Chunnel from London to Paris
May 23rd, 2010, 06:29 PM
#21
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Agree with xyz about the hassle of flying and the superior convenience of Eurostar. Even if you do decide to head to Paris the same day, it would be overall easier to just go to St. Pancras and hop on the train than to go to LHR and fly to Paris. If you have more bags than you want to wrangle you can check bags for a fee of 15GBP each.
The easiest - though not least expensive - would be to hire a private car to take you from Southampton to St. Pancras. Also, since you noted that the cruise line offers transport to the airport, you might ask them if they also offer transport to St. Pancras station.
The easiest - though not least expensive - would be to hire a private car to take you from Southampton to St. Pancras. Also, since you noted that the cruise line offers transport to the airport, you might ask them if they also offer transport to St. Pancras station.
May 23rd, 2010, 11:31 PM
#23
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1. The process for boarding a plane or Eurostar are roughly the same. You also go through a security checkpoint at St Pancras, and you also wait in a lounge before you can board the train.
Nevertheless, I find the whole procedure much less hassle and speedier at St Pancras than at Heathrow airport.
2. There are 15 flights from Heathrow to CDG on saturdays, BA and AF combined. You get a times and quotes at consolidator websites like amadeus.net .
Nevertheless, you need to allow for some transfer time at Heathrow, and be at check-in/security at least x hrs before departure.
3. nationalrail.co.uk shows one direct connection per hour to London Waterloo Station where you'd have to change to the Tube to go to St Pancras. Getting from the docks in Southampton to the station, and having to change to the Tube once you get to London probably eats up a lot of that "convenience" that Eurostar offers over a direct bus transfer from the ship to LHR, flight LHR-CDG, and the rail transfer from CDG to downtown Paris.
Eventually, I'd say there is no one option that beats the other hands down.
Spending the night in London and taking a morning Eurostar train to Paris sounds like the wisest idea.
If going to Paris the same day is mandatory, the cruise line transfer bus/flight to CDG/RER into Paris looks like the most comfortable alternative with regard to hauling luggage.
The fastest same day connection might be by train/tube to St Pancras, Eurostar to Paris, though.
Nevertheless, I find the whole procedure much less hassle and speedier at St Pancras than at Heathrow airport.
2. There are 15 flights from Heathrow to CDG on saturdays, BA and AF combined. You get a times and quotes at consolidator websites like amadeus.net .
Nevertheless, you need to allow for some transfer time at Heathrow, and be at check-in/security at least x hrs before departure.
3. nationalrail.co.uk shows one direct connection per hour to London Waterloo Station where you'd have to change to the Tube to go to St Pancras. Getting from the docks in Southampton to the station, and having to change to the Tube once you get to London probably eats up a lot of that "convenience" that Eurostar offers over a direct bus transfer from the ship to LHR, flight LHR-CDG, and the rail transfer from CDG to downtown Paris.
Eventually, I'd say there is no one option that beats the other hands down.
Spending the night in London and taking a morning Eurostar train to Paris sounds like the wisest idea.
If going to Paris the same day is mandatory, the cruise line transfer bus/flight to CDG/RER into Paris looks like the most comfortable alternative with regard to hauling luggage.
The fastest same day connection might be by train/tube to St Pancras, Eurostar to Paris, though.
May 24th, 2010, 12:17 AM
#24
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"The fastest same day connection might be by train/tube to St Pancras, Eurostar to Paris, though"
How can it possibly be quicker than a 10 min cab ride from ship to Soton airport - probably the most user-friendly international transport base in Europe - a 60 min flight and a 20 min cab ride from Orly to wherever? Answer: because the poster's apparently incapable of reading an airline timetable and somehow has convinced him or hersedl;f that there aren't azny flights (just go to the Soton airport website and see for yourself).
This thread is making the creation of mountains from molehills look measured and sensible.
How can it possibly be quicker than a 10 min cab ride from ship to Soton airport - probably the most user-friendly international transport base in Europe - a 60 min flight and a 20 min cab ride from Orly to wherever? Answer: because the poster's apparently incapable of reading an airline timetable and somehow has convinced him or hersedl;f that there aren't azny flights (just go to the Soton airport website and see for yourself).
This thread is making the creation of mountains from molehills look measured and sensible.
May 24th, 2010, 12:19 AM
#25
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xyz123 has given good advice, but has misspelled Pancras as Pancreas. I'm not trying to be the spelling police, I just don't want the original poster to be searching for St Pancreas.
Have a great holiday, hope you love Paris!
Have a great holiday, hope you love Paris!
May 24th, 2010, 02:56 AM
#26
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cowboy1968...differences in training vs flying....
1. No baggage to check (admitedly you might prefer checking your bags but I don't)...you take your baggage with you most of the time....(you can check if you want but it's not mandatory)
2. You clear Schengen immigration at St. Pancras (I never looked closely all these years...my fault). On arrival, if you haven't checked baggage you get off the train and go. No waiting for baggage, no clearing immigration in Paris.
3. Upon arrival in Paris, you're in well Paris....not a small town 20 miles away....
Train wins hands down.
1. No baggage to check (admitedly you might prefer checking your bags but I don't)...you take your baggage with you most of the time....(you can check if you want but it's not mandatory)
2. You clear Schengen immigration at St. Pancras (I never looked closely all these years...my fault). On arrival, if you haven't checked baggage you get off the train and go. No waiting for baggage, no clearing immigration in Paris.
3. Upon arrival in Paris, you're in well Paris....not a small town 20 miles away....
Train wins hands down.
May 24th, 2010, 03:35 AM
#27
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Checking the summer 2010 timetable at SOU's website show exactly TWO flights on SATURDAYS
One AF flight at 9.30 am, and one flyBE flight at 7.15am.
If OP could make the 9.30 flight to Orly that would obviuosly be the most convenient and fastest connection. All that ballyhoo started from the fact that OP thinks she cannot leave early enough from that ship to catch that 9.30 flight.
xyz.. If you think that passport control at St Pancras outweighs shlepping your luggage from a ship to a taxi, from taxi to the train in Southampton, in London across Waterloo station down to the tube, onto a probably full tube car, and further shlepping from St Pancras tube station to the Eurostar check-in, you are perfectly fine to judge it that way. But I would not call it "wins hands down" option.
One AF flight at 9.30 am, and one flyBE flight at 7.15am.
If OP could make the 9.30 flight to Orly that would obviuosly be the most convenient and fastest connection. All that ballyhoo started from the fact that OP thinks she cannot leave early enough from that ship to catch that 9.30 flight.
xyz.. If you think that passport control at St Pancras outweighs shlepping your luggage from a ship to a taxi, from taxi to the train in Southampton, in London across Waterloo station down to the tube, onto a probably full tube car, and further shlepping from St Pancras tube station to the Eurostar check-in, you are perfectly fine to judge it that way. But I would not call it "wins hands down" option.
May 24th, 2010, 04:02 AM
#28
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You can check your luggage if you desire, right? So you have a choice there...you have to check your luggage on a plane. When you arrive on the train, you're in Paris, right. Where are you when you arrive at CDG?
The whgole thesis, though, is not just train vs. plane....the whole thing is based on why hassle and worry about meeting a schedule on the day of arrival back at Southhampton (I might agree, incidentally, that if there are convenient flights from Southampton, that might be the way to go)....I have done both (plane and train) and to me the train still wins hands down but you're entitled to your opinion and yes I would suppose it's a function of just how much luggage you are totaing around....
The whgole thesis, though, is not just train vs. plane....the whole thing is based on why hassle and worry about meeting a schedule on the day of arrival back at Southhampton (I might agree, incidentally, that if there are convenient flights from Southampton, that might be the way to go)....I have done both (plane and train) and to me the train still wins hands down but you're entitled to your opinion and yes I would suppose it's a function of just how much luggage you are totaing around....
May 24th, 2010, 04:45 AM
#29
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i completely agree with cowboy ....and i regularly commute from london to paris for work.
i'm not saying that flying wins...only that the train is certainly not the clear winner. i would fly from soton on the next available flight...even if it is the following morning. i can't imagine going all the way up to london with a cruise worths of luggage from the soton docks, across to st pancras with bags and then doing a 'relaxing' dinner and show in london down in the west end only to rise and be off to paris on what is a HALF DAY journey with all those bags. of course it can be done but to say that this is a relaxing process is pure fantasy.
the 'convenience' of the eurostar is something that is often exaggerated here with transfer/tube time and waiting time ignored. like going to the airport, you also need to leave enough extra time in case things go wrong on the way to the station (e.g. the route from the tube to st pancras int'l is very poorly marked). i'm not saying that the eurostar is inconvenient...only that the delta between flying and eurostar is closer than usually portrayed here.
i'm not saying that flying wins...only that the train is certainly not the clear winner. i would fly from soton on the next available flight...even if it is the following morning. i can't imagine going all the way up to london with a cruise worths of luggage from the soton docks, across to st pancras with bags and then doing a 'relaxing' dinner and show in london down in the west end only to rise and be off to paris on what is a HALF DAY journey with all those bags. of course it can be done but to say that this is a relaxing process is pure fantasy.
the 'convenience' of the eurostar is something that is often exaggerated here with transfer/tube time and waiting time ignored. like going to the airport, you also need to leave enough extra time in case things go wrong on the way to the station (e.g. the route from the tube to st pancras int'l is very poorly marked). i'm not saying that the eurostar is inconvenient...only that the delta between flying and eurostar is closer than usually portrayed here.
May 24th, 2010, 05:16 AM
#30
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If you were already in central London, the train is a great option, but given your schedule, I would consider flying.
pros/cons of flying:
+ already get transfer to LHR, so no 'in transit' with bags
- security is a bit time hassle
- arrive in Paris and need to shuttle in
pros/cons of Eurostar:
+ security is easier
- need to get into central London
+ relaxing sitting on the train
+ arrive into central Paris
If you lay out your schedule, which makes more sense ?
LHR-CDG
- depart Southampton at 9am (guessing here?)
- arrive LHR 10.30 am (allowing for bus and traffic)
- book 12noon flight
- arrive Paris 2.00pm (1 hour flight, 1 hour time change)
- security/customs - 1 hr
- transport to central Paris - 45 min (?)
arriving Paris about 4pm and what cost ?
St. Pancras - Paris
- depart Southampton at 9am (guessing here?)
- arrive LHR 10.30 am (allowing for bus and traffic)
- take transportation into central London (1 hr.)
- book Eurostar (I wouldn't book before 1.00pm to allow for wiggle room)
- arrive Paris 4.15pm (2h15min + 1 hr time change)
same time, what cost ?
If it were me, I would just go to the Southhampton airport, drop off my bags, spend a leisurely day in Southhampton and take the late flight to Paris. Then, you still arrive in Paris that night, but eliminate the stress of trains, planes and automobiles. Have a leisurely lunch, walk around, enjoy the day in Southhampton.
pros/cons of flying:
+ already get transfer to LHR, so no 'in transit' with bags
- security is a bit time hassle
- arrive in Paris and need to shuttle in
pros/cons of Eurostar:
+ security is easier
- need to get into central London
+ relaxing sitting on the train
+ arrive into central Paris
If you lay out your schedule, which makes more sense ?
LHR-CDG
- depart Southampton at 9am (guessing here?)
- arrive LHR 10.30 am (allowing for bus and traffic)
- book 12noon flight
- arrive Paris 2.00pm (1 hour flight, 1 hour time change)
- security/customs - 1 hr
- transport to central Paris - 45 min (?)
arriving Paris about 4pm and what cost ?
St. Pancras - Paris
- depart Southampton at 9am (guessing here?)
- arrive LHR 10.30 am (allowing for bus and traffic)
- take transportation into central London (1 hr.)
- book Eurostar (I wouldn't book before 1.00pm to allow for wiggle room)
- arrive Paris 4.15pm (2h15min + 1 hr time change)
same time, what cost ?
If it were me, I would just go to the Southhampton airport, drop off my bags, spend a leisurely day in Southhampton and take the late flight to Paris. Then, you still arrive in Paris that night, but eliminate the stress of trains, planes and automobiles. Have a leisurely lunch, walk around, enjoy the day in Southhampton.
May 24th, 2010, 09:12 AM
#31
OK -- all this >>the Eurostar is sooooo much easier<< stuff is absolutely correct -- <B><u>IF</u></B> you were starting off in London. But you aren't. You are starting off a taxi, 2 hour train ride, and another probably £20 cab ride away from St Pancras - schlepping bags along the way.
You can catch the 9:30 flight from Southampton and have lunch in Paris -- OR you can be arriving in London around lunch time and not yet be 1/2 way through your journey.
(or if the 0930 time scares you off, you can fly just about any time from LHR - and still be in Paris in time for a late lunch. I personally think the 0930 is easily doable)
You can catch the 9:30 flight from Southampton and have lunch in Paris -- OR you can be arriving in London around lunch time and not yet be 1/2 way through your journey.
(or if the 0930 time scares you off, you can fly just about any time from LHR - and still be in Paris in time for a late lunch. I personally think the 0930 is easily doable)
May 24th, 2010, 11:26 AM
#32
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Thank you all of you so so much!! I never thought there were so many trains & so much work to get to the Eurostar but after traveling thru Italy last summer Florence to Rome was a breeze!!
I know those trains, steps.. Let alone the walking.. My Mom & I are going to have let's just say our fare share of luggage for 3 weeks!! Whatever is the easiestt is the best!! She cannot help me carry any luggage and I cannot carry all of it.
The SH option whether it's the 9:30 am or 7:30 pm flight might be the best Unless the ship can provide transportation to this pancrais ( spell?) station or to catch the Eurostar since everyone thinks it's more direct.. I know I spent one day in Paris last summer and the cab rude from CDG was quite far!! I understand what all of you ate saying. Though.. If we wind up at a train station in Paris after taking the Eurostar.. We will probably need a cab to our hotel with all of our luggage. I suppose that is why I was thinking air was better..
I will place a call to the cruise line to ask what the earliest we can depart the ship is & report back!!
Thank you so so much again!!!!!!
I know those trains, steps.. Let alone the walking.. My Mom & I are going to have let's just say our fare share of luggage for 3 weeks!! Whatever is the easiestt is the best!! She cannot help me carry any luggage and I cannot carry all of it.
The SH option whether it's the 9:30 am or 7:30 pm flight might be the best Unless the ship can provide transportation to this pancrais ( spell?) station or to catch the Eurostar since everyone thinks it's more direct.. I know I spent one day in Paris last summer and the cab rude from CDG was quite far!! I understand what all of you ate saying. Though.. If we wind up at a train station in Paris after taking the Eurostar.. We will probably need a cab to our hotel with all of our luggage. I suppose that is why I was thinking air was better..
I will place a call to the cruise line to ask what the earliest we can depart the ship is & report back!!
Thank you so so much again!!!!!!
May 24th, 2010, 12:06 PM
#33
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a good conservative rule of thumb is to allow about 5 hours central london to central paris travel time plus 1 hour time difference = 6 hours on the clock for the eurostar to paris. by air is roughly the same or a slightly more depending on your departure and arrival locations.
this assumes that you need to take a short tube/metro ride (with one transfer) on both ends of your journey. it also assumes little or no knowledge of the transport systems so a wise contingency is built in to minimise risk of missing the train and the penalties that this will incur. you probably should allow more if you think you'll need to consult maps to find your hotel in paris or the station in london.
this assumes that you need to take a short tube/metro ride (with one transfer) on both ends of your journey. it also assumes little or no knowledge of the transport systems so a wise contingency is built in to minimise risk of missing the train and the penalties that this will incur. you probably should allow more if you think you'll need to consult maps to find your hotel in paris or the station in london.
May 24th, 2010, 12:21 PM
#34
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In any case if taking the Chunnel train be sure to book early - very very early to snap the limited in number cheaper tickets. Just show up and you could literally pay hundreds of bucks more than in advance online - www.eurostar.com or thru an American agent like raileurope.com - usually eurostar.com is cheaper - prices in pounds but this is not always the case as fares in dollars for the same seat on the same train seem to have little correlation - so i always say check both sources and then be the early bird that gets the worm. In the U.S. i always advise calling someone at www.budgeteuropetravel.com as IME- long experience of buying railpasses from there they give great personal service - and check www.raileurope.com too and www.acprail.com
May 24th, 2010, 12:41 PM
#35
OK -- the trains are pretty much out since your mother can't help w/ the bags. On trains you roll/carry the bags on to the platform, on to the train and into the luggage racks.
Now, there IS a baggage service available at St Pancras -- but you'd still have to get your luggage to the office and there is no guarantee the bags would be on the same train.You might have to go back to Gare du Nord in Paris to collect your bags later. That would be a huge hassle.
(It is <u>St. Pancras</u> in London - that is the station where you would catch the Eurostar train to Paris)
So if it was me -- I'd take a taxi from the port to Southampton airport, use a luggage trolley, check your bags and be done w/ it. At CDG again use a luggage trolley out to the taxi rank and take a cab to your hotel.
This is BY FAR easier than schlepping across southern England/London and 3 train stations.
OR pack light and only use carry on sized luggage -- not likely
Now, there IS a baggage service available at St Pancras -- but you'd still have to get your luggage to the office and there is no guarantee the bags would be on the same train.You might have to go back to Gare du Nord in Paris to collect your bags later. That would be a huge hassle.
(It is <u>St. Pancras</u> in London - that is the station where you would catch the Eurostar train to Paris)
So if it was me -- I'd take a taxi from the port to Southampton airport, use a luggage trolley, check your bags and be done w/ it. At CDG again use a luggage trolley out to the taxi rank and take a cab to your hotel.
This is BY FAR easier than schlepping across southern England/London and 3 train stations.
OR pack light and only use carry on sized luggage -- not likely
May 24th, 2010, 02:45 PM
#36
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spoke to cruiseline.. can get off ship earliest 7 am.. They WILL only provide transfers to Gatwick or LHR no where else..
We are on our own for train stations and for SH airport. He had no idea how close by it was or wasn't.
So.. this leaves us with taking a cab or car service to SH airport.. (spend day in SH) not sure where our luggage will be..
Take transfer to LHR or gatwick and just fly to CDG.
Tell them early flight regardless and get off express early. Get out of SH..
We are on our own for train stations and for SH airport. He had no idea how close by it was or wasn't.
So.. this leaves us with taking a cab or car service to SH airport.. (spend day in SH) not sure where our luggage will be..
Take transfer to LHR or gatwick and just fly to CDG.
Tell them early flight regardless and get off express early. Get out of SH..
May 24th, 2010, 04:53 PM
#37
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http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/site/faqs
According to this, a taxi from the docks to the airport is reasonable:
<i>Taxis waiting at the airport charge £ 15 - 16 to the city centre and £19 - 20 to the cruise terminals.
A pre-booked taxi will charge £10 - 11 to the city centre and £14 - 15 to the cruise terminals.</i>
I would just take a taxi to the aiport. Given that you have luggage constraints and a traveling partner that can't really help, I think it is your best option. I would be ready to get off the cruise as close to first as possible. Either catch a taxi or have one pre-booked and make hay for the airport.
According to this, a taxi from the docks to the airport is reasonable:
<i>Taxis waiting at the airport charge £ 15 - 16 to the city centre and £19 - 20 to the cruise terminals.
A pre-booked taxi will charge £10 - 11 to the city centre and £14 - 15 to the cruise terminals.</i>
I would just take a taxi to the aiport. Given that you have luggage constraints and a traveling partner that can't really help, I think it is your best option. I would be ready to get off the cruise as close to first as possible. Either catch a taxi or have one pre-booked and make hay for the airport.
May 24th, 2010, 08:47 PM
#38
"<i>spoke to cruiseline.. can get off ship earliest 7 am.. They WILL only provide transfers to Gatwick or LHR no where else..</i>"
No big deal IMO -- just take a taxi to the airport. Disembarking at 0700-0730 will give you plenty of time to get to the airport. It is less than 5 miles and take maybe 15 minutes at 0700.
No big deal IMO -- just take a taxi to the airport. Disembarking at 0700-0730 will give you plenty of time to get to the airport. It is less than 5 miles and take maybe 15 minutes at 0700.
May 25th, 2010, 03:18 AM
#40
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What Janis said. Now we have more info about your arrival time at Southampton docks, you'd EASILY catch the 09:25 flight to Paris Orly on Air France. As a local, I can tell you that the roads will be quiet that time on a Saturday morning and it's no distance at all from the dockyard to the airport. A piece of cake for a local taxi - no real problem if the cruise line won't organise this for you.
