Susanne07

I'm trying to work out which is cheaper and more convenient - Eurostar train London to Paris or flying.The Eurostar website has train tickets from 55GBP and that's return, yet in tourist brochures in Australia they quote 253 AUD one way (119 GBP) Why the big price difference? Is the discount on the Eurostar site only available to UK residents? The airfares are much cheaper even expensive British airways at 51 GBP.

Michael

The four pound differential, assuming that you can get the train ticket for ₤55 makes the plane more expensive: you have to get to the airport from London and get to Paris from the airport. That is not included in your airfare.

slangevar

I've been able to get cheap Eurostar fares from America. If you can buy it on their site (which I've done before from America), that's the price you're getting.

Re: the 4 GBP difference, you'll probably save four times that in commuting fees (and time) if you take the train. It drops you inside of both cities, as opposed to far out airports. Plus if you have baggage, there are no restrictions on the Eurostar, whereas there are strict restrictions on many airlines.

I'm sure others will have their opinions, but I always prefer to take the train. It's fairly quick, you get some nice views, and it's so convenient to town.

nona1

Weirdly enough return tickets on Eurostar are often a lot cheaper than one-way. People who only want one-way frequently buy a return and don't use the second trip. It's nothing to do with which country you are from.

Robespierre

The train is also faster, city center to city center. If you start in the West End, you can be at the Louvre before you could get into your airplane seat.

And <u>much</u> more comfortably. I've always said I'd rather be sitting down with a tall cool one in front of me than standing in a check-in queue, security queue, boarding queue, or waiting for luggage at the other end.

No contest, IMO.

sashh

Take the train.

It takes longer to fly (when you add in check in and commuting times, it's less comfortable to fly, you don't have to put up with BA's snobby attitude and the train is one of those things you can 'tick off' on the list of 'things i did in Europe I couldn't do at home'.

KayF

Hi Susanne, we are Aussies too though we live in London now. We think the Eurostar is fantastic, so much easier than flying. It's quicker, no worries about lost baggage as you carry it yourself, you leave from the centre of the city and arrive in the centre, just a lot less hassle. My husband is tall and he thinks there is more leg room.

Take a look at this very useful site:
http://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-tickets.htm

then click on 'buying tickets if you are from USA, Australia...'

If there is an option to buy your tickets from Australia but collect them in London, you could try that. We've done a similar thing, picking up train tickets in France. You usually need the same credit card you used for the booking and the code/reference you are given when you book. Then you key them into a machine at the station. Once in Brussels, the machine wouldn't work (or maybe it was us!) but the man at the ticket counter just printed our tickets for us.

Also, not sure if you know but the earlier you book Eurostar tickets, the cheaper they will be. If you leave it until the last minute you will pay top dollar. I think tickets become available 4 months prior to travel and if you book as soon as they come out, you will save heaps.

Good luck!
Kay

SaraJane

We did the train from London to Paris with our 2 children and it was great, fast and easy! When we were looking at the bookings we found that it was cheaper for us to fly, but it is very expensive to get to the airport it you are down town london,no I would say take the train, as well once you get off the train in Paris you are somewhat close to hotels.

alanRow

&lt;&lt;&lt; If there is an option to buy your tickets from Australia but collect them in London, you could try that. &gt;&gt;&gt;

It's the normal way for people to get Eurostar tickets - either from the ticket machines or the ticket office

All you need to do is go to www.eurostar.com and book

NOTE that GBP one way fares are expensive as for some reason Eurostar thinks the only British people doing one way trips are businessmen requiring full flexible tickets

You could try clearing the Eurostar cookies from your computer (or use a different internet browser) and go back into the Eurostar website saying that you are the resident of a different country - sometimes that can bring quite substantial savings in price

StCirq

Take the train. Buy a RT ticket, assuming it's cheaper than one way. Discard the return portion. We did this last month and it was a very pleasant ride, MUCH easier, IMO, than a plane ride (at least for us - the connecting flights to Paris would have taken us hours and hours longer).

Susanne07

Wow, the overwheming view is take the train!!
I hadn't factored in the extra costs and problems getting to the airport so thanks for that.
Hubbie is tall like yours KayF so another important point in favour of the train.

Thanks everyone - your help is wondeful. I'll certainly recheck the price of fares.

Attnymom

Take the train! We took the Eurostar from Paris to London and it was a lovely experience. We had 1st class tickets (I think we got a discount because we also had a pass). We were served wine, champagne and a delicious breakfast. It was comfortable and convenient. One tip - arrive at the train station early enough to allow time to check in, have your passport and tickets reviewed, send your luggage through security, board the train, etc. . . It's still faster/more convenient than flying.