London, and Paris, and rails... oh my!
May 9th, 2011, 12:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
London, and Paris, and rails... oh my!
Longtime lurker, first time poster 
I know that this is the group that can answer my Eurostar vs plane related question.
I am flying from MIA to LHR, arrival @ 830a on Wednesday, July 13th. I have a full day before I am to be joined in London by friends, and was thinking about Paris for the day.
Plane to CDG not really attractive with the 2hr connection time @ LHR. Looking at the 1025a Eurostar departure - is this feasible? Or, would I be better off staying in the airport and catching the BA flight @ 1045a US citizen with carry-on baggage only.
Thanks in advance!
I know that this is the group that can answer my Eurostar vs plane related question.
I am flying from MIA to LHR, arrival @ 830a on Wednesday, July 13th. I have a full day before I am to be joined in London by friends, and was thinking about Paris for the day.
Plane to CDG not really attractive with the 2hr connection time @ LHR. Looking at the 1025a Eurostar departure - is this feasible? Or, would I be better off staying in the airport and catching the BA flight @ 1045a US citizen with carry-on baggage only.
Thanks in advance!
May 9th, 2011, 12:13 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am a bit confused - you are arriving at LHS at 8:30am and then want to head to Paris for the DAY? A couple of things:
1. It will take you at least 2+ hours to get to Kings Cross from LHR so I wouldnt book the 10:25 as its very likely you would miss it.
2. The Eurostar takes about 2.5 to get to Paris and you lose an hour, so if you took say an 11:30 train to Paris you wouldnt get TO Paris until 3pm which leaves you no time to see Paris before you would need to head back to London
3. Flying would give you about the same timeline as its a 2 hour wait, 1 hour flight, then you need to get through immigration and into Paris which will take at least 1.5 hours plus you lose an hour so that makes it approx. 2pm before you are sightseeing.
This is a HUGE cost and waste of sightseeing time for a few hours in Paris in my opinion.
Unless I misread your post...
1. It will take you at least 2+ hours to get to Kings Cross from LHR so I wouldnt book the 10:25 as its very likely you would miss it.
2. The Eurostar takes about 2.5 to get to Paris and you lose an hour, so if you took say an 11:30 train to Paris you wouldnt get TO Paris until 3pm which leaves you no time to see Paris before you would need to head back to London
3. Flying would give you about the same timeline as its a 2 hour wait, 1 hour flight, then you need to get through immigration and into Paris which will take at least 1.5 hours plus you lose an hour so that makes it approx. 2pm before you are sightseeing.
This is a HUGE cost and waste of sightseeing time for a few hours in Paris in my opinion.
Unless I misread your post...
May 9th, 2011, 01:01 PM
#5
"<i>1. It will take you at least 2+ hours to get to Kings Cross from LHR so I wouldnt book the 10:25 as its very likely you would miss it.</i>"
Even worse - There is a good chance you'd still be AT Heathrow at 10:25. No way you'd catch the 10:25 train.
Are your friends coming in on Thurs or Fri? If Thurs, you won't have a 'full day' free in London. You wouldn't get into the city centre until almost noon and you'll probably be jet lagged so the day will mostly be a wash out.
If you want to spend the first day in Paris -- you should be flying into Paris instead instead of London.
Even worse - There is a good chance you'd still be AT Heathrow at 10:25. No way you'd catch the 10:25 train.
Are your friends coming in on Thurs or Fri? If Thurs, you won't have a 'full day' free in London. You wouldn't get into the city centre until almost noon and you'll probably be jet lagged so the day will mostly be a wash out.
If you want to spend the first day in Paris -- you should be flying into Paris instead instead of London.
May 9th, 2011, 01:48 PM
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,610
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome, NancyD74! It looks like jamikins' advice is spot on. You really wouldn't have any time in Paris by bus or train.
Also agree with janisj-it would be easier to just fly to Paris first if your heart is set on it. Are your friends flying into London? Maybe you could fly back and meet them at the airport?!
Just my opinion, but I'd make Paris a separate and much longer visit.
Also agree with janisj-it would be easier to just fly to Paris first if your heart is set on it. Are your friends flying into London? Maybe you could fly back and meet them at the airport?!
Just my opinion, but I'd make Paris a separate and much longer visit.
May 9th, 2011, 01:54 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,
There is also a risk that you will be very tired and suffer from jetlag when landing in London at 8:30 am since this should be, I guess, like 2:30 am in Miami. This is very individual though. Myself I always need like 1 or 2 days to ajust to the time difference when flying eastbound. I find it much easier to ajust when flying westbound. You might fall asleep on the eurostar and become impossible to wake up in Paris.
Have a great trip!
There is also a risk that you will be very tired and suffer from jetlag when landing in London at 8:30 am since this should be, I guess, like 2:30 am in Miami. This is very individual though. Myself I always need like 1 or 2 days to ajust to the time difference when flying eastbound. I find it much easier to ajust when flying westbound. You might fall asleep on the eurostar and become impossible to wake up in Paris.
Have a great trip!
May 9th, 2011, 01:54 PM
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,
There is also a risk that you will be very tired and suffer from jetlag when landing in London at 8:30 am since this should be, I guess, like 2:30 am in Miami. This is very individual though. Myself I always need like 1 or 2 days to ajust to the time difference when flying eastbound. I find it much easier to ajust when flying westbound. You might fall asleep on the eurostar and become impossible to wake up in Paris.
Have a great trip!
There is also a risk that you will be very tired and suffer from jetlag when landing in London at 8:30 am since this should be, I guess, like 2:30 am in Miami. This is very individual though. Myself I always need like 1 or 2 days to ajust to the time difference when flying eastbound. I find it much easier to ajust when flying westbound. You might fall asleep on the eurostar and become impossible to wake up in Paris.
Have a great trip!
May 15th, 2011, 08:31 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks to everyone for their input - I think I was trying to cram too much into too small a space... I get in at 0830, and they get in at 2200, all the same day... probably not worth the $400 just for a teaser taste of Paris, huh?
May 16th, 2011, 09:21 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>>I get in at 0830, and they get in at 2200, all the same day... probably not worth the $400 just for a teaser taste of Paris, huh? <<
Nope. Plus you'd be in no state to enjoy their company.
Here's another suggestion - have a leisurely day on your own in London, perhaps including a stroll around South Kensington where there's a French community around the Lycee and the Institut. You might perhaps use a small amount of the "found money" you haven't spent on rushing to Paris, on some Laduree macarons from their shop in Burlington Arcade that you can share with your friends next day.
Whether you let them think you got them in Paris is, of course, another matter.........
Nope. Plus you'd be in no state to enjoy their company.
Here's another suggestion - have a leisurely day on your own in London, perhaps including a stroll around South Kensington where there's a French community around the Lycee and the Institut. You might perhaps use a small amount of the "found money" you haven't spent on rushing to Paris, on some Laduree macarons from their shop in Burlington Arcade that you can share with your friends next day.
Whether you let them think you got them in Paris is, of course, another matter.........
