zoobiechick

I checked through previous posts on this topic, but just want to make sure I have a clear understanding of passport checks, etc. when traveling into England from the US, from England to France via Eurostar, and then back to England from France.

1-Upon arrival at Heathrow from the US (we will not have any checked bags, only carry-ons), I gather that it's a crapshoot how long it will take to pass through customs/immigration? Any ballpark averages?

2-Boarding Eurostar at St. Pancras--passports will be checked, correct? And arriving 40 minutes early takes that into account?

3-Will passports be checked upon arrival at Gare du Nord, or is that taken care of at St. Pancras?

4-Returning to London from Paris Gare du Nord--I gather passports may or may not be checked? And it is necessary to arrive 40 minutes ahead, correct? Is that enough time to pass through whatever checks will be made?

Finally, it's possible to purchase carnets for the Paris metro system at St Pancras, I gather from other posts? ( Even if it 's a bit more expensive than purchasing them at Gare du Nord, this sounds like a good way to hit the ground running in Paris.)

We will also be traveling from Paris to Bayeux via train. What kind of ID will be required to purchase train tickets at the St Lazare gare, or should we purchase tickets ahead of time in the US?

Just want to make sure we have proper ID at all times and take into account times needed for passing through customs/passports/immigration lines when planning travel.

Thanks in advance.

Gordon_R

1. Immigration can be anything from 5 minutes to 1 hour plus, depending on how many flights arrive at the same time. Customs won't delay you at all - unless you look suspicious/come off a flight from a place of interest, and they want to search your bags (has only happened to me once on maybe 150+ arrivals at LHR/LHW).

2. Yes, but it won't delay you for more than a few minutes.

3. No, that's done by French immigration when you start out at St Pancras

4. They definitely WILL be checked by UK immigration officers. Gare du Nord check-in IME is always much slower than the equivalent St Pancras operation, so I would arrive at least 45 mins before departure.

Can't help with your other questions.

zoobiechick

Thanks, Gordon. Four out of four ain't bad. I tacked on the other questions as an afterthought.

PalenQ

We will also be traveling from Paris to Bayeux via train. What kind of ID will be required to purchase train tickets at the St Lazare gare, or should we purchase tickets ahead of time in the US?>

No ID just pay the money - on this route there is no real benefit for early purchasing as they are not TGV trains so just buy in Bayeux - no ID needed - buy a ticket from Bayeux to Paris - for good info on French trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteurope.com and www.ricksteves.com - for schedules www.voyages-sncf.com - can see if discounts are available and if they are large enough to buy ahead - again absolutely no problem getting on trains from Bayeux to Paris - most do not require reservations so with a ticket cancel it yourself before boarding by sticking them into cancelling machines - if you do not do this you may be fined for riding without a valid ticket.

Eurostar trains now I understand demand than you go thru the turnstile at least 40 minutes early - everything Gordon says has been my experience as well.

zoobiechick

Thanks, PalenQ. Could you explain what you mean by "cancel it yourself before boarding by sticking them into cancelling machines"? I'll be getting round-trip tickets from Paris to Bayeux at the gare. Do you mean buy the tickets at a window, and then there's a machine you enter the ticket into before boarding?

How far ahead of time is it necessary to arrive at the gare to purchase a ticket? For instance, if the train left for Bayeux at 10, could I arrive at 9 and get a ticket? (I've already been on the regional site and checked schedules, BTW.)

Dukey1

Unless your train ticket bought in Paris has a specific train number AND date then you need to "cancel" it in one of the machines located usually at the head of the platform. They are like time clocks and stamp a date and time on the ticket so the ticket cannot be used more than once.

ParisAmsterdam

There is a machine to stamp your ticket as you enter the platform for your train. If you forget or somehow miss the machine seek out the conductor on the train right away and he will look after things. The machine stamps the date and time on the ticket so they know if a person is trying to reuse one.

You don't mention how soon after arriving in Paris you'll depart for Normandy... the station you want is Gare St Lazare. You can use one of your carnet tickets to get there via RER E from Gare du Nord. If you will be in Paris for a few days prior, stop in at any station and buy the tickets ahead of time. Lines are often long at the ticket office and it's very possible your credit cards will not work in the automated ticket machines.

You should be able to get a carnet at St Pancras at either the info booth or on the train itself in the bar car.

Cowboy1968

<i>Could you explain what you mean by "cancel it yourself before boarding by sticking them into cancelling machines"? </i>

When you buy a paper ticket at the station, you must validate it before you enter the train.
The validation machines are located near the platforms and look like this:
http://www.francetvinfo.fr/image/74v...70/2455105.jpg
Just slide it in like the lady in the picture, and you will hear it getting stamped. That's it.

zoobiechick

We'll be in Paris for a few days before heading to Bayeux, so I appreciate the suggestion to stop in at any train station and buy tickets ahead of time.

Cowboy, now you're speaking my language. Simple. Pictures. Voila!

Christina

There is no such thing as a roundtrip train ticket in France. YOu will just be buying two tickets, one to go and one for return.

I guess you understand the word "cancel" here is being used to mean you get them stamped or validated (in French, they will use the word valider), which shows they've been used. This is necessary as otherwise you could keep trying to use the same ticket, or sell it. That is necessary when a ticket is refundable, and those will be.

It really doesn't take long to buy a carnet from the ticket machines in any metro station, I can't imagine why it would take less time in London than in Paris, or why one would pay more for that privilege when you are going to Paris, anyway. Maybe you are afraid of some lines at the machines, I've never had that happen in a train station, but haven't arrived at that one, so I suppose it is possible, but it still couldn't take that long. YOu will need to have some euro on you, of course, for the machines. I seem to always arrive at Montparnasse or Lyon and have never encountered a line at those metro ticket machines. But this isn't really something you need to know in advance, you get to St Pancras and you can either buy them or you can't.

zoobiechick

Christina, so I understand the tickets to Bayeux won't have a specific time or date, and that's why I need to get them validated before boarding. So the tickets will be flexible for times, correct?

I am thinking of ordering some euros and British pounds from my local bank before heading out, as we're landing in London, spending a night, heading to Paris for several days, and then returning to London, so we need both currencies at hand right away. Crazy.

janisj

>>I am thinking of ordering some euros and British pounds from my local bank before heading out, as we're landing in London<<

Absolutely no need. There are ATM machines at LHR for your £ - easy to find. And after you check in for the Eurostar at St Pancras there are ATMs that dispense €. Or you can wait til arriving at Gare du Nord. But getting €100 or so at St Pancras and you are good to go . . .

zoobiechick

Oh, I thought the ATMS were a ripoff...so much mixed info and different opinions on here. I don't want to spend a lot of money to GET money, if you know what I mean.

janisj

>>Oh, I thought the ATMS were a ripoff...so much mixed info and different opinions on here. I don't want to spend a lot of money to GET money, if you know what I mean.<<

No, ATMs are the very BEST way to get cash. Your own bank will rip you off, not European ATMs. They don't even charge you a fee - that again will be assessed by your own bank. But even w/ the fees by your bank - ATMs will get you the best rates.

bilboburgler

two types of ATMs, bank linked (with minimal charges, but some) business based (with big charges).

janisj

>>two types of ATMs, bank linked (with minimal charges, but some) << Bank owned ATMs don't add fees.

zoobiechick

How do you tell the difference between bank-owned and business-owned?

janisj

The bank's name will be on it. (Just like in the States).

"Commercial" ATMs are like the ones in the States in small mini marts or casinos etc. 'Normal' ATMs are all over. The ones in the airports may or may not be 'bank owned' - some are Travelex or Amex - but they are still safe to use.

zoobiechick

Thanks--very pertinent information.

chartley

Three further points.

When you board the Eurostar at Gare du Nord on your return jounrey, you go through U.K. immigration. If you are not an E.U. citizen (and most of the other passengers will be) you will have to fill out a U.K. immigration card just as you did when arriving from the U.S. or wherever it is you live. You need to allow time for this.

Your bags will have to go through an x-ray machine before you board the Eurostar. Security is not as tight as it is for an aircraft journey, but they take it seriously.

If you use a non-bank ATM (commonly called cash machines) in the U.K., you will be told of any charge the machine operator is making. The usual charge is £1.50 or £2, but such charges are easily avoided. Cash machines in supermarkets are usually run by banks and can be used without charge.