you are staying over in New York. If you can't or don't wish to alter your Paris accomodation arrangements, then I guess that settles it: you take the AF flight from LHR to CDG. Bon voyage!

NeoPatrick

You're saying stopping over in New York, but I assume not staying there overnight?
I know I'd be dead after Maui to London, and to think I still had another 10 hours or so before getting to a hotel and a bed, I'm not sure what I'd do, but I'm not sure that getting to the train, etc. is any more "relaxing" than just waiting for the transfer to Heathrow and another flight.
Yes, I'd definitely opt for a night in London -- but since you can't, I think I'd suggest flying, not training.