Eurostar
 

Could someone advise how far ahead must one book/reserve Eurostar tickets?

Thx.

s

Tickets are prices like airline tickets. Popular trains are more expensive, off hours trains are less. If you wait until the last minute it can cost 2 or 3 times as much as if you buy tickets in advance. And the number of lower prices tickets can be limited.

I would start looking at prices/options as soon as your dates are set.

If price is not a factor, you can postpone booking tickets if seats are available.

You can goto www.eurostar.com to get a feel for the price behavior vs. time. You will notice that the cheapest non-flexible tickets disappear first, then the semi-flexible tickets -- leaving the most expensive fully-flexible tickets for last minutes buyers.

I believe they start selling tickets 90 days before your date of travel.

How early one can buy tickets online depends on the vendor sites.


As of today

The www.eurostar.com allows booking up to December 13, but not December 14th, so it looks like 240 days ahead.

The www.sncf.com allows booking up to August 15, but not August 16, so it looks like 120 days ahead.

The www.raileurope.com (gulp) allows booking up to December 13, but not December 14th, so it looks like 240 days ahead.

greg...i just went onto eurostar.com and there arent any dates past Aug...how do you get it to give you sales to Dec?

I want to book for Sept but cant figure out how.

Thanks!

<<< greg...i just went onto eurostar.com and there arent any dates past Aug...how do you get it to give you sales to Dec? >>>

Clear the Eurostar cookies from your computer, then go back into the Eurostar website and pretend to be American.

well, i did just that and still only get Aug dates...weird.

I get dates to Dec 12.

<<< well, i did just that and still only get Aug dates...weird. >>>

Was the first screen a screen asking for your country of residence and giving a choice of UK, US or Belgium followed by a drop down menu for other nationalities

Yup, selected United States and still only get Aug dates...weird.

I had the same trouble - couldn't book more than 120 days ahead. But I needed to, in order to be sure I could synchronise my car drop-off with my Eurostar departure.

Eventually found 2 sites that allowed me to go beyond 120 days: www.railplus.com.au and www.raileurope.com.au

twoflower, thank you...did they charge more?

Thanks for all your input.

Could someone advise how much luggage is allowed per person on the train?

s

As much luggage as you can carry yourself,, its a train,, the less you have to lug and store the better, no one will do it for you. I don't recall being able to " check bags" we dealt with our own. Their are porters to hire who will help you ( at least in England we saw them) but on the train you store your luggage by doors on racks or by your seats if small enough.

I was only able to book 90 days out myself a few years ago, so I booked on day 90 and got a great price.

Play with dates and times to manipulate for best prices, travel during tues, wed, and thurs is generally cheaper then other days. Also different departure times during day are cheaper.
Book a return ticket even if going one way as they are cheaper( usaully do confirm for your dates if so)

Try MorganB's guide: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752919

& also www.seat61.com for independent advice

Citizens of non-European Economic Area countries must complete a landing card before arriving at Eurostar check-in. Landing cards are available from dedicated desks in front of the check-in area and from Eurostar staff. This card must then be handed to UK Immigration staff.
You may carry with you on Eurostar trains 2 items of baggage per person, plus 1 small item of hand luggage. http://www.eurostar.com/UK/x_euro/le...on/baggage.jsp

Raileurope usually books 9 months ahead - but at times when schedules are not loaded from Eurostar train company then it could be less for a period of time.

But usually nine months.

&quot;<i> . . . how much luggage is allowed per person on the train?</i>&quot; :)

New to European train travel, right? There are no porters - nor checked luggage. You can take as much as you want. But you must be able to get it on the train, and be able to lift it either on to the racks at the end of each car or into the overhead racks.

Actually Eurostar trains do have checked luggage - at about 15-20 pounds a bag and you check it in London (there are signs in the station for Eurostar Baggage depot) and retrieve it in Paris.

But most trains in Europe no longer do but Eurostar does.

PalenQ,

when did u last travel on Eurostar?

Nobody asked me to check my luggage last week - neither did they ask the lady ahead of me at the security check who passed through security with a baggage cart (which she desparately needed).

Everything just like a normal train - no constraints.